Prime95 crashes at default settings

[lbholde]

My new rig ain't working. Even at "optimized default" bios settings, the application crashes after 1/2 to 3 hours of torture testing on blend. There are no calculation errors in the Prime95 screen, but it crashes with a Windows exception error. I saw the thread about a possible bug in Prime95, so I tried 3 different versions - 23.6.1, 23.7.1 and 23.8.1, all with the same results. When I tried a fsb of 210, multipier of 9 and upped all the voltages slightly, it crashed within 2 minutes. My temps have not gone above 21 / 39 according to Abit's hardware doctor. I have tried 2 bioses, 18 which came with it and d10. HELP?!! What do I do next?

[dr_hardware]

Try it with only one stick of memory, then the other. You may have a bad stick of RAM. Use Memtest86 to test it:
www.memtest86.com

[golfer49]

Try memory timings of 11-3-3 at cas 2.5 with 2.8 volts on the memory, 1.7 volts Vdd chipset voltage, and read the following link as to other bios settings, then retest.


http://www.logan.eclipse.co.uk/abit_nf7_(s)_v2_0.htm

[Staphylococcus]

Could just be a shagged RMA-stock chip.

[END]

What do you have the volts all set to and what are your temps like?
Does it do this at CPU defaults Up the CPU volts a hair if your temps are OK the test.
We need more info here to help.

[lbholde]

Ok, currently I have d10 bios and all settings are default. Fsb, multi, voltages, etc. are at default settings, and still Prime95 crashes. During testing, my temps never went above 21 case / 39 cpu. Now I have a different problem; I can't get to the bios screen. When I hit the delete key on bootup I get a black screen with a blue bar at the bottom, and a flashing cursor on top. That's it. I tried clearing the cmos but still I can't get to the bios screen. I can boot into Windows though. I'm going to try re-flashing the bios, maybe to 20, and see what happens then. Also, I'll try it with one memory stick at a time.

I should add at this point that I bought everything new from Newegg EXCEPT for the cpu, which I bought used on Ebay a month ago because it was unlocked. So in other words I can RMA everything except for the cpu; for that I have to buy another cpu, which I really don't want to do except as a last resort. And I most certainly won't get an unlocked one if I do. I still have my Palamino 1700 I could throw in for testing purposes. HELP!!!

[lbholde]

Update: I flashed to d20, cleared the cmos, and now I can get to the bios. I have everything set to defaults. I'll try the memtest and using one memory stick at a time. But meanwhile, if anyone has any other ideas please tell me. Thanks.

[Staphylococcus]

As a matter of interest, d20 allows the NF7-S2 to run Nvidia's o/c'ing utility with full functionality.
I flashed to it yesterday - and it turns out to clock just as well as d10 or d18 - FSB and gross.

[lbholde]

Update: at all default settings, Memtest86 ran for 7 1/2 hrs with no errors.

After the memtest, I installed the Nvidia Nforce 3.13 drivers and set my rig to 200fsb x 11, vcore 1.75v, ddr sdram 2.8v, chipset 1.7v and agp at 1.6v. I enabled cpu interface. I set mem to 11-3-3-2.5. Then I played Enemy Territory for about 2 hrs and my temps hit 41 cpu / 20 case at their max. No crashes.

Question: What type of results does Prime95 give if your system is unstable? Does it crash with a Windows exception error (the one that says something like, "Sorry, Windows has to close, do you want to report this to Microsoft?"), OR does it give some kind of calculation errors inside the program window itself? I was getting the Windows exeption error. Maybe I don't have a hardware problem? Maybe it's a Windows problem??

[lbholde]

That's one small woot for you, one giant woot for me!!

I think my problem is solved. Upon the advice here and in other forums, I tested one DIMM at a time. What I did was set all defaults, then changed the following: fsb = 200, mult = 11, cpu interface enabled, 6/6, timings 11-3-3-2.5, upped the voltages to 1.75, 2.8 and 1.7, disabled various things recommended in the oc'ing guides. Then I tested the first DIMM in slot 3 w/Prime. It failed within 5 minutes, but with a calculation error inside the program window (got xxx, expected yyy).

Then I removed the suspect DIMM and replaced it with the other. Using the same settings, I ran the torture test for 11 hours! I stopped it manually, no errors or warnings!

Methinks this is sufficient evidence to RMA the first DIMM! One more woot for Newegg and their great return policies!

Thanks to all who gave advice, it is much appreciated

[Staphylococcus]

Well done, my son.
You have passed the first stage of initiation and will henceforth be known as lbholde - post-probationer.

[chocoruacal]

Buffalo RAM, correct? The Buffalo I've been using is turning out to be nothing but ••••.

[lbholde]

Yes its Buffalo. I went on the recommenation of some people in various forums. Do you have the Winbond modules or Micron modules?

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by lbholde on 12-28-2003 at 07:18 AM
Yes its Buffalo. I went on the recommenation of some people in various forums. Do you have the Winbond modules or Micron modules?

Winbond. I have two more sticks arriving today. One more bad stick and I'm taking a torch to them