Boot Loop on Z77-DS3H (can fix with BIOS restore, but BIOS keeps "corrupting")

hBarcellos

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Sep 13, 2015
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*PS* I carefully searched for all previous problems about this behavior. I know how to fix it, but, I don't know WHY it keeps happening to me! :eek:


I've been happily using a 3770 on a very nice Z77-DS3H for three years. Bought it circa 2003 and the machine was amazing.

Decided to upgrade and gave this setup to my kid. Started to mount it on Corsair Spec Alpha + Corsair SSD + 16gb Corsair DDR3 (2x8gb).

Machine was working fine, but then, all of a sudden, the -already described here- symptom of constant reboot (2 quick restarts: fan on, psu spins, fan off + one boot with Gigabyte SPLASH screen + a blank screen with "Gigabyte DUAL UEFI Bios" header shows up, 5 seconds and the whole loop restarts).

Already unplugged everything, leaving just the Motherboard, single DDR chip + just the heatsink! (yes, it's a thermaltake FRIO OCK, can handle fine for quick testing).

The only way to remove it from the loop, is to start trying to press several keys (DEL + ALT + F10 + F11 + F12) randomly just before the 5 second splash screen. When I get to that point, it says: BIOS Corrupted! Restoring previous one...

Well, the point is: What might be causing the BIOS corruption? When I changed the MOBO from cases, I used Coollaboratory Liquid. I'm very careful, but, maybe I dropped some around the processor area? I ended up disassembling everything, cleaned with Isopropilic Alcohol and replaced with Gelid Extreme (non conductive).

Another "issue" I had when assembling was that, Thermaltake FRIO fans were acting weird. I touched the CASE's FAN controller and the voltage chip was burning like hell. In the end one of the fans stopped working and I decided again to triple check all FAN connections: nothing. Decided to throw away the original FANs and adapted a Corsair SP120L PWM to the heatsink: perfect, no heat on the fan controller and so on...

So, any ideas? I'm able to basically use a multimeter. Maybe I can check some of the MB components for some failure? Maybe there's still a short somewhere between the case and the MOBO (im using the screws on the case just like I always do, but, who knows)?

All the best,
 

hBarcellos

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u_12823124.jpg


I might, but, I think it's SMD solded on the board. Check the above picture between SATA3 and USB 3.0 there are two chips: M_BIOS and B_BIOS. Besides, (so far), I have no reason to believe that this behavior is happening due to a faulty chip (M_BIOS probably).

My best guess is that theres a short somewhere...

*BTW* I think there's something related to removing all PSU power. If I remove PSU cable to do something, the constant loop keeps happening...
 

hBarcellos

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Some days ago I tested with my Seventeam 600w.
But, if I remember correctly I only tested with it during the problem (bios was corrupted).
IF the problem is caused by Thermaltake PSU, I would need to fix it before using the new PSU.
I'll conduct more tests later today @ night.
Maybe I can even get a new Corsair 500W. i think it should be enough for a 1060 + 3770 + 1 SSD.
 

hBarcellos

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Ended up getting a Corsair CX750. Apparently it's working fine now.
Looks like the failing (crap) Thermaltake PSU was corrupting the BIOS. Luckly it was not able to completely ruin the board + the i7.

Well, now, just for fun, maybe I can try to test this old PSU a little deeper. Any suggestions about how to do it? Multimeter?
 

Max1s

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Good to hear that its running better now.

I don't know much about PSU's, but you'd need to check that it is not only delivering the correct voltage, but also delivering the correct voltage consistently under load. Maybe check out a Tomshardware article where they review and test a new PSU?
 

hBarcellos

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Thanks Max1s. I'm still trying to find some time to test the PSU a little deeper.
Meanwhile, during all the testing, I have tried to use another motherboard with this setup. It was an Asrock B75M-DGS 2.0 (MicroATX).

The setup was unable to boot. I thought it had something to do with the processor being damaged (Coolaboratory liquid spill), but now I see that everything was working fine except the crappy Thermaltake PSU.

So, realistically, what are the chances of this Asrock MB being fried by the PSU? Any suggestions/considerations?