Techies help me!

[GoGeTa006]

Thats uh....no. While I see that you're speed and timings are okay, are you using the XMP profile explicitly. I know I have problems sometimes when I don't. Also, I see thats single channeled. Does the other stick have the same problem? Do you have some other RAM to put in there?

Im testing only 1 RAM stick at a time, I guess thats why it says single channel? (is it?)

The first one wasf ull of errors, I am testing the second one and so far its up to 35% and no errors so far. . .so

In anycase, if you say its working fine, than I suppose you don't need us to help any more GoGeTa.

Ur gonna get pinkie cramps. . .

[nstgc]

Thats uh....no. While I see that you're speed and timings are okay, are you using the XMP profile explicitly. I know I have problems sometimes when I don't. Also, I see thats single channeled. Does the other stick have the same problem? Do you have some other RAM to put in there?

Im testing only 1 RAM stick at a time, I guess thats why it says single channel? (is it?)

The first one wasf ull of errors, I am testing the second one and so far its up to 35% and no errors so far. . .so

In anycase, if you say its working fine, than I suppose you don't need us to help any more GoGeTa.

Ur gonna get pinkie cramps. . .

I did get a pinkie cramp, but I'm an ass so I did it anyway. I know that you are testing one at a time, but what I was suggesting was that you test some other RAM that isn't this RAM.

[GoGeTa006]

Thats uh....no. While I see that you're speed and timings are okay, are you using the XMP profile explicitly. I know I have problems sometimes when I don't. Also, I see thats single channeled. Does the other stick have the same problem? Do you have some other RAM to put in there?

Im testing only 1 RAM stick at a time, I guess thats why it says single channel? (is it?)

The first one wasf ull of errors, I am testing the second one and so far its up to 35% and no errors so far. . .so

In anycase, if you say its working fine, than I suppose you don't need us to help any more GoGeTa.

Ur gonna get pinkie cramps. . .

I did get a pinkie cramp, but I'm an ass so I did it anyway. I know that you are testing one at a time, but what I was suggesting was that you test some other RAM that isn't this RAM.

I'll try that,

I have a question. Do you guys think its the CPU? I mean I just removed the error-full RAM card and I just got that freeze again (the one with th ehorizontal lines). . .no blue screens anymore. . .(or not yet) but that freeze is still up. . .

the computer feels kind of slow, I dont know why but it feels laggy somehow, it shouldnt be so slow given its specs (intel core i5 8 GB RAM). . .and It doesnt really have anything installed. . .other than chrome.

anyways. I am not sure if I should take out the cPU and RMA it. . .Im already processing the RMA for the RAM cards =/

[megido-rev.M]

Does it happen in BIOS setup?

[GoGeTa006]

Does it happen in BIOS setup?

what does? the blue screen? no


well I got my roomate's GSkill 1600 DDR3 4 GB stick, hes had it for around 6 months and no probs so I assume its a "working RAM"
I installed it and I played DOTA2 and everything seemed fine until I exited dota and as soon as I opened up explorer to go to my anime folder BOOM! I got that freeze (not the BSoD, the horizontal lines)

so that means. . .
even though I did have a faulty RAM, I also have a faulty _____ . . . ??

[Tiffanys]

You have to get a certain type of RAM that's compatible with your particular motherboard. I dunno if G.Skill has it, but Crucial has a tool that can detect your motheboard and tell you which RAM would be compatible.

[kitamesume]

i beg to differ about ram-motherboard support, they can run just as fine if you're in range with the settings, including voltages and all the tinier details.
(why? i can pretty much run no-name rams with my motherboard, even use multiple random brand rams on the same motherboard)
edit: do mind that the memory-controller is not in the motherboard but in the CPU, which should be the fault of incompatibility.

i'm starting to think that it's the motherboard thats acting up, we'll just need to factor out the CPU from the equation.

to factor it out, go into BIOS and set the settings on the CPU:
disable all but one core (e.g. run it as single core)
disable speedstep and manually set the clocks to lowest possible
bump voltage to 1.35v or 1.4v
disable turbo

once you've done this do your usual routine, if it does stop crashing or freezing, its possible thats its a defective CPU, on the other hand if it still crash or freeze its most likely the motherboard.

edit: it might also be a possibility that the memory-controller is defective, under circumstances intel specified ivy-bridge's base ram frequency at 1333/1600mhz, by means of confirming that the memory-controller is defective or not is to forcefully clock the rams down to 1333mhz CL10.
and voltage range too, ddr3 can run at both 1.5v and 1.65v, some ram kits needs 1.65v to run correctly.

[Pentium100]

Also, check the capacitors on the motherboard. The tops should be flat. If some are bulged, you will need to replace those caps (in that case I suggest replacing all caps of the same manufacturer).

[GoGeTa006]

well after a thermal-compound-mess I was able to pack everythign back into place and I am RMA'ing the Mobo. . .

lets hope newegg doesnt bitch cause I dont have that foam "placement" thing anymore. . .I ahve the box, the manuals, the static bag, the cables, the io shield . . .everythign except that foam thingy . . .

[kitamesume]

^just don't mention anything about it, usually they don't even notice such things.

why'd you decide on RMA'ng the mobo though, did you factor out everything else already?

[GoGeTa006]

^just don't mention anything about it, usually they don't even notice such things.

why'd you decide on RMA'ng the mobo though, did you factor out everything else already?

Well, yes I tried:

- Different HDD
- Different RAM
- No video card (Intel HD Graphics)
- Disabling all of the cores (xcept 1)
- Different PSU

I guess that leaves me with the mobo defective right?

Im still a little skeptical because when there was a video card, the BSoD dissapeared but I still got some very ugly freezes that messed up the hard drive a couple of times. . . (as in like Windows wouldnt boot afterwards and I had to reinstall)

[Tiffanys]

Could be the CPU too I suppose. I think they have integrated graphics controllers nowadays.

I guess if it still happens after you get the new mobo then it's potentially the most likely culprit.

[raandomer]

My money's on the ram slot, probably somehow got goo in it and shorted that. Next time go to a pc shop and let them build it for you, or go dell, thats always my advice for people with little or zero tech knowledge wanting a working pc.

[krumm]

My money's on the ram slot, probably somehow got goo in it and shorted that. Next time go to a pc shop and let them build it for you, or go dell, thats always my advice for people with little or zero tech knowledge wanting a working pc.

That's horrible advice. 

You could have the same shit happen with an oem, that you would still need to troubleshoot.  Your not going to break anything if your not stupid and bending crap, but everyone can get a bad part and have these kinda issues.  A experienced tech is still going to have to guess a little and swap out parts to find the bad part and when you don't have the parts your going to have to guess and rma.

[megido-rev.M]

My money's on the ram slot, probably somehow got goo in it and shorted that. Next time go to a pc shop and let them build it for you, or go dell, thats always my advice for people with little or zero tech knowledge wanting a working pc.

The guys at shops are not as great as you might think.

[raandomer]

Wow.... ok, think about my advice for a second, or a min

Computer bought from store:
pay 70 odd for building fee
Computer breaks = you send it back to shop/oem
time wasted = time to get said pc to shop/oem
The skill level of guys at shop isnt relevant to you, its their problem to get your computer up.
(as an aside, why the hell are you buying from a pc store that doesnt know how to fix pcs?)

Computer built yourself:
Computer breaks = you need to diagnose it yourself
time wasted = many hours cause you have no idea what your doing
assuming you spend say 10hrs trying to fix it and assuming you usually earn say 20/hr that equates to 200, see my point?

So unless you arent employed, or have heaps of times on your hands, or just like tinkering around, or know what your doing then by all means go nuts.
But for most people, when you come home from work you just want to wind down with family, surf net a bit, or game if thats your thing you definitely dont want to spend your time trying to fix a pc

[GoGeTa006]

well heres my story:

- I took out the video card and fucked up so bad cause I broke the GPU lock (you know that crappy plastic part that does nothing)
anyways, It was ugly-broken so i broke it nicely so it looked clean. . .sent it back, they didnt say anything (pins werent bent), so they refunded my money for the mobo. . . afterwards I bought a new (NOT CHEAP) mobo (2x price). . .still not a saberthoot (i wish. . .) anyways. . .

I also RMA'd the RAM and SSD, and I have the new mobo (ASRock Z77 Extreme 4) and the same RAM (Corsair Vengeance 1600 2x8 GB)
and everythign seems nice and dandy. . .the system has been running stable since monday. . . so my final system:

- Fractal Design R4 with side panel (beautiful and pretty damn silent)
- NZXT LED lights (white)
- Intel i5 3570K OC at 4.0 Ghz + Cooler Master Hyper TX3 Heatsink
- ASRock Motherboard Z77 Extreme 4
- 2x8GB 1600 Corsair Vengeance RAM
- 128 GB SSD (Vertex III)
- OCZ 700W PSU
- Asus Directcu II Radeon HD7950 3-slot GPU (Rainbow Dash approved (*20% cooler) )
- 24" Dell S2440L 1080p monitor

Wow.... ok, think about my advice for a second, or a min

Computer bought from store:
pay 70 odd for building fee
Computer breaks = you send it back to shop/oem
time wasted = time to get said pc to shop/oem
The skill level of guys at shop isnt relevant to you, its their problem to get your computer up.
(as an aside, why the hell are you buying from a pc store that doesnt know how to fix pcs?)

Computer built yourself:
Computer breaks = you need to diagnose it yourself
time wasted = many hours cause you have no idea what your doing
assuming you spend say 10hrs trying to fix it and assuming you usually earn say 20/hr that equates to 200, see my point?

So unless you arent employed, or have heaps of times on your hands, or just like tinkering around, or know what your doing then by all means go nuts.
But for most people, when you come home from work you just want to wind down with family, surf net a bit, or game if thats your thing you definitely dont want to spend your time trying to fix a pc

I am not the most computer savvy person. . .but everyone I know comes to me for advice (making me the savviest among my circles).

I did not take courses in how computers work, I spent 10+ hours DIAGNOSING MYSELF some issues, and I learn shit, and I like learning shit. . .something you obviously dont. . .

The point of DIY things is to LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES!

yes I can buy an R/C droid . . .but its more fun to make it myself and fuck up my code in arduino multiple times, and fuck up my circuit board multiple times. . .ITS CALLED A FUCKING HOBBY

[raandomer]

Please read again:

So unless you arent employed, or have heaps of times on your hands, or just like tinkering around, or know what your doing then by all means go nuts.

nice, good that your got it working again.
for future references, a good way to diagnose (this will be quite general, it'll be faster if your recognise certain symptoms and replace the offending part(s))
1. reinstall windows (so you know its not a software issue)
2. recable/rebuild (parts/plugs not in properly or just bad cables)
3. grab a voltmeter and check your psu
4. Rip everything out except the core parts: cpu, mobo, 1 stick of ram, psu (and maybe a gpu if you dont have integrated gpu)
5. boot from a usb or cd and stress test individual parts (ultimate boot cd, or something like that would work)
6. then slowly rebuild your pc, testing each part as you place it back into your system

You can try diagnosing the usual suspects first (ram, bent pins, hdd, gpu, psu) but yeah you'll need to know the telltail signs, eg data corruption = hdd or ram, random artifacts/bsod = ram, artifacts ingame = gpu/psu, etc

[megido-rev.M]

Please read again:

So unless you arent employed, or have heaps of times on your hands, or just like tinkering around, or know what your doing then by all means go nuts.

nice, good that your got it working again.
for future references, a good way to diagnose (this will be quite general, it'll be faster if your recognise certain symptoms and replace the offending part(s))
1. reinstall windows (so you know its not a software issue)
2. recable/rebuild (parts/plugs not in properly or just bad cables)
3. grab a voltmeter and check your psu
4. Rip everything out except the core parts: cpu, mobo, 1 stick of ram, psu (and maybe a gpu if you dont have integrated gpu)
5. boot from a usb or cd and stress test individual parts (ultimate boot cd, or something like that would work)
6. then slowly rebuild your pc, testing each part as you place it back into your system

You can try diagnosing the usual suspects first (ram, bent pins, hdd, gpu, psu) but yeah you'll need to know the telltail signs, eg data corruption = hdd or ram, random artifacts/bsod = ram, artifacts ingame = gpu/psu, etc

Uhh......

[raandomer]

eliminating driver issues? or some rogue software? or even some annoying virus? Thats a fair starting point of diagnosing issues.... Its a fair assumption that most people are using wondows, if your rocking a mac then go chuck it back to apple, if your running a unix/linux system you should know what your doing

seriously, think for a sec before posting