New Build Hard Lock Issue

[dezzpayne]

Built a new PC, specs are:

i7 2600K
8GB DDR 3 1600
Asus P8P67 Pro
Vertex 3 SSD
AMD 6950
Corsair 620 watt PS

If I let the PC sit idle or just use it for browsing it works great but as soon as I load a program that taxes the system it just locks up. Not a BSOD, just frozen, sometimes with an audio stutter. The only entry in the event log is:

Event 41, Task 63, Bug check code 0

The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

If you look it up the likely causes listed are:

Overclocking: Disable overclocking and see whether the issue happens when the system is run at the correct speed. Yes I had experimented with OC but I had this hard lock twice before the OC so the OC was not the cause and I have since reverted to stock speeds and n/c.

Check the memory: Verify the memory by using a memory checker. Verify that each memory chip is the same speed and that it is configured correctly in the system. Here is where I got extensive with the testing. I used memtest86 which creates a bootable Linux that runs a test against the ram. I ran it twice and it both cases the test froze. Once on the first pass and once on the 3rd. I then ran the test with just 1 memory module and let it run for several hours. Both modules passed with no errors when ran individually. I then tried to rerun with both modules using slots 2/4 instead of 1/2 and same result.

I then tried using some desktop tools which are meant to tax the CPU, namely Intel Burn test, OCCT and Prime95. Intel burn test and OCCT cause a hard lock almost immediately while Prime95 runs fine when using small FFT's (which supposed is heavily testing the cores but not ram) but also fails immediately when testing using larger FFT's which utilize some ram. Next step is to run these tests with the individual sticks of ram but worth noting is that I also tried to compress a BR with Handbrake with each individual stick of ram and it caused a hard lock with both. I expect the tests to fail on each stick as well (be confused if it doesn't).

Power Supply: Make sure that the power supply has enough wattage to appropriately handle the installed devices. If you added memory, installed a newer processor, installed additional drives, or added external devices, such devices may require more energy than the current power supply can provide consistently. My PS is 3 years old and I may buy a new one just to rule it out.

Overheating: Check whether the system is overheating by examining the internal temperature of the hardware. I use a water cooler and under a full load during the stress tests the CPU temp doesn't go above 42-43 degrees.

Defaults: Use system defaults, and run the system. Running at all defaults with a clean Windows install.

The one drawback to building a new PC. The hard to find bug. This could be memory or processor or motherboard or PS. Any input would be appreciated!

[ScaryBob]

My PS is 3 years old and I may buy a new one just to rule it out.

That's the first thing I would look at. Maybe go to a high quality, high efficiency PS with a little more power. If that doesn't fix the problem, I would be exchanging the RAM. Motherboard and RAM compatibility is a fairly common issue at faster speeds.

[dezzpayne]

Well it's good quality ram.

G.Skill DDR1600

Freezes when using either stick and tried in different slots.

From the product page

Designed for 2nd Generation Intel Core Processors and the Z68 & P67 motherboards

If you check Newegg the ram has 285 reviews with an average rating of 5 "eggs"

Have a difficult time believing a mainstream ASUS board would not like what is arguably the most popular vendor of Ram.

Will try the PS tomorrow and ask to swap the processor. When I bought it Thursday they asked if I wanted to buy the open box (which I did not) so I'm hoping they will let me swap with the open box for the sake of testing.

[noah12]

I see you have a Vertex 3 SSD drive I read somewhere there was issues with the drive updates were available check it out. All ssd drives are having some related isues not just the vertex. The bios has to be changed to accept the ssd drive etc.

[ScaryBob]

Just swap one thing at a time to make troubleshooting easier.

RAM compatibility is not a sure thing. I had two pairs of identically marked RAM purchased about a month apart. One pair worked perfectly with my ASUS mobo, the second developed problems after a week. Swapped them, same thing happened. It turned out that the RAM vendor had made some changes in the meantime that affected ASUS mobo's. That's especially true of RAM with bleeding edge timings, like DDR1600.

[majortom]

one quick and easy way to verify RAM is to use a Live Linux Distribution CD (or USB thumbdrive). Most of them come with memtest86. instead of booting in to the OS,
run memtest for a while, see if any errors.

[dezzpayne]

I did, when using 2 sticks it froze, when using each stick individually it ran hours without error.

I bought an open box cpu/ram at Canada Computers (no restocking fee) and a PSU (while I'll keep anyway). One way or another I'll figure it out today!

[dezzpayne]

Well after a couple hours it looks like it was the ram. Not quite ready to throw my hands up in celebration but after a few burn runs using OCCT and Intel Burn Test it hasn't died. Have encoded a movie with Handbrake as well without a problem. Will give it a good stressing overnight to be sure.

Odd to find 2 extremely mainstream parts not like each other. The timings on the old ram was 9-9-9-24 which is pretty much industry standard for DDR3 1600. The new stuff I picked up is still DDR3 1600 but the timings are 8-8-8-24.

[ScaryBob]

To get those faster timings to work reliably, you may need to boost the RAM voltage by 5%-15%. I have some similar "fast" RAM. It won't take the faster speeds/timings without boosting the voltage in the BIOS.

[dezzpayne]

Well I think I can throw said hands in said air. She looks good. Did some overclocking today just to stress it a little and the results are.

CPU running at 4800ghz

Ripping a BR using Handbrake
Warcraft running at 1920X1080 in Windowed mode
Several tabs open in Chrome

CPU 63 degrees

Still need to clean the old thermal grease off the heatsink and apply the Arctic Silver. Hopefully get it under 60 which is a pretty low temp, forget the fact it's overclocked.

[ScaryBob]

CPU running at 4800ghz

That's some CPU?! Where can I get one of those.

[dezzpayne]

errr yeah I knew it was wrong when I typed it 4.8ghz, thanks!

[Habitat]

The 2600K is the unlocked processor.
i7 2600k overclocked