[astromac06]

I recently purchased a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P motherboard and a Q9650 Quad CPU, but I'm having some serious problems getting the new build to work.

Here's the problem: When I install the Q9650 and boot the system up, I get the single short "successful post" beep, the post screen displays and then the system hangs. I can't get into BIOS or get anything else to work past the post screen. Sometimes the system will hang at the post screen for 15-20 seconds and then reboot, other times it will just hang at the post screen permanently. Holding a key down on the keyboard does nothing -- I don't even get the typical "click" that indicates that a key has been held too long.

When I install my older CPU (E6700 Dual Core @ 2.66GHZ), the system works just fine. I can get into BIOS and even overclock with no problem.

I've tried two different Q9650 -- I RMA'd the first one believing that it was the problem. But the new one I got today has exactly the same issue.

Here's the other things I've tried:
- Using only 1 stick on RAM (tried all four slots and 4 different RAM chips)
- Upgraded BIOS to F7
- Cleared CMOS, loaded fail-safe defaults
- Installed E6700, upped memory voltage to 2.0 volts, then installed Q9650

System Specs:
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard
4x1GB OCZ PC2-8800 (1100) RAM
Nvidia GeForce GTX 295
Seasonic M12D 850W Power Supply

Help! Any Ideas?

 

[ltulod]

did you manually set the recommended timing for the memory?

 

[astromac06]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll try to set the timings manually. The board auto sets them to 4-4-4-15, even though the sticks are rated 5-5-5-15 @ 1100.

Making the changes is tough because I have to put make the changes with the old processor, remove the waterblock, install the new processor and reinstall the waterblock

 

[teK0wnzU]

Bios update...???

 

[Acoma_Andy]

2.0v doesn't seem enough for those sticks, set it to 2.1v and then set DRAM termination voltage to 1.0v.

 

[Nelson2011]

The non beta f8 bios just came out. Im running the f8a beta but it runs fine so dont need to risk killing my mobo lol

 

[astromac06]

Where do you get the non-beta F8? I only see F8F on the gigabyte site.

 

[astromac06]

Found the new bios at http://forums.tweaktown.com/f69/giga...st-bios-28441/. Weird that the beta ones are still on the gigabyte site...

 

[astromac06]

Still no success. Here's what I just did:
- Updated bios to F8
- Set memory timings to 5-5-5-15
- Set DRAM voltage to 2.1v, DRAM Termination voltage to 1.0
- Manually set CPU multiplier to 9X (my other CPU runs at 10X, thought that may have been the problem)

With 4 sticks of memory in, I get a post screen for 10 seconds then a reboot. Happens continuously.

With 1 stick of memory in, I get old problem -- hang at the post screen with no ability to enter BIOS.

Other ideas?

 

[zodder]

I had the exact same problem this morning, with the same 2 cpus and motherboard. It wasn't until I reset the CMOS (removed battery) and found which 2 sticks of ram out of the 4 would work that it finally booted and ran fine. I still haven't got 4 sticks of ram to work, but I did manage to isolate the ones that wouldn't work and all's fine with 2 x 2GB Corsair DDR2 800.

 

[astromac06]

Finally figured it out, it was the ram. For some reason the board didn't like any of the modules of OCZ ram I had. Went out and bought some overpriced 2x2GB PNY ram and it booted right up.

Thanks for everyone's help!