JimPhx Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 I'm building a new system with an ABIT AL8 MB, Pentium D 940 dual-core CPU, Corsair VS1GBKIT667D2 RAM modules, and a 256 MB PCI EXpress X16 video card. I'm not interested in over-clocking. The system works fine under DOS. However, the Windows XP install program abends with a BSD whenever it tries to load the Windows GUI. I'm trying to decide if the RAM or MB is faulty, or whether I have something incorrect in the BIOS. In the BIOS I'm using the values coded in the STP eeprom. I've searched online for the hex error codes. The responses don't apply to what I'm doing (installing WinXP). I've tried each memory module individually and in each of the memory sockets with the same errors. I've used a PCI video card instead of the PCI Express and receive the same errors. I've tested both RAM modules using MEMTEST86+. After running 5 minutes the memory testing program abends with a machine error. Thank you for your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wired Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 a machine error, and not one from within the program? Odd, CPU mabye? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 28, 2006 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 28, 2006 I would check with the MB maker for the latest bios and see if that helps, but if you are not getting errors in memtest, I would suspect some other problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPhx Posted June 28, 2006 Author Share Posted June 28, 2006 Either the CPU or MB. I can't beleive BOTH memory sticks are bad. Since I bought these parts online I'll have to repace them the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPhx Posted June 28, 2006 Author Share Posted June 28, 2006 Since Memtest blows up after just 5 minutes, it isn't giving me very useful information. The MB is on the most-recent BIOS update. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 28, 2006 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 28, 2006 It would be close to impossible that you got two bad or dead modules from us, they are all 100% tested before they leave our factory. I would suspect some other problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPhx Posted June 28, 2006 Author Share Posted June 28, 2006 I think you're right. It's probably the motherboard. I'll have to send it back. :(: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 28, 2006 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 28, 2006 Might be but what PSU are you using and what is the make and model of your PSU? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPhx Posted June 28, 2006 Author Share Posted June 28, 2006 I've tested the system with 3 different power supplies. Two are 450 watt, one 300 watt. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 28, 2006 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 28, 2006 Any 300 Watt PSU would not be enough and depending on the system configuration and the make of the 450 Watt PSU's they might not be big enough either. And did you reset the bios and load setup defaults when you changed the PSU? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPhx Posted June 29, 2006 Author Share Posted June 29, 2006 The system received the same error messages and was unable to install WinXP with any of the power supplies. I have reloaded the defaults in the BIOS numerous times during my testing, even when I hadn't made any changes. I even shorted the jumper. Still the same result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted June 29, 2006 Corsair Employees Share Posted June 29, 2006 We can try changing the modules but I would suggest talking with Abit first and see what they say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimPhx Posted July 8, 2006 Author Share Posted July 8, 2006 This problem has been solved. I had to buy another mobo, more RAM sticks, and another CPU in order to test the components by swapping. The problem was with the Pentium D CPU!! A surprise! It was expensive but it was the only way I could test the parts. I've been building systems since the 80s and this is the first time I've encountered a bad CPU. At first the vendor refused to take it back because it was longer than 7 days, but eventually they consented. I'm waiting now for a replacement. The Corsair memory modules are fine. Thank you for your suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted July 13, 2006 Corsair Employees Share Posted July 13, 2006 NP and Thank you for letting us know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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