More Random Restarts...What the Hell?

[mawsoccer]

Just to get you guys caught up, here is my previous post.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=128435

Well, anyway, since my last thread, I have once again tested Orthos at all of those settings and it was again stable for 10 + hours at Small FFTs.

Also, I have installed a beta version of Vista just to test the opperating system is corrupt theory. It don't think it can be that because I just started getting the random restarts in Vista now too.

The graphics card can't be the problem either, there are no graphics card overclocking programs that work in vista, so that has been at stock the whole time.

I have tried upping the vcore, defaulting the ram settings, everything...

I have also raised the fsb to 406 on the 3.2 ghz setting (which I try to run at most) to hopefully avoid any fsb issues (I forget what its called)

The only time my system seems to be 100% guarenteed not to freeze is when I have EVERYTHING at stock.

What the hell is going on here? Can someone please help me isolate the problem?

Of course now, I have had just about all the parts more than 30 days so I probably wont be able to RMA them. (Will I?)

I just want to know what the hell is causing these problems. I ran some pretty in depth hard drive scans, which I will be running again I guess, along with a bunch of other tests, but can someone give me suggestions, so I can hopefully avoid dissecting my whole computer and RMAing every single part if that is even possible.

[anarinsk]

When I used P5B-D, I've experienced same thing for you, random reboot. I found that some USB equipments such as USB TV receiver were root of the problem. I'm not sure that USB-related issue is the real problem.

At now I'm with P5W64 WS. There is no such a random reboot.

[mawsoccer]

Hmmm... so if I disconnected all my USB devices and then tried my computer it shouldnt freeze?

How could the USB be causing the problems if nothing freezes when my pc is at all stock settings?

[azzido]

I had the same problem with P5B Deluxe. It was working fine for a few months (overclocked) and then windows started crashing, etc.

I ran memtest at stock speed just to make sure memory was ok and it wasn't stable. I then removed one memory stick and it passed memtest, but after I switched sticks mainboard refused to POST.

Best solution I think is to get a new mainboard, because it's pretty much impossible to have a stable/working P5B system

[mawsoccer]

You mean pick out a different mobo or RMA my P5B Deluxe?

Like I said it has been more than 30 days since I purchased these products, so I dont even know if I can still RMA, much less return it and get a new one.

[ted3]

P5B again, too many problem posts about this MB. I wonder... Could it be.. Sure looks like. :)

[azzido]

You mean pick out a different mobo or RMA my P5B Deluxe?

Like I said it has been more than 30 days since I purchased these products, so I dont even know if I can still RMA, much less return it and get a new one.

ASUS gives 3 years warranty so you still have some time left :)

[mawsoccer]

So, I should ditch the P5b Deluxe and get another board?

Or, should I get a new P5B Deluxe?

[ted3]

So, I should ditch the P5b Deluxe and get another board?

Or, should I get a new P5B Deluxe?
Many guys here had lotsa fun with OC on P5B, others had lotsa nightmares. Still no one can say your problem is the MB but i know I would change brand. Other P965 boards without issues? I dont think so, i seeen too many reasons to stick to 975X, and when it comes to pure performance 975X has humiliated 965P in too many tests. Lets face it, the only reason P5B is popular is because of high FSB on 2MB Core 2 Duo's (because of the low multipliers). Thank God and whoever i decided to get an E6600 so i didnt need the higher FSB of the P965 boards.

[mawsoccer]

Here are the Memtest results after almost 9 hours.

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2623/img15642hy.th.jpg (http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img15642hy.jpg)
Here are the settings:

FSB: 9 x 378
Vcore: 1.4250v (Set in Bios)
Vcore Reading in Bios at Idle: 1.376v
Ram Speed: DDR2-756
Ram Timings: 4-4-4-12 Trfc = Stock (42)
Ram Voltage : 2.25v (Set in Bios)
Stock Ram Volts = 2.2v (Not an option in my Bios)
Stock Ram Speed = DDR2-1000
Stock Ram Timings = 5-5-5-15 Trfc = 42

[Bail_w]

P5B motherboard is a great overclocker, but i went through lots of RMA with asus. yet, none of the board is errorless.

[NickS]

P5B motherboard is a great overclocker, but i went through lots of RMA with asus. yet, none of the board is errorless.

:hm:

[mawsoccer]

So, there is always a problem with your board, no matter how many times you RMA'd it?

[Thasp]

Try the following.

a) Move the ATX 24 pin cable while plugged into the running board. Don't unplug it or unhook it in anyway, just move it around, bend it left and right. Do the same for the EPS or P4 connector.

b) plug in a USB device, such as an MP3 player, or a HD MP3 player, then unplug it.

c) Without applying too much force, put your fingers on each side of the northbridge heatsink and tilt it around. Same with the southbridge. See what happens.

d) While touching the PSU for proper grounding, feel all over the board, after it's done a few minutes of blend orthos at a high priority level, while it is running. Find any hot spots? Find any specific black thing that's burning?

If B caused the shutdowns, well, that's a bad habit, and stop doing it.

If C caused the problems, take the chipset heatsink off. Clean everything with 91% isopropyl alcohol, and put tape around the chipset, but not on the chipset. This'll prevent the copper or aluminum from shorting two of the little metal things sticking up around the chipset. Now the metal things can't be shorted out, but the chipset still receives proper cooling.

If A caused the problem, try the PSU with another board. Same problem? Then it's the PSU. Not the same problem? Then the ATX connector, or the P4 connector, is messed up on the board, so replace the board.

If D is true, buy some vga ramsinks off of newegg and put them on those parts.

If none of these work, I'll continue troubleshooting. :)