20k paperweight... Motherboard issues with Zenith II Extreme alpha

[theskaz]

I have been working on my "server" for the past few months. I have let it collect dust here and there, and now Im trying to get it running again.

 

Specs

Asus Zenith II Extreme Alpha

3990X

256 Gskill 3600MHz

 

supermicro 45 bay sas enclosure

various SAS controllers (troubleshooting)

 

 

As of right now, my 2nd Mobo will not go into BIOS settings and OSs will not load. If I run Memtest86, it will boot that with no issue and has been running overnight.

if I try to load unraid, I get a kernel panic

if I try to load win10, I get IRQ not less or equal Blue screen

 

if I hit F2 on boot, after the Asus screen it freezes with a single cursor that doesnt blink

 

when I got it, it worked overnight. and the next morning it froze. the previous mobo did the same thing. I have changed out everything except for the cpu. before you ask, I cant lol...

 

I was thinking it was my LSI 9016-e controller because it got stupid hot. is it possible that it caused the issue? I have bought 2 other cards to swap out but cant get the mobo to post to an OS correctly. 

[theskaz]

i realize that the post is a bit all over the place. my question is this "is there a way that I can fix/repair/troubleshoot the mobo without sending it back to asus?"

[SupaKomputa]

20 minutes ago, theskaz said:

IRQ not less or equal

Try running the memory speed at 2133 or reduce the number of rams.

[theskaz]

its currently running at that speed. and it has made it trough 1 complete pass of memtest86 (out of 4) with 0 errors

[Guest]

Generally when I see IRQL not less or equal, it's from overclocking and not enough v-core (power delivery) - But the nature of blue screens can be anything.

 

You did not mention which PSU you're using.

Are all of the EPS (x3) connectors plugged in?

[theskaz]

EVGA 1600 P2. and ALL power connectors are plugged in. even the 4 pin molex

[Guest]

1 minute ago, theskaz said:

EVGA 1600 P2. and ALL power connectors are plugged in. even the 4 pin molex

OK cool. However the board has a 6pin EPS connector. What are you using for that one. The other 2 are 8 pin and the PSU looks to support two 8 pin connectors.

 

Sry to ask these stupid questions. Just want to go over some stuff, you'll check a few things and then try for some ideas if I get any good ones along the way. I'll do the best I can to trouble shoot with you. So far, I am suspecting the CPU considering you're on the second board now. And I vaguely remember another thread from you with this set up. Can you link that here please so I can compare old notes to new ones please??

 

Let me do a tad research as well. Since I don't have this setup, I need a little education. I'm going through the manual as we speak. 

Tag me so Im notified please. 

[Guest]

256 Gskill 3600MHz

Part number/s + is this a kit? Or multiple kits.

 

Do you have the LN2 switch in disabled position.

Check the RSVD switch, be sure it's in disabled position.

Check the Slow mode position and be sure that is in disabled position.

They should be by default. Sometimes one can get bumped while assembling and cable management.

[theskaz]

Thank you for your time!

 

I have both 8pins and the 6pin connected. also there is a 4pin at the bottom of the mobo (Originally I have 2x rtx titans and a 2080ti installed).

 

ram is 1 kit f4-3600c18q2-256gtzn

verified all switches are in their default position. 

also cleared cmos using 2 of the 3 methods. (button, and battery)

 

I have multiple threads regarding various aspects of this setup, but nothing specific to this issue. if you want the others, I can link them

 

[theskaz]

one thing just happened. I unplugged the 2 SAS cables and the bios came up...

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, theskaz said:

Thank you for your time!

 

I have both 8pins and the 6pin connected. also there is a 4pin at the bottom of the mobo (Originally I have 2x rtx titans and a 2080ti installed).

 

ram is 1 kit f4-3600c18q2-256gtzn

verified all switches are in their default position. 

also cleared cmos using 2 of the 3 methods. (button, and battery)

 

I have multiple threads regarding various aspects of this setup, but nothing specific to this issue. if you want the others, I can link them

 

If they are different issues, no. This will be fine.

 

Will not go into bios settings is a major concern. 

And no other Cpu to test with is a problem. I know it's expensive to get another and not really an option.

 

SO....

 

Strip the PC bare. 

One memory stick in slot A1 second slot in from the right of the cpu.

Pull the drives. All of them. We want bios. SO disconnect and remove the M.2 drive/s also.

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, theskaz said:

one thing just happened. I unplugged the 2 SAS cables and the bios came up...

AH HAH! You ninja'ed me! XD

Do you have spare cables?

[theskaz]

these are the 2 spares... I have 4 total. I wonder if the cables inside the supermicro case are messed up. I messed with them and not 100% sure on how SAS works at that level. Basically i was trying to get as much throughput as possible. all SAS HBAs have been extremely hot.

[Guest]

If I'm not mistaken, SAS comes designed to have a certain amount of air flow. 

 

You should be using some Delta fans in that case for the CFM. 

 

The cables on the other hand may require a little research on your end. I'm not familiar with SAS setups, but am aware that they require a lot of cooling. Most servers are loud as a result. 

[theskaz]

removed the HBA entirely, cleared cmos. Win10 BSOD "kernel security check error"

[Guest]

2 hours ago, theskaz said:

removed the HBA entirely, cleared cmos. Win10 BSOD "kernel security check error"

I'd start a fresh install on sata SSD or M.2. A full format if you are re-using the same OS drive. Everything else disconnected.

But this time, maybe just 1 stick of memory in the A2 slot, second from the right of the cpu. 

Continue diagnostics with minimal hardware for now. 

[theskaz]

@ShrimpBrime i did that and it freezes on what looks like the uefi boot screen. Normally there would be a spinning set of dots. Cleared cmos also

[Guest]

8 hours ago, theskaz said:

@ShrimpBrime i did that and it freezes on what looks like the uefi boot screen. Normally there would be a spinning set of dots. Cleared cmos also

 

 

 

The spinning dots is windows loading. Not the bios splash screen. 

 

So what makes the system just hang?

Hhmm.

 

No error LEDs? Post codes?

Is everything removed from the USB ports also besides keyboard?

Do you have another keyboard and mouse?

[theskaz]

@ShrimpBrime the whole system just locks except for the OLED screen. it will continue on until it shows its final screen. No post codes, no USB other than keyboard, and I have swapped keyboards just in case. no mouse used.

[Guest]

What is the final code the reader displays? 

[theskaz]

"CPU temp" or "BIOS Settings Page" depending on what im doing.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, theskaz said:

"CPU temp" or "BIOS Settings Page" depending on what im doing.

Do you have another gpu to test with? A lower wattage one maybe?

[theskaz]

@ShrimpBrime I have another one, but its higher wattage. currently there is a gtx 1650 in there I have a couple 1070s oh.. i got a 1060 ssc now. ill try that

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, theskaz said:

@ShrimpBrime I have another one, but its higher wattage. currently there is a gtx 1650 in there I have a couple 1070s oh.. i got a 1060 ssc now. ill try that

Fingers crossed.

[theskaz]

1 hour ago, ShrimpBrime said:

Fingers crossed.

didnt do anything new. the screen is stuck at the BIOS logo, and the OLED is stuck on Detect HDD. 

 

On this mobo, you can switch BIOSs. like from A to B. On one bios, I just see a non-blinking cursor, the other one is this. I wonder if there is a way to flash both BIOSs to repair them....