Abit ip35 won't boot with Q9550

[wunkley]

(Have posted this in cpu section too, not sure which is most appropriate)

As title, just cannot get this to work. Is an Eo stepping by the way.


I've upgraded the Abit ip35 to the latest 18 beta bios (m630a.bin one) and still no joy. Comp just won't boot up, all the fans spin up, hard drive kicks in and it feels like it's almost going to work, but doesn't. Putting my e8400 back in all is fine so no other probs with my gear.

Having now done some more web investigations it seems that for some ip35 owners they had this exact problem, but for others it all works fine, especially if using the latest 18 beta bios. For those that it did't work, nothing would help and most caved in and bought new motherboards.

I didn't buy the Q9550 from ocuk, or online, I bought it from a physical shop (shock horror). Problem is I therefore can't send it back under the 7 day distance selling regs, and if the chip isn't actually faulty in itslef (which I don't think it is) then will the shop take it back??? Need some advice quick folks.

 

[wunkley]

Just tried that suggestion thanks. Put on official bios 18, then put back on latest 18 beta bios. Still nothing, just won't boot up

My Q9550 is an E0 stepping by the way, which from what I've found will only work with this latest beta bios.

I think I give up to be honest. Only thing is, I don't think this 'shop' will give me a refund for the Q9550 will they, so looks like I either buy a new motherboard or sell at a big loss.

I don't really want to buy a new motherboard, as if I was going to do that I may as well go i7 or i5 or something newer. Arrrrrrrrrrg.

 

[wunkley]

you may find someone with a C1 and newer board to swap with via MM.
or just get a cheap p38/p41/43/45 board.

both would cost less that the loss of the quad sale.

Or go the whole way and get i5 as a [email protected] and Q9550 will cover most of the cost
add the abit and if its 2*2gb of ram and your are only 70-80 short. All your kit is working so it's not like a hardware failure upgrade where you have nothing to trade.

I'm in a total quandry now. All I wanted was a simple cpu upgrade and it's turning into a stress. Due to all the hassle I'm now having doubts about quad core anyway especially as my e8400 goes at 4ghz no problem. Will I really see any benefit in games, which is my main concern.

So, I think I have narrowed my options down to:

A) Just sell the q9550 at a loss and hang on to the e8400, try and forget about this debacle and then upgrade my whole MB cpu and ram to i5/i7 or whatever esle is down the line in a year or so.

B) Get a new mother board and try for the quad. Draw backs to this are bigger spend than I wanted for not that much gain (probably), AND the biggest one for me is I realy can't be bothered reinstalling windows and all my software.
Also, what motherboard should I go for. Has to guaranteed work with q9550 and I won't be happy unless I can clock it to 3.8ghz. The Asus P5Q turbo looks good, but it's about £90. Any cheaper suggestions that are good clockers and guaranteed to work with q9550?

What you reckon folks?