New Build Problem :/

mks2005 · 1 Dec 2007 at 13:52

I've just finishing together putting together a new build.

Sonata III w/ 500W EarthWatts PSU
Abit IP35-E
C2D E2180
OCZ 2GB DDR2 800
500Gb WD
(and my old X800)

Problem is as follows.

Boot up, everything starts then after about 5 seconds, stops. Then after a one second pause starts again and I get a post screen. However I'm presented with a CMOS checksum error.

Now, if I then restart things, the computer will then get to the logo screen and then hang. It will continue to do this unless I reset the CMOS jumper - and the same thing starts again.

Now by the third time of trying instead of the checksum error I get "CPU is uworkable or has been changed."

On the post screen the memory checks OK, it detects the CPU, my HD etc.

I had a similar problem on an old motherboard and it drove me nuts. I fear this is some sort of motherboard problem. How annoying. Any ideas?

I can't really think what to do because there's not really much I can test.

mks2005 · 1 Dec 2007 at 14:00

Just to add, I removed the logo screen to find out exactly where things go wrong.

Main Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual 2.04Ghz (204x10.0, 1 CPUs)
Memory Testing: 2097152K OK
CPU Brand Name: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2180 @ 2.00Ghz
C1E BIOS Supported
EM64T CPU

Here it freezes...

EDIT: OK, well, having done some more testing, it appears that I only get the error when a particular RAM stick is plugged in. However, there still is the issue of the "boot pause" and also - when I restart, it actually completely powers down and boots up again. :S

mks2005 · 1 Dec 2007 at 15:19

Well in case anyone else is having a similar problem here's how to solve them... The memory issue wasn't a faulty stick but instead a voltage issue. Upped the DDR volts to 2.1 and no problems.

Secondly the "double booting" problem is a common issue with the board and has been recently fixed in a BIOS update.

http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=445141

Datamonkey · 1 Dec 2007 at 16:02

Hey up,

Just a heads up, a lot of everyday ram now needs 2.0v+ to run correctly. Annoying as most motherboard manufacturers set the ram to a default 1.8v

Bit late now you have fixed the problem yourself though. But hey ya learnt summat

thefishdude · 1 Dec 2007 at 16:19

glad you gpt it sorted, the ram voltage thing is an annoying prob that has been around since core2 duo came out. you would think by now they throw a lil extra volts in as default .