Gigabyte GA X38 DQ6 Blog

[xhala_debru]

Hi,

I'm new with this board (bought second hand, driver cd is missing) and I'm facing a problem I would have never expected.
I'm not able to install vista on it, the dvd boots but after the loading file part, nothing happens.
I don't know, maybe my install dvd is old and doesn't know anything about the chipset...

Has anybody already heard of such a problem?

Greetings from Belgium

[supershanks]

Hi xhala_debru,
Welcome to the forum
Driver CD will be out of date anyway now. just download latest from gigabyte site.
Drivers arte only needed after OS is installed.
What had drive access mode are you using IDE, RAID or AHCI ??
Usual problems when installing os is ram stability - what vdimm are you using in bios ??
try running memtest86+ v2.00 to check stability

[xhala_debru]

Hi supershanks,

I've tested my ram (Ocz reaper 8500) during the night and as long as I don't exceed 420fsb@2,66c everything is stable.
As for Vdimm, I'm still in auto voltage mode.

Everything is in AHCI, not raid.

Funny thing is that my xp cd boot and starts the installation process whilst the Vista dvd boot, seems to load the files altough I find it suspiciously fast and then never gets to the installation setup...

I'll try to use another iso file as mine is really old (prerelease version, but I have a legit installation key) and will see if it changes something.

xhala.

[supershanks]

OCZ Reaper 8500 has a vdimm range of 2.1 - 2.3** Volts The default (auto) vdimm is 1.8v You need an DDR2 OverVoltage Control: +0.30V to reach the minimum 2.1v
Personally I'd set that in bios & see if it makes a difference.

[xhala_debru]

Hi supershanks,

Just to give you some feedback on my installation...

Well after trying installing vista in AHCI mode for hours (IDE install was OK, but I wanted to have AHCI), after trying with bios F8 and F9 beta with no success, I decided to give it a try with bios F7.

Stupid me, as F7 isn't compatible with my Q9450 , which got me in constant reboot loop (fans running. black screen, reboot)
I got an E2200 CPU (supported since F4) but still no boot.
Maybe the ram (OCZ Reaper pc8500) is incompatible with F7, I'll try with another stick of ram.

But I'm really disappointed with that card.

Since then, i've read on gigabyte's forum that's there's a real reboot loop problem with that mobo and that it might have to go back for RMA.

[supershanks]

Have you tried

OCZ Reaper 8500 has a vdimm range of 2.1 - 2.3** Volts The default (auto) vdimm is 1.8v You need an DDR2 OverVoltage Control: +0.30V to reach the minimum 2.1v
Personally I'd set that in bios & see if it makes a difference.

??

[xhala_debru]

Unfortunately not.

Bios is now unreachable.
If it wasn't for spinning fans and the fact that there seems to be quite a few people with the same problem as me, I'd say the MB is dead.

But apparently Gigabyte is well aware of the problem and repairs (or exchanges) the MBs.

And by the way, trying another stick of ram didn't help.

[supershanks]

Have you tried disconnecting the Power lead & cleraing the CMOS ??

real reboot loop problem with that mobo

Is caused by an unstable clock , it's posible your cmos is screwed.
I'd clear the cmos , perhaps removing the battery for a while.
Try restarting afyer rthat , go into bios & set your ram voltage to something around the earlier

You need an DDR2 OverVoltage Control: +0.30V to reach the minimum 2.1v

[Skyboat]

Ok an update on my situation...

Gigabyte sent me some new "screws". I say screws in that it was just the pair of nuts to secure the heatsink on, and not the actual bolts to tighten them too I'm probably going to source some actual bolts myself to use instead.

However for the time being I used more MX-2 that I had ordered on the NB to replace the useless rubbery mattress that comes as stock.

Currently priming stable (touch wood) at 500x8 @ +0.375v MCH

EDIT: Passed 1hr mark

[supershanks]

Nice going with the clock
the bolts are on the krazy cool plus 2 provided in a seperate pack
see
With Crazy Cool

Using seperate bolts

Which are you missing ? The bottom bolt or the top nut & spring?