Stability problems with Abit ic7

Mike Brown · Jul 14, 2003

system stats

abit IC7
p4 2.4 800FSB HT
1 gig corsair PC3200 DDR
Radeon 8500
Tried two seagate barracuda ATA IV 80 gig
and a Maxtor 120gig

I've had my ic7 for a few days now, I bought it with a 2.4 p4 chip planning to do some overclockin' but I can't get it to run stable at stock speeds. I made the mistake of taking a hard drive from my old computer (AMD 1700+) and trying to boot the OS with the new MB, I knew it wouldn't work I just wanted to see how far it would get( crashed at the XP boot) I mention it but I don't think it would have any adverse affects on the hardware.

I then formatted the drive(both quick and standard formats) and tried to install Windows XP but I keep running in to file copy problems, about 12-15 diff files (ntfs.sys 3 or 4 times)wouldn't copy unless I told setup to try again, most of the time it would work on the second or 3rd time but some times it would reboot after try number 3. I flashed the bios to 1.5 and upped the DDR voltage to 1.7 like some of the posts said and I was able to get XP to install, I still had the copy problems but it was able to get each file and would boot into windows.

I tried to install on 3 diff hard drives, using 2 diff copies of XP, one legit on not so legit. I tried installing Redhat 7.3 ( just what I had) and windows 2000( 2 disks) and it didn't work on any of them until I upped the DDR voltage and flashed the bios.

Once I got into XP I would experience crashes from the get go, I didn't have the chance to install to much but IE and mozilla would both crash after a number of web pages where visited, then the next time it would crash at a lower number of sites until it would just crash loading the home page. No crash data for you, the event viewer tells me nothing and all I have are dump files filled with information in Hex

I installed SP1 and all the hot fixes, new video drivers, during the installs I was prompted for the location of a file several times, clicking ok on the default made it work. when ever I rebooted the computer it would hang on the XP shutdown screen and then when it rebooted I would see an error saying the system had recovered from a serious problem.

Someone recommended updating the INTEL chipset drivers and so I did and it worked fine for about a day without a problem then it went down hill again, mozilla won't load the home page and CS crashes after a few mins. I ran seti@home for a couple of hours without a problem but I still can't browse the web or install other programs. One upside is the lockups at shutdown went away with the new chipset drivers.

I think the problem is in the disk IO because the problem appears when ever disk usage is high, but it's almost like it only happens 0.0001% of the time so it works most of the time

Does anyone have any ideas? I would say bad MB but I always thought it was a "work" or "don't work" type of thing, not a "mostly work". I'm pulling my hair out over this so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

TomG · Jul 14, 2003

I don't think you have a bad mobo but I wonder what it is running the RAM at as far as the speed goes... did you set the bios to a default, preset CPU and then leave the other stuff all default (since it is grayed out) or did you select a User Define CPU and then rest the other stuff up manually?

this almost sounds like ram instability to me but hard to say. it would be good to know what DDR spec. the board is running the ram at and how the bios is set.

h2so4 · Jul 14, 2003

Your problems have all the hallmarks of the DIMM voltage issue. You say you raised the DDR voltage to 1.7v, I presume you mean 2.7v. You could try raising it to 2.75 or even 2.8v. I understand that that's Corsair's warranty threshold is 2.8v. You could check this out with Ramguy on the Corsair help forum. I had similar problems installing XP and eventually got it up and running by setting the DIMM voltage to 2.75v and using very relaxed memory timings, something like 3, 3, 7, 3. as I recall. At these settings XP installed without a hitch and since then I've raised the memory timings to 2, 3, 6, 2 and my system with a PIV 3.0c at default is stable. I have the PAT settings at auto and can't be bothered to fiddle around with the rediculously named "street racer" and "F1" nonsense as my system runs everything I need.

Mike Brown · Jul 15, 2003

Thanks for the lead, I just ran ram test on it and it failed with flying colors, mostly smoke and fire. module one failed and module two passed. so newegg will be reciving one 512 MB stick of corsair PC3200 RMA very soon.

And just FYI they where running at the default SPD settings. 2.5-8-3-3 at 2.6-2.8V ( I tred them all)

I'm going to drop them down to 2.7 and retest just to make sure everything is ok for the longe term.

Thanks again to both of you for the help.

"TomG" wrote:

I don't think you have a bad mobo but I wonder what it is running the RAM at as far as the speed goes... did you set the bios to a default, preset CPU and then leave the other stuff all default (since it is grayed out) or did you select a User Define CPU and then rest the other stuff up manually?

this almost sounds like ram instability to me but hard to say. it would be good to know what DDR spec. the board is running the ram at and how the bios is set.

--

Thomas Geery

TomG · Jul 15, 2003

enjoy!

INANE · Jul 23, 2003

I have the exact same problem and I was able to fix it by increasing the RAM voltage as well (although I still get occational crashes even at default speeds, muchless overclocking). My point is, why should I have to do this?

I have since RMA'd the board back to Abit, mainly because of the noisy microphone issue. Also in hopes they send me back a more stable board. But I wonder if the fault lies with Abit or Corsair in this case. My gig of DDR400 is the TWINX type so I had hoped things like this would not happen. If the board I get back has similar troubles I am not sure who I can blame, Abit or Corsair.

Anyone have some thoughts on this?

-INANE

"h2so4" wrote:

Your problems have all the hallmarks of the DIMM voltage issue. You say you raised the DDR voltage to 1.7v, I presume you mean 2.7v. You could try raising it to 2.75 or even 2.8v. I understand that that's Corsair's warranty threshold is 2.8v. You could check this out with Ramguy on the Corsair help forum. I had similar problems installing XP and eventually got it up and running by setting the DIMM voltage to 2.75v and using very relaxed memory timings, something like 3, 3, 7, 3. as I recall. At these settings XP installed without a hitch and since then I've raised the memory timings to 2, 3, 6, 2 and my system with a PIV 3.0c at default is stable. I have the PAT settings at auto and can't be bothered to fiddle around with the rediculously named "street racer" and "F1" nonsense as my system runs everything I need.

TomG · Jul 23, 2003

it is common knowledge that raising the DDR voltage a little helps with stability. as for the mic issue, I would be upset about that as well.

FatHippy · Jul 23, 2003

In message <fBDTa.18590$zd4.2827@lakeread02>, TomG
writes

it is common knowledge that raising the DDR voltage a little helps with stability. as for the mic issue, I would be upset about that as well.

Indeed.

Having had an IC7-G board for a week or so now, a variety of things have surfaced about it, and sound chip issues are one of them.

However they have got the ALC650's setup on this board, there is either a PCB design issue, or inadequate shielding from electrical interference. The sound chip seems to be picking up some electrical interference (possibly from the case fans) and managing to transfer noise through the output jacks (and presumably the input ones as well, although I haven't tried those). If I turn my soundcard right the way up, I can hear a rapid, oscillating "Brrrr...brrr....brrrr" noise from my speakers, even when the PC is doing nothing.

I shall disable the onboard sound and transfer my old SB Live! card in due course and see how that turns out.

With the memory and/or BIOS issues (still working on this to determine which it is) I am having with this board too, the IC7-G is turning out to be a bit of a trial by fire. Not what I would expect from a board costing nearly 150UKP.

This is my 4th Abit board, and the first one I have ever had that has given me problems.

h2so4 · Jul 23, 2003

Even making allowances for the new chipset I shall remember the Abit IC7-G as a bit of a bummer. I may replace it it the medium term future for a similarly specified but better engineered product. My previous motherboard was a TH7IIR that was a joy to own and forget about. The main value of the Abit fora is as a source of information about the bugs and design faults (sound CPU temp values) experienced by users. I wish I had read these before I had read the reviews, but I'm a bleedin' eejit!

INANE · Aug 4, 2003

I recieved my IC7 back from RMA. I haven't had a chance to investigate whether the mic noise problem is gone or not. The board was still not stable with memory at 2.6V and with everything default (SPD memory settings). But at 2.7V things seem to be ok so far, even with the 2.4Ghz OC to 3Ghz.

A bit disapointing still but as long as things stay the way they are, acceptable I suppose.

-INANE

TomG · Aug 4, 2003

this is a known issue with the chipset more than the board, I believe...

ndrew · Aug 4, 2003

"INANE" wrote:

I recieved my IC7 back from RMA. I haven't had a chance to investigate whether the mic noise problem is gone or not. The board was still not stable with memory at 2.6V and with everything default (SPD memory settings). But at 2.7V things seem to be ok so far, even with the 2.4Ghz OC to 3Ghz.

A bit disapointing still but as long as things stay the way they are, acceptable I suppose.

-INANE

What is disappointing about pushing a chip from 2.4 Ghz to 3.0 Ghz and with only a slight rise in ram voltage? My board has been running with those setting since I got it. The idea is to find where your stability lies safely and live with it o) regards @ndrew