Core i5 keeps changing speed on bootup

jamtarts2117

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Nov 25, 2013
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I'm at my wits end here and I'm at a loss for what to dol. I thought i'd ask peoples advice here before I go and buy a very expensive replacement component.

I have a core i5 3570K in now an Asus P8Z77 motherboard. I got this new motherboard because I thought all the bootup errors were caused by the previous motherboard.

I'm still getting those errors. What happens is, when I'm in windows, programs on startup will crash at random (catalyst control centre, skype) and sometimes it bluescreens. After a few resets it's ok.

I've run memtest on the ram modules. They're ok
I've replaced the PSU thinking it wasn't giving the right voltages, it's fine
I've replaced the hard drive with an SSD, thinking that might be the issue
I've replaced the motherboard, and still getting this issue.

What I've noticed is, when booting up, the speed should be 3400MHz, but instead it always seems to be over by a few Mhz, now it's running at 3432Mhz, sometimes 3412Mhz, but I've not seen it boot up except when I first put it in at the proper speed.

I don't do overclocking (unless you count turboboost as OC, which I don't) and I don't understand those settings so I leave them well alone. I'm basically looking for some sort of fix if possible, otherwise it's a dodgy CPU.

The bluescreen messages only show up for a split second, but I think I've seen PFN list corrupt, and memory management. That's why my initial two suspects were RAM and HDD
 

plasmastorm

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Oct 18, 2008
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Had similar issues on my 3570k, couldn't OC it what so ever after around 4 months of it being at 4.5Ghz. Had to run it at stock and even then sometimes the system would fail to boot or give a bsod with memory controller issue.
Turned out to be a faulty memory controller on the CPU. Replaced the CPU and running happily again.

If you have access to another CPU you can try I would recommend this.
Also as Ihog has mentioned, if you change motherboard then you should also reinstall windows to remove any possible issues there
 

jamtarts2117

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Nov 25, 2013
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Oh, I had to reinstall windows, USB stopped working in windows. I've gotten so used to it that I have win7 on a usb3 flash disk to expedite the process.

Interesting, I didn't know the memory controller was located in the CPU itself, that'll explain the lack of a northbridge heatsink. Those issues sound like a dodgy memory controller. Thanks so much for pointing this out. Replacing the CPU was next on my list. Ho hum!