Is my E8400 a dud?

[roy23]

I've been running an E2160 @ 3.2G with a tuniq tower, on a gigabyte P35-DQ6 quite happily for several months and decided to give an E8400 a spin.

I updated to the latest bios (F7d) before the swap.

On default settings in the bios, at 3G, I get lock ups running orthos and
superpi after about 4 to 5 mins.

I downclocked it to 2.7G and it runs fine, at least an hour of orthos anyway
until I got bored. But back to the default of 3G and it will lock up even just
browsing the web or sometimes on loading windows. I've tried increasing
the voltage a touch on vcore and fsb but it does not help.

Memory settings are the same at both speeds (conservative 400-5-5-5-18
with corsair xms2 - I've had it at 500-4-4-4-12 with the e2160).

I haven't tried overclocking it at all yet. Have I got a dud?
Anyone got any suggestions?

ta!
roy

 

[Jezza101]

what are your system temps like? Is the cpu cooler doing its job?

 

[randal]

That's exactly what mine is doing, I've RMA'd it because of the lockups at stock. The temps and voltages are all over the place too.

As annoying as it is, it's a comfort to see someone else with similar problems. Can you post the batch/packing details please? (Q74... blah blah).

Cheers

 

[roy23]

thanks guys...

bios says 21C at idle, coretemp says 41 on one core, 35 on the other at load,
although not sure I can believe coretemp with wolfdales judging by other threads.

I'm pretty sure the cooler is ok, I've plonked the e2160 back in with the same
cooler and new application of thermal compound (some perhaps now geriatric
artic silver 5) and it behaves as it used to, stable at 3.2G.

the case is open during all of this and the airflow is good. can feel some
warmth in heatsink base and heatpipes and fins are cool. doesn't feel any
different with e2160 and e8400.

will retrieve batch/packing details shortly.

if I want to rma it, do I have to do that to intel, or back to overclockers?
ta.

 

[Renegade87]

according to the site bios f7d is a beta version maybe theres an issue there.

 

[Hesky82]

Doggy cpu or unstable bios release, that’s all I can imagine.

 

[roy23]

it's only the beta bios that supports the 45nm processors at all.
there is an F7e floating around as well that is not on the gigabyte support
site, but it behaves the same way with that.

 

[roy23]

well, the e2160 is back in and rock solid again with the beta bios still.

the info on the e8400 is
SLAPL MALAY
Q744A698
pack date 01/09/08

I've seen success reports with this cpu, m/b and bios on other forums, so I guess
it's rma time. <sigh>