8VT800-RZ faulty

[jordo]

Hi,

I'm a newbie. I have a gigabyte 8VT800-RZ motherboard. My system is very unstable, BSODs all the time, with different STOP errors.
Randomness pointed towards faulty RAM. I've run memtest86 and windows memory diagnostic. Memtest failed in test 7, and windows diagnostic in LRAND.
I had elixir 512MB (2x 256) dual channel DDR400 (PC3200). Tried all combinations possible with the sticks in each DIMM slot, even testing each stick separately at lower speeds, 166 and 133, and always failing memtest at test7 and windows diagnostic at LRAND. I was suspicious that both sticks could be faulty.
Anyway, I bought brand new GeIL 1024MB (2x 512MB) dual channel DR400 memory, guess what? Same errors in memory tests, grrrrrr!
It has to be something funky with the motherboard!

What can I do, apart from buying a new motherboard?
Plus, I can swap memory fine, but is it more complicated switching motherboards?
Has anyone ever had similar problems?

Any help would be great,
Cheers,
Jordan.

 

[pat]

one thing I always do when memory problem occur is to raise RAM voltage to 2.7v in BIOS. And I also raise vcore (cpu voltage) by 0.05v. That don't hurt anything and may help to stabilize thing if the PSU is not strong enough or the motherboard has some tendency to undervoltage.

 

[jordo]

ah my first helper, thankyou I will try that over the weekend. If it still fails i'll have to ask for hints on how to replace motherboards!

cheers.

 

[Crashman]

Wow, that IS a crappy board! The worst chipset in the industry! I certainly hope your stability problems are solved with an increase in RAM voltage!

 

[jordo]

Hi guys,

update: still fails memtests Didn't BSOD on me this weekend, but didn't use it all that much.
I think I shall have to purchase a new mobo!
Can I ask you guys on your opinions on what mobo I should get. My system specs are below but I have to remember that I should get one with 4 DIMM slots as I now have two lots of dual channel DDR400 modules (that I think are in working order and not the cause of the failed memtests).
On that, if a new board has 4 slots could I use my original sticks (2x elixir 256MB) and my new sticks (2x GeIL 512MB) both in dual channel mode?
More importantly, will it be difficult to get the processor out of my old board and put it in the new board, considering all I have done previously is change memory modules?!

Cheers,
Jordan.

***
SiSoftware Sandra

System
Host Name : J-AB65YHKLD4NW2
User : jordan
Domain : MSHOME

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Speed : 2.81GHz
Performance Rating : PR3743 (estimated)
SMT Support : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Standard
L2 On-board Cache : 1MB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size,
2 lines per sector

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
MP Support : 1 CPU(s)
MP APIC : Yes
System BIOS : Award Software International, Inc. F1
Mainboard : Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. 8VT800-RZ
Total Memory : 512MB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : Giga-Byte Technology PT880 CPU to PCI Bridge
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 201MHz (804MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 512MB DDR-SDRAM
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 201MHz (402MHz data rate)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : SAMSUNG SP0802N (75GB)
Hard Disk : USB 2.0 Flash Disk USB Device
CD-ROM/DVD : SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-252F (CD 52X Rd, 52X Wr)
CD-ROM/DVD : SAMSUNG DVD-ROM SD-616E (CD 48X Rd) (DVD 6X Rd)

Logical Storage Devices
1.44MB 3.5" (A : N/A
Hard Disk (C : 75GB (70GB, 94% Free Space) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (D : N/A
CD-ROM/DVD (E : N/A
Removable Drive (F : 125MB (79MB, 63% Free Space) (FAT)

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 3 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : Generic USB Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Mass Storage Device
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : PS/2 Compatible Mouse

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : Standard Game Port
Device : Vinyl AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM)

Communication Device(s)
Device : Generic SoftK56

Power Management
AC Line Status : On-Line

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Home (Win32 x86) 5.01.2600
(Service Pack 1)

Network Services
Adapter : VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter

Performance Tips
Warning 100 : Large memory sizes should be made of Registered/Buffered
memory.
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more
information about the tip.

 

[Crashman]

Hmm, that depends, are you from a 2nd world country, 3rd world country, or Australia? I don't see this board on the market anywhere else...so I have to assume your options are limitted.

 

[jordo]

I am in Oz. I bought my new memory from http://www.techbuy.com.au/ they have plenty of mobo's too.
Or when you say "options limited" do you mean in terms of being compatible with my other components?
I just require it to be compatible with my processor and video card, yes? I'm not an expert but there shouldn't be any problems, compatibility wise, between a new mobo and say, my HDD and CD/DVD drives, should there?
I can definitely pick up on your dislike of my current board, I did go budget and am now feeling ashamed! :roll: Next time I will spare my sanity and opt for something of at least moderate quality and not go el cheapo!

How about this one (I didn't look very hard, i.e. the first one I found)?

http://www.techbuy.com.au/products/46931/MOTHERBOARD_INTEL_S775/Gigabyte/8I865GM-775/GA-8I865GM-775_i865G_LGA775_800FSB_DDR400_SATA_VGA_LAN_mATX.asp

would it be ok?

cheers,
jordan.

 

[Crashman]

Sorry, that board has a different socket.

 

[Crashman]

That site only has 3 Socket 478 boards, all of them are junk. In fact, all of them are so low-grade, I'd be hard-pressed to find them in the U.S. You guys get a lot of 2nd world trash designed for the south-asian market, because, well, you don't have a large enough market to push for the good stuff.