New processor, won't POST... sometimes (quirky issue)

[NieNie]

So I recently upgraded my old Phenom II to an FX8370 and have run into a very strange issue. Upon booting initially it worked fine and after the POST it continues to work perfectly. However every few restarts it will refuse to POST. I clear the CMOS, I put in the exact same identical saved settings and it will boot that time and the next few times before refusing to POST and repeating the cycle. The only changes to my system are the CPU and RAM frequency (plus I flashed the motherboard from its pre-bulldozer firmware).

Curiously I haven't seen this issue the times I have switched back to the Phenom II. The RAM does change and that potentially may be an issue I'm running it at factory settings and timings and have seen it play up at around 2000 instead of 2400MHz. Everything is set to factory recommended, Nothing currently installed has been pushed past factory settings (Phenom II had been toyed with but not left overclocked but it works fine). Most BIOS settings are at auto/default.

I am running an FX 8370, Asus M5A99X EVO mobo, 16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro, XFX Fury (incredible price here at overclockers). I've also got a full set of PCI-E cards, but those have been fine for years. TP Link wifi, Sound Blaster Recon3D (pre-Sound Blaster Z with the same processor), Sound Blaster X-Fi xtremeMusic PCI (very early 1st generation X-Fi, PCI non-extreme, my hardware baby), 850 Evo, 500GB only (lost a harddrive recently though after the issue started). XFX 550 watt PSU, can check the exact model in the morning if needed. Mobo PSU and PCI cards are all 2012 era, CPU, RAM, GPU and HDD are all under a month old.

If it manages to POST it will be perfectly fine for anything. Has done everything from running games and benchmarking to re-installing windows. Temperatures are still fine and will refuse to POST at CPU 40 degrees.

Feel free to ask anything else, hardware, tests, whatever really. It may be something incredibly simple as I've got no experience in errors like this so my apologies if it is. Thanks for taking the time to read.

 

[joeyjojo]

Tricky one.

The obvious thing to check is the BIOS version, but you said you flashed it. The support list says you need at least v 2501.

The RAM does change and that potentially may be an issue I'm running it at factory settings and timings and have seen it play up at around 2000 instead of 2400MHz.

I'm a bit confused about this. According to the mobo specs:

4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 2133(O.C.)/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz ECC, Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory

Maybe your CPU doesn't like 2400?

 

[NieNie]

The obvious thing to check is the BIOS version, but you said you flashed it. The support list says you need at least v 2501.

Maybe your CPU doesn't like 2400?

Thanks I'll give it a go. What gets me is that 2400 was one of the given options with no overclock whilst the Phenom II would only show 1600 so I assumed they had written it wrong. Plus as long as I get it to POST it runs 100% perfect for as long as I like, had it on for 24 hours so far including games stress tests and the like without issue. Anyway I'll get back to you when I've had some testing of it.

As for the BIOS version it wouldn't post at all until I remembered to flash it (derp) and I went for the latest version, triple checked it would work with the FX on top of it (changing CPU back and forth with wet thermal paste isn't too fun).

 

[pandem0nium]

Will probs need higher than stock volts on the cpu-nb to run 2400 ram stable try 1.3v then 1.35. 2400 isn't a given either, it might be better to run 2133 with tighter timings if it keeps giving you trouble.

 

[NieNie]

Thanks. I've dropped the RAM speeds (1-2 FPS isn't a big deal and its likely less) and I'll try that for now. I'll let you know when I finally get round to restarting my computer etc. What confused me, however, is aside from the POST it runs perfectly. It ran fine in stability tests, benchmarks, gaming, was running for 24 hours straight without issue, as long as it gets past the POST it's absolutely perfect and stable with no errors. Would this be expected in mem/northbridge issues?

Edit: I've also been wondering if it has something to do with ASUS settings on auto. I've changed a few to demand stock frequencies instead of just no overclocking please now auto settings. I'll keep you updated either way and if it works properly I'll run some tests and let you know what's what. Also gone for poor RAM timings too rather than factory settings (which are still slow with that RAM). Pretty much everything I can think of along with a "please work computer" and "I miss my Phenom II".

 

[pandem0nium]

Maybe just try the xmp timings on the lower divider then tighten them up once you know it's stable.

Try and get as high bus as possible when overclocking it and get the nb around 2400.

I miss my PII as well, was a bloody good cpu.

 

[NieNie]

Ok so I've tried dropping the RAM frequency below 1800, absolutely no effect on any of the dividers. Using loose timings etc, its identical to the situation at 2400. Any other ideas? Also the CPU has Cool'n'Quiet turned on (tried with it off, no difference) and it hasn't dropped below 4GHz at all, even with zero load. Not sure if thats relevant but it might help.

I'm almost tempted to put the Phenom II back in, I absolutely abused that chip at the end of its life and it just sat there "anything else you want?" Quite honestly I'm glad I avoided the FX series for so long. Phenom II made me absolutely love AMD and the FX has made me start considering a switch to Intel after less than a week :<

Edit: Also not really sure what it means but on a faulty boot it takes a few seconds then as it dies the CPU LED on the motherboard turns on for a fraction of a second. A normal boot will see the CPU light come on very quickly, then RAM for a fraction longer, then the GPU power LEDs come on along with the screen. Hopefully thats relevant or says something. Still testing out everything I can think of here so I'll keep you all informed.

 

[pandem0nium]

Cool and quiet doesn't do anything with the ram. It should drop the multiplier and voltage on low load like speedstep.

I've had ram that doesn't like to be ran outside of its specifications, even looser timings at lower speeds.

It could be down to the motherboard. Have you tried the ram at stock? As in whatever jdec settings it defaults to rather than xmp.

I've had an fx 8350 @5.1 and a 960T unlocked to a hex and overclocked to 4.2. The phenoms always been my favourite and the most fun to tweak. I would've just stuck with that unless you were willing to change the whole platform.

 

[NieNie]

Cool and quiet doesn't do anything with the ram. It should drop the multiplier and voltage on low load like speedstep.

I've had ram that doesn't like to be ran outside of its specifications, even looser timings at lower speeds.

It could be down to the motherboard. Have you tried the ram at stock? As in whatever jdec settings it defaults to rather than xmp.

I've had an fx 8350 @5.1 and a 960T unlocked to a hex and overclocked to 4.2. The phenoms always been my favourite and the most fun to tweak. I would've just stuck with that unless you were willing to change the whole platform.

I've tried the RAM at just about everything. Loose 1333 and 1600, XMP profile at 2400, loose and tight timings between 1600 and 2400, everything. I wondered the motherboard too, it is nearly 5 years old now. However it ran perfectly with the Phenom 2 even overclocking etc was fine and it continues to run perfectly, games stress tests and other at 24+ hours at a time without restart with no issues at all... as long as it gets past the POST. I haven't got a spare mobo to test it all with unfortunately.

Anyway I'm still wondering if its one of the auto settings. It seems strange to me that it will start up perfectly fine with high performance settings a once or more and then crash, even displaying the same with the lowest settings I can put. Also fixing it instantly every time via the jumper makes me think that. So I guess I'll go through slowly and lock down all the auto settings to manual one by one until I find it. As I say its an old motherboard which needed to be flashed to run any FX chip, maybe they messed up some FX settings or simply didn't update it for piledriver? I'm not really sure how Asus does their auto settings or if it would ruin restart number 3/4+ without changing the first two but its all I can really think. If anyone has any other ideas to test I'd love to give them a go.

Edit: As for the RAM its managed fine without issue on the Phenom II. Its the set I tested SteamVR etc with so everything from 2400 to 1333 and whilst it can't pull as tight timings as some sets it runs fine without errors, doesn't crash on a stress test, and is given its lax factory profile to run on (or slower). Anyway I can't imagine its the RAM or really anything aside from the CPU and mobo, its all worked for a while with the Phenom II and continues to run stable with it. Its just the CPU causing issues and the mobo is ancient enough for me to question it.

More Edits: Just done my checks, its the Asus M5A99X EVO rather than the EVO 2.0... but I flashed the right BIOS so I probably just had a blonde moment remembering it as the 2.0. If that makes any difference then great, if it doesn't well its worth being accurate anyway.

User error ***As for cool'n'quiet I meant the CPU wouldn't change speeds, it was locked at 4k+ with the turbo. However that seems to be down to Windows 10 being derp, if I change the power options in windows to limit the CPU to lower than 100% it drops the speed instantly (and stays locked to whatever new speed Windows decides to lock it at, 1400-4000).*** Not used to Windows 10 :< fixed