Q9550 won't post

[mahlon]

I just got a Q9550 to replace a Q8300 in order to use the virtualisation in Win 7. The old system was quite stable but wouldn't post with the new cpu. I swapped back and forth a couple of times and ended up putting the 8300 back in. The shop checked the 9550 and it booted fine on their test bed so that's not the problem. I tried removing a stick of ram to see if it would boot single channel but no luck. It's an Intel board and is listed as compatible with the 9550. I'm on the latest bios (0121).

the system is:
Intel DP45SG board
Thermaltake TR2 RX 550w - 33 amp across the 12v rails
2 x 2gb DDR3 1333 PC10666 OCZ CL7-7-7-20
3 hdd - 1 is a 10,000 rpm unit
2 dvd/cd rw drives
9800GT+ video

I'm trying to gather as many ideas as possible to try before taking things apart again. I don't want to have to swap the chips back and forth too many more times as I don't trust the flimsy pins on the stock intel coolers.

Any ideas would be most appreciated.

 

[SpeedEng66]

have you tried to clear the cmos/bios

 

[aigomorla]

have you tried to clear the cmos/bios

^ this.

Something is probably borked on your bios settings.

Also is the Q9550 a E0? if not your better off with the Q8300.

 

[mahlon]

^ this.

Something is probably borked on your bios settings.

Also is the Q9550 a E0? if not your better off with the Q8300.

I'll have to check - it's either E0 or C1 depending on version. Why is the 8300 better? - it's R0 stepping and no virtualisation support. Also slower and smaller cache...

In any case - I'll try the CMOS reset over the weekend and post results. Thanks for replying.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

wait, you bought the Q9505 or Q9550? and yeah, make sure you reset the bios before you install the chip < pull the battery first then re-set it just to make sure.

 

[aigomorla]

I'll have to check - it's either E0 or C1 depending on version. Why is the 8300 better? - it's R0 stepping and no virtualisation support. Also slower and smaller cache...

In any case - I'll try the CMOS reset over the weekend and post results. Thanks for replying.

R0 run's cooler, and overclock higher then a c1.

R0 is a half cache step of the E0.

E0 is what you really want on yorkfields.

Edit:
Sorry i noticed you said virtualization.

Do you use VMWare constantly?

Have you tried overclocking the Q8300 first?
Gillbot had one and he took it up very high, like 3.7ghz i think.

 

[mahlon]

R0 run's cooler, and overclock higher then a c1.

E0 is what you really want on yorkfields.

Edit:
Sorry i noticed you said virtualization.

Do you use VMWare constantly?

Have you tried overclocking the Q8300 first?
.

I checked the chip and it is the E0 spec. So all is good .
Here's the plan. I'll pull the box apart on the weekend, put the 9550 in and clear the CMOS. I'll probably burn an ISO first to flash the bios just in case. It's on the latest version but it can't hurt. If it won't post then, the only thing I can think of is to disconnect everything except video and one stick of ram and see if that makes a difference. If it posts, I'll start connecting bits until it stops. I'll post results.

Thanks for all responses and I'd welcome any more thoughts before I take the lid off again.

 

[aigomorla]

I checked the chip and it is the E0 spec. So all is good .
Here's the plan. I'll pull the box apart on the weekend, put the 9550 in and clear the CMOS. I'll probably burn an ISO first to flash the bios just in case. It's on the latest version but it can't hurt. If it won't post then, the only thing I can think of is to disconnect everything except video and one stick of ram and see if that makes a difference. If it posts, I'll start connecting bits until it stops. I'll post results.

Thanks for all responses and I'd welcome any more thoughts before I take the lid off again.

oh yes... bios update indeed.

Some boards didnt support an E0 until bios updated.. however if it worked for your R0, i dont see why the E0 wouldnt work.

Is the E0 used? And if it was used how long was it used?
Possible voltage migration issue so your chip requires more voltage then normal to perform?

Im taking a guess here, so dont freak out...

 

[mahlon]

Thanks to all for the advice so far, but unfortunately the problem persists.

I switched chips and removed the battery for about 1/2 hour. Unplugged the hdds and optical drives but left the video card in so that I could see if it started to post (no video on the board). Same result as before. Fans spin but no post - no signal to the monitor.

The cpu is new, out of the box, factory sealed and from a reputable shop. Also, I took it back there and their service shop had it running on a test bed so it's unlikely that there's anything wrong with the chip. Bios is at the latest version. Set to defaults. The hardware monitor page in the bios shows voltage as being slightly under, so maybe I should boost that up a bit and see what happens...

Drop the old chip back in and all is sweet. The CMOS was reset because the clock was back to default. So, I'm stumped - any other ideas?

 

[Xpoc]

Came across this:

Intel Complaints - Intel Quad Processor doesnt fit on Intel motherboard
Review all Intel complaints
Intel
Posted: 2009-08-20 by Dumass



Intel Quad Processor doesnt fit on Intel motherboard

Complaint Rating:
Company information:
Trident Systems
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

The Intel DP45SG motherboard doesn't work with the Q9550 Quad CPU. The CPU heat-sink cannot be installed because it doesn't fit. The processor sits 8mm off the motherboard surface and the heat-sink has a 5mm gap from the mounts, so the difference is a whopping 3mm off or more than 1/8 inch. So to install the heat-sink you practically push the bloody CPU through the motherboard and the motherboard is cupped and bent.

What is even funnier is that they bundle this crap together!

Thank you Intel Support for pretending this problem doesn't exist and treating me like a bloody idiot.

I have lost my appetite for Intel, this is the second Intel motherboard disaster in a row and I have enough!

 

[aigomorla]

Came across this:

Intel Complaints - Intel Quad Processor doesnt fit on Intel motherboard
Review all Intel complaints
Intel
Posted: 2009-08-20 by Dumass


The Intel DP45SG motherboard doesn't work with the Q9550 Quad CPU. The CPU heat-sink cannot be installed because it doesn't fit. The processor sits 8mm off the motherboard surface and the heat-sink has a 5mm gap from the mounts, so the difference is a whopping 3mm off or more than 1/8 inch. So to install the heat-sink you practically push the bloody CPU through the motherboard and the motherboard is cupped and bent.

FACE PALM.

Its called mounting pressure.
The more you have, the greater the contact is with the sink + ihs.
Therefore the more efficent the sink can work.

Ive used a TON of stock sinks, and they dont cup the board to that degree.
Sure its a PITA to push in, with push pins, but once its in, the board wont cup like that.

Even then arent u using an aftermarket sink?

Thats why we tweek the TRUE mounts so it provides greater mounting pressure, and that usually increases its performance.
Also why the megahalems work so well. There mounting system is much greater then the TRUE and provides a better mount.

 

[mahlon]

Came across this:

Intel Complaints - Intel Quad Processor doesnt fit on Intel motherboard
Review all Intel complaints
Intel
Posted: 2009-08-20 by Dumass



Intel Quad Processor doesnt fit on Intel motherboard

Complaint Rating:
Company information:
Trident Systems
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

The Intel DP45SG motherboard doesn't work with the Q9550 Quad CPU. The CPU heat-sink cannot be installed because it doesn't fit. The processor sits 8mm off the motherboard surface and the heat-sink has a 5mm gap from the mounts, so the difference is a whopping 3mm off or more than 1/8 inch. So to install the heat-sink you practically push the bloody CPU through the motherboard and the motherboard is cupped and bent.

What is even funnier is that they bundle this crap together!

Thank you Intel Support for pretending this problem doesn't exist and treating me like a bloody idiot.

I have lost my appetite for Intel, this is the second Intel motherboard disaster in a row and I have enough!

I wish it was that simple but this is simply nonsense. The Q9550 is dimensionally exactly the same as the Q8300 that's working perfectly in the computer (I'm using it now). I had no issues installing it. The first time I put it in, I just assumed it would work without any issues and completely reassembled the computer and put it back in place with everything connected. Since then, I've had the chip in and out numerous times. Also this has nothing to do with the cooler as I'm not bothering to put it on when seeing if the computer will post with the new chip. But thanks for trying - really - if anyone can think of anything else to try...

 

[mahlon]

Got a response from Intel. Advice was to remove one stick of RAM and regress BIOS to v 0073 with the Q9550 in, using the recovery method - i.e. removing the BIOS jumper and starting up with either a cd or flash drive with the .bio file in the computer. If it posts, I can then supposedly upgrade to the latest BIOS with the new chip in place. We shall see. I'll post results in case anyone else has this issue.

 

[aigomorla]

Got a response from Intel. Advice was to remove one stick of RAM and regress BIOS to v 0073 with the Q9550 in, using the recovery method - i.e. removing the BIOS jumper and starting up with either a cd or flash drive with the .bio file in the computer. If it posts, I can then supposedly upgrade to the latest BIOS with the new chip in place. We shall see. I'll post results in case anyone else has this issue.

fail on intel support.

That only works if your ram is being undervolted and its not supplying the proper boot up voltage for 2 sticks.

:\

Its the board compatibility your running into.

 

[mahlon]

Oh hell, I'll try it - it's just a pain in the butt. It may be a bios issue... I'll post results

 

[mahlon]

So. After trying all the things people on 3 forums suggested, all the things that intel email support and chat support suggested. I gave up and bought an Asus P5P43TD mb. It's pretty close to the DP45SG - P43 instead of P45 but uses the same I/O controller so windows doesn't get too confused. Sorry Intel, here's the bad news: I installed the Asus board with the Q9550 and it booted with no drama at all. I'm using it now. Same memory, same PSU, same video card, same 3 hdds, same 2 optical drives. Problem solved. Since the DP45SG works fine with the Q8300, I left it in on the board and will probably use the board to build up an HTPC with spare parts sometime soon. Thanks to all who tried to help - I'm sure the advice was sound - just can't help dodgy engineering.

 

[Hyperlite]

So. After trying all the things people on 3 forums suggested, all the things that intel email support and chat support suggested. I gave up and bought an Asus P5P43TD mb. It's pretty close to the DP45SG - P43 instead of P45 but uses the same I/O controller so windows doesn't get too confused. Sorry Intel, here's the bad news: I installed the Asus board with the Q9550 and it booted with no drama at all. I'm using it now. Same memory, same PSU, same video card, same 3 hdds, same 2 optical drives. Problem solved. Since the DP45SG works fine with the Q8300, I left it in on the board and will probably use the board to build up an HTPC with spare parts sometime soon. Thanks to all who tried to help - I'm sure the advice was sound - just can't help dodgy engineering.

semi-good to hear. Odd problem though...