Anyone had this problem with MSI Z68A-GD65 (G3)?

iDrinkStella

iDrinkStella

iDrinkStella

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Hey guys,

Here's my computer specs,

Motherboard: MSI Z68-GD65 (G3)
Motherboard Driver: All up to date drivers
Motherboard Chipset: Z68
Motherboard BIOS: E7681IMS V23.6
CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K OEM
Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) 1600MHz
Memory Latency: 9-9-9-24
PSU: OCZ Stealth Xtreme 2 700W
Graphics: MSI N560GTX TI Twin Frozr II OC Edition
Graphics Driver: 290.53 Beta driver
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DG
Sound Driver: Version: 7.12.8.1794
Operating system: Windows 7 64Bit

I've sent the Overclockers tech support a web note and they suggested i posted in this part of the forum to see if i cant get any help here first, here's the problem i sent them...

I had the system put together and running fine just before the new year. Once all the drivers and bios had been up dated I went into the bios to change the speed of the ram to run at 1600MHz and set the voltage to 1.507v. That was the only settings I had changed and all was running fine for aprox 3 to 4 weeks. A couple of days ago 19/01/12, I decided to start overclocking. I was doing this by just increasing the multiplier in the bios by a little at a time and testing using IBT and Prim95. I got to a multiplier of 43 and it passed the stress tests but when I change the multiplier to 44 and clicked save changes and reboot the system failed to reboot and got stuck in a boot loop until it finally booted displaying the message that the ocing had failed. I pressed F2 to restore default setting and continue. The system then booted into windows. I then shut down the system and a minute or so powered back on, it powered on for a couple of seconds then turned off then a couple more seconds later it turned back on and continued to boot into windows. Ever since then when ever the system is turned on it does that double boot and I am unable to try any ocing as it always fails. Also when I click the option for spread spectrum in the overclocking setting and choose disable the system locks up and is stuck on the bios screen, only way to get out is press the reset button on the motherboard. I have tried different bios versions as advised from the MSI HQ forum and using their flashing tool. The same problem happens with any of the bios versions. At the moment I have the system running on a bench setup with only the ram, processor and cpu attached.

If anyone has any help with this matter i would really appreciate it as at the moment my system i kind of useless as i want to oc but cant. I'm not sure if this breaks forum rules but this is a link to my thread on the MSI HQ users form explaining my problem and things that have been suggested i try and have tried with no luck.

Also on sunday windows decided that it needed to be authenticated again but i just clicked the ask later option and later in the day it decided it was an authentic copy, it has now done this again this morning and i can't figure out why it's doing that now as well.

Cheers
Alex.
 
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Very disappointed with OCUK at the moment.

Right so i just got off the phone with tech support about the problem with my motherboard I'm having and they didn't help much at all. Because it runs at stock speed and the double boot isn't considered a problem and the guys computer i spoke to double boots they won't do anything. I explained to him that i can't even set me ram to run at the speed it used to and all he kept saying is that they can't take it back as the manufacturer wont accept it. WTF, i can't use the board for what it's pretty much designed to do OVERCLOCKING. The only thing he said to do was keep trying to get support from forums!! I've been getting brilliant help from the MSI forum and tried everything they'd suggested and unfortunately non of it works. I'm so ****ed right now!! Hopefully when MSI tech support come back from their holidays i'll get some better help from them.

Sorry to have a rant here but when you spend £150 on a motherboard you expect it to do what it's advertised to do and if it doesn't at least be able to get an exchange for a board that does!!!

If anybody has any suggestions on what i can do now i'd really appreciate some help.

Cheers guys, once again sorry for the rant!!
 
This might sound like a pretty random suggestion, but try changing the cmos battery for a brand new one.
Leave the mains unplugged when you take the old battery out for about 30 mins then press the PC power on button 2 or 3 times before you put the new battery in.
I had a similar problem on a mates PC a couple of years ago, changed the battery and it's been fine ever since ;)
Then when it first powers up go into the bios load systen defaults, save and exit.
Then re enter the bios and set all your usual settings, save and exit, and boot into windows.
 
My z68 GD80 G3 has certain led's you have to monitor on the board as It has Dual bios. If one fails the other loads. This caused some head aches when I first overclocked mine.I was confused as to what was happening till I realized It was failing on one bios and switching over to the other one.
Not sure if yours has same feature or this has any relevence?
 
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Yeah mine has the dual bios too. The primary has failed a few of times then i've just recovered by enabling auto update. Once or twice the primary bios has failed when no settings have been adjusted. My memory supports X.M.P but when enabled i get the message it has failed ocing after it has finally booted. X.M.P has worked fine before but i didn't like using it as the volts it uses is over 1.6v. If i set the memory to 1600MHz manually and manually set the voltage (which i did before and it worked with no problem) it takes several attempts to boot then shows the message that ocing has failed.

I really can't figure out what the problem could be as i've been trouble shooting since thursday last week and this morning while on the phone to ocuk tech support the guy just seemed like he couldn't be bothered helping me out. I even ask if they could take the board and cpu back just to test it and all he said is they can't and just to try getting help on here. :(

Cheers for the input though ooch, any help is great :)
 
I would re-flash the BIOS again using the MSI Flashing Tool not the live update.
and the latest BIOS which you can get Here
Here is a link for the MSI Flash Tool if you are not a member of the MSI Forum.

Flash the BIOS then shutdown your PC and take out the power lead.
Remove the battery for 10+ minutes to clear the CMOS, don't skip this step, just pressing the button to reset CMOS does not work completely.

Put the battery back reboot and test with optimised defaults from the save page.
If alls good check out this.
 
I'll give that another bash Tekgun. I've tried that a few time but didn't leave it for 10 mins, i just took the battery out and held the button down for about 1 min or so. Fingers crossed. Will report back later with the results

Thanks again Tekgun.
 
Not that it helps but I have to say the double boot issue is VERY common.

I have exactly the same issue with an Asus board. It doesn't double boot all the time but does some times.

All started when I raised the memory speed to 1600mhz.

Keep the memory at 1333mhz and stay with that.Yes I know it should work at 1600mhz but then you have to put up with the double boot issue. Try 1333mhz and see if it stops the double boot. Then you have a choice whether to put up with the double boot. Honestly if you read all the reviews 1333mhz - 1600mhz memory in a sandybridge makes no difference worth mentioning. Clear the bios as suggested and see if your double boot goes away.

I suspect it will.

I know yours is an MSI board but I think there are issues with 1600mhz support in sandybridge chips. Remember the memory controller is on the CPU now.

I have two asus boards that do exactly the same thing by the way so it isn't a one off by any means.
 
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Hi, another thing, after you turn off/ disconnect power lead at back of PC. Press & hold in power button on front of PC for say 30 secs. This dissipates energy stored in Capacitors etc, prob best to do after switch off, before disconnecting power lead.


Cheers BOB
 
Sadly after the bios flash and leaving it for a while with the battery out it's made no difference. All settings at default, memory a 1333MHz and still double booting, guess i can get used to that. Now windows is saying it's not genuine and i have to re activate it?! It is a genuine copy and i activated it just before the new year, it's done this a couple of times now. Anyone got any guesses why that could be happening now??
 
It's just so frustrating that non of the ocing stuff works anymore and there just doesn't seem to be any reason for it. The memory was running fine for a few weeks at 1600MHz and the X.M.P worked to but didn't use it , now non of it works. I mean it still boots into windows and i can do stuff but what's the point in spending all that money on a board when a big part of the bios is useless. The way i want to oc is the way Tekgun linked but can't because if i try and disable spread spectrum the computer freezes, if i try and do any slight oc (memory or cpu) the computer just gets stick in a boot loop then says the ocing failed.

I think i've actually run out of things to try and i can't even send the board or cpu back for testing because it all works on standard settings. If i wanted standard settings i'd of bought a normal i5 2500 and a board that doesn't have all the ocing capabilities that this one does, just feel like i've been shafted a bit. :(
 
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