CPU core fault?

[demarcation86]

Dear All

I received a new CPU from OCUK this morning (all details below). However, I have had a number of unsual problems with it.

Can't seem to run Empire Total War, it crashes out after a few minutes of a battle, no change there then I here you say! but seriously it was working.

I tried running OCCT and Prime 95 both say there are core errors: OCCT says:

error detected on core #1 (just after it starts)

Prime95 says:

Hardware failure and something about the expected number being more than 0.4. (just after it starts)

I updated the bios on my board which was running an Athlon X2 4200 processor beforehand which was stable.

For clarity I have not adjusted any of the settings on this processor.

Is it likely that one of the cores is faulty?

It is a mystery...

Support Details:
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3
Motherboard Driver: Latest
Motherboard Chipset: AMD RD770
Motherboard BIOS: Latest
CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 550
Memory: Kingston Extreme 4096 MB DDR2-SDRAM
PSU: Akasa 500 watt (brand new)
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4850
Graphics Driver: Latest
Sound Card: Sound blaster Audigy
Sound Driver: Latest
Operating system: Windows 7 latest
Changes prior to problem: No, I have only changed the CPU

 

[demarcation86]

Progress report

Right, thanks for feedback, unfortunately no joy. I have:

Reset CMOS, same problems with Prime 95 and OCCT errors, Empire Total War crashes.

Have run Memtest 86, no errors.

All drivers completely up to date.

I have not OC'ed this CPU or any of the other components.

I am now stumped.

 

[demarcation86]

Shade

Interestingly Prime 95 is stable for the small FTT test. I will have a look at the memory settings.

Many thanks

 

[demarcation86]

The board supports AM3 socket Phenom II 550 processors, am I missing something?

Currently consulting household insurance, interestingly I have lots of cover for my computer...

 

[demarcation86]

Thanks Corasik

I've tried a small increase on both voltages, still have same errors. The errors on OCCT and Prime95 (and Super Pi) are almost immediate, not like an instability issue.

I've also tried several different versions of the BIOS to no effect.

I'm pretty sure it's not the CPU as putting in another AM3 CPU causes similar faults but it works with older AM2 CPU.

Possible mobo issue? or RAM? Possibly need to hack the gibson?

 

[demarcation86]

RMA to overclockers, I feel.

Is there any way it could be the RAM (as it passed Memtest86) ? Or is it almost certain to be MOBO?

 

[demarcation86]

Thanks Corasik

I've definitely got the right BIOS, I've even tried rolling back the BIOS to earlier versions.

A new development is that Orthos runs fine also AMD Overdrive stability test and Prime 95 small FTT test runs fine.

Does this indicate anything?

Also Left For Dead 2 runs for about 5 minutes and then crashes out.

 

[demarcation86]

OK, problem finally solved. Props to Shade for correctly calling this. The fix was:

1. Look up datasheet for Kingston HyperX RAM.
2. Find SPD settings
3. Set RAM settings to exactly those SPD settings.
4. Computer now works.

I will RMA the RAM because it won't run at the optimum settings but at least it's a stable build