Gigabyte DS3 problem?

Steveh_monkey · 29 Mar 2007 at 17:38

Hi there
My PC has recently devloped a problem with booting. The PC starts and all the fans run but it does not go into BIOS, so it just stays blank.

After Reseting the CMOS it goes back to booting normally, but quickly resets again normally before windows is even loaded, going back the the orignal problem.

The problem has grown worse over time. It first did it when I overclocked the CPU to 2.8 GHZ (400mhz), and was sometimes was stable for a day or so, so I lowered the clock speed and it carried on with the same probelm. It did it on stock speed as well, and eventually it just started reseting immiediatly on boot.
Before this the PC was stable on stock for monthes, and stable on 2.8GHZ for at least a month with no signs of any problems.

I think it's my Mobo that must be faulty, as I've heard of similar problems with the DS3, especially Rev 1. I've tested the RAM in other PCs and overheating of the CPU was never a problem with my Tuniq Tower. Is there anything else I should do or test before I RMA it, or could it be another problem such as the Power Supply?

My System Specs

E6300 w/ Tuniq Tower
Gigabyte DS3
Geil Ultra low latency RAM 2GB 4-4-4-12
X1900XT
Enermax 500W PSU
Seagate 7200.10 250GB

Thanks a lot for any help
Steve Mackie

_-SIRUS-_ · 29 Mar 2007 at 18:27

i have exactly the same set up as you and my m/b has done exactly the same
annoying as i only built mine last friday
was all standard as well

gt_junkie · 29 Mar 2007 at 18:35

Getting one in a few days! :eek:

Hope this doesn't happen to mine! :rolleyes:

gt

Pizzaboy2003 · 29 Mar 2007 at 19:15

is your ram getting enough voltage? if you have a read in this thread i sure your will find what you lokking for http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17610180

danoliver1 · 29 Mar 2007 at 20:19

Its the tuniq tower thats causing your problems i know cos it happened to me also. To cure it just unscrew the tuniqs screws a bit so its not on quite so tight.
Id also insulate the backplate as well as that can cause problems if it touches the motherboard.

Neolink · 29 Mar 2007 at 21:11

As said, take the plate off the back of the Tuniq and insulate it abit, mine was shorting out on the back of my DS3 causing huge stability problems. covered it with insulating tape and now its fine

[PeTe] · 30 Mar 2007 at 11:07

these boards bend very easily

now i could see it shorting if the HS was phat

_-SIRUS-_ · 30 Mar 2007 at 22:25

cool will try this myself tomoz
glad i had anuffer comp to read up on this

_-SIRUS-_ · 30 Mar 2007 at 22:55

Neolink said:
As said, take the plate off the back of the Tuniq and insulate it abit, mine was shorting out on the back of my DS3 causing huge stability problems. covered it with insulating tape and now its fine

right i tried this and i got my screen back but cant seem to get into bios all im getting is cmos checksum error -defaults loaded
sorry for hi jacking this thread dude

_-SIRUS-_ · 30 Mar 2007 at 22:58

oops my fault usb wasnt connected for mouse and k/b
well dude Neolink if your ever down my way i owe you a pint
its running n1

Steveh_monkey · 31 Mar 2007 at 14:12

Thanks for you're advice guys. I've been playing around and it does appear that the problem may be something to do with the Tuniq. I'll wait until I've got it working and completely stable again before I decide what the problem is. Looks like I don't need to RMA anything yet (phew

)

Steveh_monkey · 31 Mar 2007 at 19:22

Well I've almost certainly (i think) narrowed it down to the Tuniq tower, and the results aren't good. I insulated the back plate completely so that's probably not causing any problems any more. I had to peel it of with a knife and now it's stuck to the back with insulating tape.

I've got the rig setup outside the case on my desk and after a while i've found that if the Tuniq tower is screwed in just a little bit, then it will probably not boot. To get it booting I normally have to unscrew the tuniq completely, so it's just sitting on the Motherboard lightly.

This is really bad news. Is it possible that having been connected too tight in the past it has now damaged by motherboard to be ultra sensitive to the pressure? I don't know if I should go about replacing the cooler or the mobo or both. Any advice?

WJA96 · 1 Apr 2007 at 09:02

Those motherboards have anything upto 5 layers in them and if any one layer is broken or cracked you'll get problems. As the CPU cooler and socket heat up they will expand and the motherboard might flex even more causing the problem you describe. It does sound like you have been unlucky with your board bending.

However, it could well also be a manufacturing flaw so why not RMA the board and see what the supplier says? Lots of people use Tuniq Towers without any issue, so it's just as likely to be a manufacturing flaw as someting you've done. It's certainly one of those "nothing to lose, everything to gain" situations.