Lockups after Upgrade to Dual Core Opteron

[Guest Joey]

I know the Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D doesn't officially support the dual core Opteron... but as the Opteron is basically identical to the x2 (and I've seen similar posts from people with the x2 processors)... I thought there might be a chance that someone can help with this.

 

I had a perfectly stable system running with an Athlon 64 FX 53. I was given a dual core Opteron as a gift. I already had the most current version of the Ultra-D BIOS. I installed the Opteron with no problems and it was properly seen in the BIOS and Windows. Immediately after I upgraded to the Opteron, I started to have random shutdown problems. Windows would get to the blue screen where it says "Windows is Shutting Down" and then it will just hang there (I left it there for up to 30 minutes just in case there was some funky thing going on... but it still never shut down)... I have to hold the power button in in order to shut it down. I am also having start up issues... my system will lock at some point between displaying the processor type and detecting the IDE drives (it doesn't freeze at exactly the same point each time).

 

My start up and shut down problems don't happen every time, but both seem to occur equally as often. I'd say it happens about 50% of the time when I try to shutdown or startup.

 

Why my system is running... it seems to be rock solid with no crashes. Another odd problem seems to have also come up... one of my IDE channels no long functions. It was working right after I upgraded the processor... but then I realized shortly after that one of my drives was no longer appearing... when I switched it to the other IDE channel, it was fine.

 

I've cleared my CMOS, reinstalled the BIOS... used the latest November beta BIOS from DFI... tried different memory... tried different memory sockets (I was using both orange ones)... tried just using one stick of memory. Nothing I do seems to correct the problem. I pulled out all my USB devices thinking that may have caused the problem (thinking that maybe I plugged something back in differently after I upgraded my processor)... no luck.

 

Keep in mind... my system was working perfectly... the only thing I did was swap out my FX processor for the dual core Opteron. My roommate also suffered a similar problem with the same board using an x2 processor (his resolution was to get a new motherboard). Being a week before X-mas... and having some shopping still to do... I don't really have the extra $$ to go out and get a new mobo right now (and really don't think I should need to).

 

Any help would be amazingly helpful! I'm at wits end with this one.

[StephenC]

Please flesh out your signature with all your parts. May need to format and reinstall your OS. (going from a single to a dual core CPU)

[Guest Joey]

I did think about doing a clean install. In fact, I started to... but when I came back to my desk to check on the progress, it was frozen solid. Mouse was locked and control-alt-delete had no effect. I ended up just restoring a Ghost image so I could use the system.

 

The one thing that makes me think it's a hardware issue is that the start up problem never makes it to loading the OS... it basically gets as far as identifying the processor and locks up just before it identifies the IDE drives. I've gone so far as to disable the IDE controllers in the BIOS... just in case that was the problem (especially since once of my IDE channels seems screwed up anyway).

[someonesick]

I had a same problem when tried to bench my friends Opteron 170... its perfectly stable, but time to time its frezes the sistem... :confused:

I know that DFI nF4 does not officialy support Opterons... i had interesting problem with my Opteron 146... on Ultra-D it OC`ed perfectly... vent up to 3Ghz on stock Voltage, calculated SP2004 like no problem... but if opened CPU-Z it just made a BSOD... & every time i tried (same problem with CBI...)

[Angry_Games]

DFI desktop motherboards do not support Opteron cpu's.

[Guest Joey]

I know the Opterons aren't supported... but the Opteron 175 is identical to the x2 4400. Although, knowing that the Opteron isn't supported aside, my roommate had an almost identical problem with his x2. The only common hardware we had was the mobo and the video card... all other hardware and configurations were different. I'm going with an Asus A8N-E... it's just over $100 and I've read mostly decent comments. It's a reasonably priced solution to try out.

[Tounet]

DFI desktop motherboards do not support Opteron cpu's.

 

It's funny you said that. Coz we can read in your sign :

 

DFI LanParty NF4 Expert (12/07/2005 BIOS)

AMD Opteron 146 CABYE 0540

[Guest Joey]

LOL... well... I do understand that having something work... and supporting something are two different things... so I understand the comment. As the x2 4400 and the Opteron 175 are identical... I expect problems related to the Opteron would possibly be caused by the same thing that might cause it with a 4400 (which I would imagine is supported).

[Tounet]

Could you just indicate the model of you Power supply. ?

(It's important with dfi motherboards)

[Guest Joey]

I'm at work now... I just did my sig a little while ago so I didn't have the info and couldn't remember off the top of my head. When I get home, I'll have to pop open my case and check. It has been running fine for months... I've only started to have the problem when I upgraded to the dual core Opteron (from an FX 53). I know that I didn't have the extra 4 pins for power on the main power plug... but from what I understand, that isn't typically a problem... and as my FX always ran fine... I never put in a new supply.

 

I bought an OCZ PowerStream 600W supply that does have the connector... but it's still sitting in my closet since I was running fine with the FX processor.

 

Link to Power Supply

 

I guess I could try to put that in.

 

Ah... I was able to dig up the power supply that I"m using now... I thought it was 600W... but it's 500. I'm using an Aspire power supply now... ATX-AS500W-BK

 

Aspire Power Supply Link

[Astral Abyss]

DFI desktop motherboards do not support Opteron cpu's.

Uh huh, so then why do you have one listed in your sig? :nod:

 

That's kind of funny...

[StephenC]

Uh huh, so then why do you have one listed in your sig? :nod:

 

That's kind of funny...

It is not supported by dfi or amd for use in these motherboards.....No bios update etc........ If it works for you then all is good. If it does not, then oh well.....good luck with that.