I need help Determing bad MOBO or CPU

[argrebil]

So I have built a couple machines and been lucky and haven't gotten any DOA parts. But this last machine I built was my first AMD set up for my media center and I'm stuck on whether or not my CPU is bad or my MOBO. Here is what the are:

ASUS M4A78-EM
AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor

I got all of Windows 7 32bit installed and was in the process of installing drivers and updates when I got my first BSOD. So I started testing to see what I could find out. I'm running my machine at stock speeds and the only changes I made was I bumped my RAM volts to 1.9v. I ran Memtest and everything past on that end the only weird thing I noticed was that it had my RAM speed set to 468 and my timing to 4-4-4-7 which I thought was odd since my RAM is DDRII800 and 5-5-5-15, but while in Windows it shows it as the correct speed. So I switched out the RAM in this machine with RAM I know works and the tests in Memtest were the same so I'm thinking that something is just weird in Memtest. So then I thought maybe the thermal grease on the CPU wasn't spread evenly and a core was over heating and shutting down. So I DLed HWMonitor and the temps all looked normal. So then I stressed it with Prime and almost instantly Core 2 failed. Then I opened up Core Temp and that is when I noticed something strange. Core Temp only was recognizing Core 1 and wasn't getting any readings for Core 2, and the load under Core 1 was 100% and Core 2 was 3%. So I read a couple things in forums and flashed my BIOS to the new version to see if that helped at all but no dice still having the same problems. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

 

[Blunc]

sounds like yer missing an amd driver for the dual part of yer dual core processor, unless you need to open a second instance of prime for the second core.

 

[argrebil]

Is there still an AMD driver for Windows 7? I thought there wasn't one for vista/7.

 

[Blunc]

don't know, just shootin in the dark due to XP needing multicore driver

 

[imported_Mills]

1. What was the BSOD error? Was it triggered by something specific or random?
2. Are you checking RAM speed/timings with CPU-Z?
3. Why did you up your ram voltage if you are running at SPD, was that to attempt to address the problem?
4. I'd reinstall Windows with your known good ram and see if you still have problems. Installing Windows with bad RAM can corrupt critical system files.
5. Try a Linux LiveCD and see if you have any problems with multicore. (You can usually issue the command "sensors" at the command prompt to check temperatures) Perhaps try some kind of sure to be pain in the ass Linux benchmark for CPUs. This to try to eliminate a bad driver.
6. Try a different version of Windows.
7. Think I'm out of things to try, put it in the oven? (Don't actually do this)

Mills

 

[argrebil]

I get the standard StopA stating that i have a hardware problem and i should remove any new hardware and make sure it is good and then try again. Yes i checked RAM speeds with CPU-Z and everything looked fine, as to the conclusion after memtesting with ram i knew was good and was still getting the same readings so i chalked that up to must be something in memtest (just used memtest to make sure the ram wasnt bad, i just happened to notice memtest was giving funky readings). I upped my volts only cuz at 1.9 RAM is more stable that is all. Windows seems to be fine, i can boot into it fine only when i start to need cpu usage is when it crashes. I will try a reinstall/different install to see what i get from there.

 

[argrebil]

A quick update with AMD and Windows 7. A quote straight from AMD's website: "Windows 7 was made for multi-core CPUs like our AMD Phenom II Quad-Core processors for desktop and our AMD Turion Ultra Dual-Core processors for notebooks." So that leads me to believe that Multi core drivers are not needed in Windows 7. Here is the link. http://sites.amd.com/us/micros...ges/AMD-Windows-7.aspx

 

[Intexity]

as far as my build (see sig) it installed all drivers automatically which amazed the living hell out of me. even installed nvidia control panel, printer, mobo drivers etc. that would lead me to ASSUME that the windows update driver collection is at an all time high or my computer is just that old (2 years wow but figures)