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Intel Build Nightmare
Today I need to vent, nothing more. But I hope in my venting it helps someone.
In April I built the first powerhouse computer I've ever owned. Until then, I've been building on a budget - because of our move to D.C. my wife and I have been able to do things that require money we've never been able to, like spend it. Mine, naturally, went into computing.
So I built a Tyan S2927 system with two AMD Socket F Opterons 2212's. I was moving from 512 MB to 2GB, so I didn't get more in hopes that I could max the board out in a year cheaper. I threw in an nVidia GeForce 7600 GS (512 MB) to help develop and/or debug Nouveau. In the hopes that Hewlett-Packard released LightScribe specs for Free Software developers, I got a Samsung DVD burner that was LightScribe capable.
Anyway... Several months after building the system, I was pleased, but actually slightly regretting the purchase. I had this powerhouse that I barely used. While running two KVM guests and doing my "normal" stuff I still didn't push this system to it's limits, which was the point, but it was still horridly under utilized for me.
Meanwhile, at work, I'm pounding out PHP on a Pentium 4 with 512 MB and a 32MB nVidia card. The mouse jerks, and windows pop open grinding this aging beast to a halt.
The time had come to buy a new work computer, which was quickly spec-ed out by me and approved. During this build, I kept regretting my home purchase more and more... For under $800 I could build a Core 2 Duo system (with virtualization support), double the memory and... this is HUGE... get working 3D drivers that were Free Software!
So the idea of a swap occured to me, which I floated to my company who took it. Here, I could provide them a slightly used but well maintained server-grade system and all they had to do was buy me a new Intel based desktop. My company, luckily, is Free Software friendly and was actually happy to have me swapping this out AND getting what I want. it also saved them $600 over buying new parts. :)
So began my double Intel build - the second Intel build I've done, and the first I'd see through to completion. The previous ended when the motherboard, memory and processors were ALL found to be incompatible (due to a mobo maker's error and/or unethical spec listing).
In one large order we got a spare backup server, a spare virtual server node, my replacement home system and my new office system. In a few days, the UPS driver was leaving them in the middle of the hallway downstairs - but this is nothing new.
So, I gleefully bring my system in the next day and begin the swap out. Many parts are identical, mostly by design. The Core 2 Duo (E6600) processor dropped happily into the Intel DG965SS motherboard. The included heatsink (Intel does this? AMD decided not to on the Socket F processors) looks neat, and is a snap to install (no pun intended).
Unfortunately, the fan power cable got caught in the fan the first few times, causing the board to power down. I seated and reseated the board and ensured that it wasn't grounded and still the thing wouldn't stop powering down. Eventually, it just stopped spinning up, though the power light came on. :)
I figured the board was fried, so I packaged it up and decided to wait until the morning when I could test the "copy" at work.
The next morning I unpacked the virgin DG965SS board, a fresh Core 2 Duo processor, 4 more gigs of that g.Skill RAM and a fresh Silverstone power supply, mounted everything and powered it on... Once again, the fans spun and then died. It's not two fried boards, something incompatible here.
I removed the memory this time and the fans spun up and stayed there. Then, the system let out three wonderful screeches - diagnostic codes! The board is ALIVE!
I replaced the memory with some DDR2 ECC sticks that i knew worked and the board chirped yet another diagnostic code. Bad RAM. :)
So I scouer NewEgg, already feeling dimwitted for buying the wrong RAM and I find some Kingston RAM that people claim worked well with their G965 based boards - the timings were right... This was my RAM!
I then RMAed the dead board and returned the memory (at a loss due to restocking fees) and ordered a new set of 8 GB.
Today, the new memory arrived. Having not had a new work system OR a usable home system (I used my wife's rig) of my own, I was quite excited for this arrival. I connected the board and PSU and RAM and whatnot and inserted the new RAM... Spin up - die.
Spin up - die.
Die.
So... My week hasn't been to grand. :) I'm sitting here with three half assembled systems, boxes everywhere and a new set of RAM (KVR800D2N5K2/2G) on backorder with NewEgg.
It almost makes me curse the computer gods... But oh well... For now, this is the price for Freedom. :)
In April I built the first powerhouse computer I've ever owned. Until then, I've been building on a budget - because of our move to D.C. my wife and I have been able to do things that require money we've never been able to, like spend it. Mine, naturally, went into computing.
So I built a Tyan S2927 system with two AMD Socket F Opterons 2212's. I was moving from 512 MB to 2GB, so I didn't get more in hopes that I could max the board out in a year cheaper. I threw in an nVidia GeForce 7600 GS (512 MB) to help develop and/or debug Nouveau. In the hopes that Hewlett-Packard released LightScribe specs for Free Software developers, I got a Samsung DVD burner that was LightScribe capable.
Anyway... Several months after building the system, I was pleased, but actually slightly regretting the purchase. I had this powerhouse that I barely used. While running two KVM guests and doing my "normal" stuff I still didn't push this system to it's limits, which was the point, but it was still horridly under utilized for me.
Meanwhile, at work, I'm pounding out PHP on a Pentium 4 with 512 MB and a 32MB nVidia card. The mouse jerks, and windows pop open grinding this aging beast to a halt.
The time had come to buy a new work computer, which was quickly spec-ed out by me and approved. During this build, I kept regretting my home purchase more and more... For under $800 I could build a Core 2 Duo system (with virtualization support), double the memory and... this is HUGE... get working 3D drivers that were Free Software!
So the idea of a swap occured to me, which I floated to my company who took it. Here, I could provide them a slightly used but well maintained server-grade system and all they had to do was buy me a new Intel based desktop. My company, luckily, is Free Software friendly and was actually happy to have me swapping this out AND getting what I want. it also saved them $600 over buying new parts. :)
So began my double Intel build - the second Intel build I've done, and the first I'd see through to completion. The previous ended when the motherboard, memory and processors were ALL found to be incompatible (due to a mobo maker's error and/or unethical spec listing).
In one large order we got a spare backup server, a spare virtual server node, my replacement home system and my new office system. In a few days, the UPS driver was leaving them in the middle of the hallway downstairs - but this is nothing new.
So, I gleefully bring my system in the next day and begin the swap out. Many parts are identical, mostly by design. The Core 2 Duo (E6600) processor dropped happily into the Intel DG965SS motherboard. The included heatsink (Intel does this? AMD decided not to on the Socket F processors) looks neat, and is a snap to install (no pun intended).
Unfortunately, the fan power cable got caught in the fan the first few times, causing the board to power down. I seated and reseated the board and ensured that it wasn't grounded and still the thing wouldn't stop powering down. Eventually, it just stopped spinning up, though the power light came on. :)
I figured the board was fried, so I packaged it up and decided to wait until the morning when I could test the "copy" at work.
The next morning I unpacked the virgin DG965SS board, a fresh Core 2 Duo processor, 4 more gigs of that g.Skill RAM and a fresh Silverstone power supply, mounted everything and powered it on... Once again, the fans spun and then died. It's not two fried boards, something incompatible here.
I removed the memory this time and the fans spun up and stayed there. Then, the system let out three wonderful screeches - diagnostic codes! The board is ALIVE!
I replaced the memory with some DDR2 ECC sticks that i knew worked and the board chirped yet another diagnostic code. Bad RAM. :)
So I scouer NewEgg, already feeling dimwitted for buying the wrong RAM and I find some Kingston RAM that people claim worked well with their G965 based boards - the timings were right... This was my RAM!
I then RMAed the dead board and returned the memory (at a loss due to restocking fees) and ordered a new set of 8 GB.
Today, the new memory arrived. Having not had a new work system OR a usable home system (I used my wife's rig) of my own, I was quite excited for this arrival. I connected the board and PSU and RAM and whatnot and inserted the new RAM... Spin up - die.
Spin up - die.
Die.
So... My week hasn't been to grand. :) I'm sitting here with three half assembled systems, boxes everywhere and a new set of RAM (KVR800D2N5K2/2G) on backorder with NewEgg.
It almost makes me curse the computer gods... But oh well... For now, this is the price for Freedom. :)
#1.1 Re: Re: Intel Build Nightmare
Kevin Dean, <E-Mail> / 8 January, 1:16pm
@Dan,
I’ll certainly keep you informed, and thanks for checking out my site. ;)
Right now I’ve ordered the new Kingston RAM (KVR800D2N5K2/2G) that actually was restocked about 10 minutes after writing this article. According to Kingston’s site this is compatible.
I’d also like to know what the problem is. I’ve done hundreds of builds and re-configurations - I’m sure that I didn’t mishandle this thing unless it’s horrifically sensitive. My guess is that the incompatible RAM killed it or that I MAY have triggered a failsafe mechanism because of the frequent hardware changes and operating it without memory - but we’ll see next week when the boards are replaced and I’ve got compatible RAM. :)
[ Reply (0) ]
#2 Re: Intel Build Nightmare
Shannon, <> / 8 January, 1:17pm
I can understand your frustrations with building such a heavy hitting machine. I too used to build on a budget and until I got my promotion I had little money to spend on anything, even my biggest hobby, computers. When the real money started coming in I went to Frye’s and bought enough Kingston RAM to max my new board out. The next thing I did was go with a 500 Gig hard drive and a rather expensive video and sound card. Outside of that I spent the remainder of my free money on a 30 inch monitor which now doubles as my HDTV as well.
[ Reply (0) ]
#3 Re: Above Comments
Kevin Dean, <E-Mail> / 8 January, 1:19pm
Dan posted on July 25th, 2007 at 8:19 am
I responded on July 25th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Shannon posted December 16th, 2007 at 2:14 am
These timestamps were lost when I migrated from my old Blog.
[ Reply (0) ]
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#1 Re: Intel Build Nightmare
Please let me know how the saga continues. I intend to buy exactly 2 of the same mobo (DG965SS) and Kingston RAM. Intend means in the next couple of days. So I’m really interest to know what the problem was.
I actually think of paying the extra and having the store put it all together.
Good luck
Dan