New Processor - i5 - Cache Hierarchy BSOD

[nillawafers]

I just upgraded my CPU from a Pentium G3258 to an i5 4440 (used). I got it from a reputable place, so I can't imagine the chip is bad.

Whenever I boot, everything is fine for about 15 minutes and then it BSODs with an "uncorrectable hardware error" pointing to the processor. It doesn't matter what I'm doing. It does it when I just leave it at the desktop, play a game, or surf the web.

My temps have concerned me, since it will ping 100C when running burntest. However, like I said, the BSOD happens even when the CPU is hovering around 40C on idle.

What's odd, though, is that it doesn't have an issue when I boot into safe mode. At least not that I've seen. It hasn't crashed there...yet...

This issue is just draining me. I don't know what else to do. I updated my BIOS, and I've been considering a clean install but idk if that would help. i don't have the original CD, so would it be possible to extract the product key from my system and then download Windows 7 somewhere and validate it that way?

 

[videogames101]

overclocked?

 

[nillawafers]

The 4440 doesn't support overclocking, and my mobo is an MSI H81M so it doesn't support it also. It's at the stock speed of 3.1 GHz. I've also turned off turbo boost and it didn't help.

 

[videogames101]

Have you ruled out other components?

Whats your RAM situation? 1 stick? 2 sticks? Try running with just one or the other if you have 2. If you only have 1 try different memory slots and run a memtest.

Try a different video card.

Swap PSU.

Disconnect all peripherals like CD drives and extra hard drives.

Reset CMOS for shits and giggles.

CPU is not likely to be bad, even a message pointing to memory hierarchy could be the result of some other component. Clean install would also be recommended, not sure about how to extract a product key though.

 

[Madpacket]

It's your RAM.

 

[nillawafers]

The thing is that it has to have something to do with the processor. When I was running the dual core Pentium the only time I had trouble was when I got too ambitious with the OC. Otherwise I never had any issues.

This only started after I switched CPUs. I've also ran a memtest and it came back with zero errors on the one 8GB stick I'm using.

I'm praying it's not a fault of the CPU. I mean, right now I'm typing this from inside Safe mode, and it hasn't crashed in 30 minutes, so I can't imagine that the CPU is going bad.

 

[Madpacket]

It's your RAM or a bad memory slot.

 

[Madpacket]

The thing is that it has to have something to do with the processor. When I was running the dual core Pentium the only time I had trouble was when I got too ambitious with the OC. Otherwise I never had any issues.

This only started after I switched CPUs. I've also ran a memtest and it came back with zero errors on the one 8GB stick I'm using.

I'm praying it's not a fault of the CPU. I mean, right now I'm typing this from inside Safe mode, and it hasn't crashed in 30 minutes, so I can't imagine that the CPU is going bad.

Try swapping RAM slots if you only have one stick or downclock it to 1333 which the G3258 only supported on H81 boards. Memtest isn't always reliable. Also if you're hitting TJMAX under loads your cooling is inadequate, probably should fix that.

For giggles what OS you running? NM, Windows 7. There are free tools to grab the cdkey from the registry (just Google) if you want to reinstall.

 

[DrMrLordX]

It has occurred to me that nobody has bothered to ask what memory speed the CPU defaults to when you use the i5. Is it defaulting to DDR3-1333 or 1600?

 

[nillawafers]

How do you figure it's my RAM? It's one 8GB stick of G.Skill Ripjaws 1333. It's set to auto in the BIOS so I assume it's just running at it's highest speed.

If I were to reinstall Windows, where could I get a copy of the actual OS since I would probably have to format my HDD, otherwise I'm afraid it would crash in the middle of the install.

 

[Ken g6]

Bent pin on the socket?

 

[nillawafers]

Could a driver or program cause a hardware BSOD like this?

 

[DrMrLordX]

How do you figure it's my RAM? It's one 8GB stick of G.Skill Ripjaws 1333. It's set to auto in the BIOS so I assume it's just running at it's highest speed.

Never assume that auto settings do exactly what you want. Check that memory speed immediately after boot to see what it's doing. The default is probably DDR3-1600 for an i5 on that chipset.

 

[nillawafers]

Okay, I just switched it to only use 1333 after it crashed in safe mode...lol...

Awesome.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Try the Pentium. While faulty CPUs are extraordinarily rare, they're certainly not unheard of, and I doubt your mobo would have failed right after a swap. The only other thing I could think of is damage to the socket itself, so that would also be worth an inspection anyway.

 

[maddie]

Okay, I just switched it to only use 1333 after it crashed in safe mode...lol...

Awesome.

Are you saying setting the ram worked?