How did I wreck my motherboard?

I've been upgrading my vostro big time this week (in sig) and today upgraded its CPU, to the much nicer T9500 (from T7500).

I had to pull apart the whole thing in order to do so and I discovered thankfully a huge amount of dust and rubble inside the machine so I took opportunity to do a major spring cleaning while I was at it.

Anyway. So I then put it all together again and tried to boot windows, but it's giving me this BSOD every time - just after it shows the 'starting windows' progress screen. I have two windows 7 installations on two SSD drives on the lappie, and both do the same thing.

So I started hardware troucbleshooting and I was trying different RAM sticks to see if RAM is the problem. Each time I change RAM configuration I'm getting a 'Memory write/read failure', 'try to reseat the memory' message.

I have four perfectly-working RAM sticks (two new G.Skill ones), I know they're all fine cos I've been using them right up until my computer surgery today. I have tried all of them in memtest86+ and all copiously spew out red errors right throughout the entire testing process. (that can't be good.)

Interestingly I was able to fully log into both my windows for a couple of goes, but the BSOD still occured after like a minute. Then after more testing with shuffling RAM sticks, the motherboard now couldn't get past BIOS splash screen, but just cycled every time through an unsuccessful 'Memory write/read failure' message.

And now all it will do is just quickly cycle without even showing the memory error message.

My RAM controller (GM965) is obviously the problem, right? I need a new Vostro 1700 motherboard? If so - well ok, I'll just have to get a new one - tomorrow. But I need to know what I did today (or earlier this week - I WAS fiddling around with maximum ram amounts, but that shouldn't have caused this hardware problem, it's only bios that couldn't handle 8GB experiment, not the chip) - so that I don't do this again!

What on EARTH have I done.

What I did today:

- took apart my vostro, to the point of reaching the CPU.
- SPRING CLEAN. with a tooth brush and a vacum cleaner, I got rid of all the dust and rubble inside the lappie. (brushed in all the nooks and crannies, on most of the motherboard, being pretty careful but also thorough, and holding the plastic-nozzled vacuum cleaner near the brush so as to suck up the dust I was unearthing with each cloudy stroke of the brush). was this it? did I damage my motherboard because of this?? Was this the big non-no?
- Put the new T9500 in place and applied mediocre ceramic compound that I had lying around, before putting the heat sink back on top. (the CPU seems fine, in bios and windows when I successfully booted in those few times.)
- didn't do anything to the GPU thermal transfer, the 3-year-old dell thermal pad seemed 'alright' to just keep using (I don't have time to wait to order and apply better thermal stuff unless I find the temp gets too high). again, this surely is not cause of the problem??
- I then simply put everything back together!!

Baffled.

I've checked the internal cables again and don't think I've ripped anything. Just then I pulled it all apart and put it back together AGAIN, and no different.

How did I physically damage my RAM controller (motherboard)?

Thank you for your help.

 

Possible it just died? If known good RAM fails then your memory controller in the Northbridge is defective.

If you have the Vostro 1700 with the 8600M GT then you have the 965PM chipset, GM is the one with Intel Crestline graphics. Incidentally the Intel motherboard is more expensive.

 

Try put the old CPU back for a spin test? I only remember once that i thought i killed my laptop, it won't boot just start and off. It was something i did to the RAM stick swap when i clean the laptop. One G.Skull and OEM Samsung RAM for GM965 chipset. I end up fixed it using Samsung RAM stick fit around the slot and able to boot the system and after several diagnostic test run i insert the G.Skull stick and both works together now. But yours is much complicate, as it boots but give BSOD. Try the old CPU again.

 

i suppose putting the old cpu in to test is a good idea - I'll do that now.

thank you for your thoughts so far

 

It's my new CPU!!!!! but why?????

I have just put the former CPU in (T7500) and memtest gives NO errors for multiple RAM combinations!!!!! and, naturally, along with it, windows loads fine and no BSODs!

wha??????

This T9500 is a new unit, from retail online store, and it's compatible with the GM965 chip...so why is it causing memory problems? :S

as soon as I put the new CPU in: SAME PROBLEMS. tried the same thing as you NEX_SASIN, made sure it was conservative original stock ram, working with former CPU, then only change to new CPU, and then run a few reboots to make sure it doesn't just need a few cycles to re-adjust.

I can't believe it. Is it a faulty CPU?????

Or is there some crazy possibility that the Vostro 1700, despite being updated in BIOS for newer processors (which I've only read is supposed to include T9500, like the Inspiron 1720, and even X9000, though only "officially" up to t9500, 'otherwise it would possible break your warranty' - which makes it sound like it DOES support T9500), maybe it actually doesn't support this cpu (properly) and no one else has ever tried T9500 in Vostro and posted this problem?? I'm using its latest BIOS update, A07.

 

Well that is odd, CPU doesn't have anything to do with memory errors. But if the original CPU was the only thing you changed, then there is a problem with it. Most likely a defective CPU.

 

right. It CAN'T be my motherboard because my old CPU is working just fine.

What a nightmare. I even wanted the X9000 but that's even less available than T9500 (and risky to buy refurbished units due to overclocking). I guess technology moves on and products come and go, especially in processor market. I just need my Vostro to be as fast and reliable as possible

 

Uh, did you do anything to ground the laptop + vacuum while vacuuming? The fast moving air combined with the plastic brush bristles makes for a great way to build static charge and kill a silicon chip.

 

yeah I think I was grounded. now using my old t7500 until i wait for a non-defective t9500 to come in. i already feel like I have the new cpu (which is silver lining of the painful story) . there was a 1cm-thick buildup of dust between the fan and the heatsink filter thingies! "thwump" it went, suddenly in the vacuum cleaner. (plastic nozzle, i repeat, plastic nozzle )

however I will watch out for anything. my mobo makes more high-pitches whistles every now and then where it never used to (soft little 'processing' sound type ones, sometimes)...but so far so good...win 7 is working like a CHAMP.

 

Bad CPU? Try using a diagnostic software of some kind to check if the CPU is just bad...

As far as the error code, a bad CPU can ABSOLUTELY give you a ram error. A bad CPU can give you basically ANY error. I've seen a bad CPU cause BSODS relating to just about any hardware. When the CPU is bad, just about anything can happen, as all data flows through the CPU.

 

Did you check the BIOS to make sure all the settings were appropriate for the new CPU? Does the BIOS for that laptop support that CPU?

 

Dells traditionally never whitelists CPU/WLAN cards in BIOS.

 

I would recommend testing out a different CPU, also keep in mind that Dell Inspiron/Vostros didn't traditionally support aftermarket T9500 until the A09 BIOS Revision. It's possible you were running older BIOS version on your laptop that didn't provide support for processors that were released later on that year. It also depends on when you purchased your laptop, honest to God, I think that probably was your problem.

When you restart your computer, what does it say for a BIOS Revision? A04? Because if it does, then that's really where you messed up and the processor was actually fine. If it says A09, then forget everything I said and it's probably a faulty chip.

 

thanks for the info man.

I'm using A07 for vostro 1700, which according to the dell support website, looks to be the latest it has, and will ever get. I read some experienced inspiron 1720 user say they thought it's the same equivalent as A09 for inspiron 1720.

right now I'm in position to look at getting x9000 as you know, so any more info to make sure this is ok, is appreciated. many more people have upgraded the inspiron, as vostro is 'business' model and wasn't so attractive for more techy-types, I guess. (I chose it cos it was cheaper and the same hardware specs, basically ).

But boy, I sure hope Vostro 1700 supports T9500/X9000. I'm getting a bit worried, now. Compare the BIOS revisions of Vostro 1700 and Inspiron 1720 (they are physical counterparts of each other) and there's similarities between the progression of the revisions. Vostro A06 = Inspiron A07, Vostro A07 = Inspiron A08, but Inspiron went on to a newer A09 with 'Update Intel CPU family name' but the V-machine never got graced with that.

Erm.....there couldn't be some simple code renaming hack for inspiron 1720 bios to be flashable for the vostro? sigh.....yes the desperate mind thinks such things if it turns out that it's the BIOS causing all this trouble.

But look, if bios 'doesn't support' it, what does that mean, really? My A07 bios was able to recognise the supposedly faulty t9500 in the bios and show its specs, and I was able to boot right into windows those few times and windows recognise it and show its specs in system properties, so I would say it definitely supports it, right? And that it was just a faulty unit?

Hopefully 'Support new CPUs' in Vostro's A06 revision is the minimum need for the likes of X9000?

 

Well, there is hope that it did happen, perhaps? A06 for the Vostro was released June 2008 and the X9000 was developed/released sometime in January of the same year, so it is possible but honestly, it didn't make its' way into notebooks until right around May/June 2008 as well. I know they were selling the XPS's with that processor in the summer because I was mad as hell that I bought an Inspiron, but now that I look at it, I'm glad I did.

A really out of the box solution is, if you order the X9000 and run into the same problem, then perhaps you can just go ahead and order a BIOS chip for the Inspiron 1720, remove your current chip and have the 1720-one soldered onto your motherboard (by a professional, of course). The motherboard you have and the Inspiron 1720 is virtually same, but I haven't ever done this and if anyone here knows if this is a wrong move, go ahead and state it, because I'm just going on a hunch that it'll work.

If the BIOS doesn't support it, it should hang a really long time and spit out an error. I forget because I read it somewhere on here and now I'm having trouble finding it. Basically, you'll know it was a compatibility error and on here it was some dude who upgraded his Inspiron to a T7800 with a A02 BIOS and the T7800 wasn't even released to the public at the time of his BIOS version, thus it spat out errors.

 

wow, your posts deserve reps all round.

Yes I would appreciate any knowledge in this theoretical situation (1720 BIOS chip solder on V 1700). I wouldn't want to waste $300.

I suppose though, that I'll find out from my retailer to whom I've returned the T9500, whether it's the CPU or not (i.e. the BIOS).

If it fails with them too, surely my Vostro must support X9000 too, and if it doesn't fail (and er, whoops, 15% restocking charge from the retailer), then I'd have to make a decision whether it's worth it trying this 1720 BIOS chip soldering adventure, and with it I'd go all out and upgrade to X9000 for some careful overclocking.

I guess it's looking most likely now though that my first T9500 WAS indeed faulty, since it went as far as working in windows and BIOS posting fine, but yet uniquely caused all the memory address problems.

Looking at the BIOS dates though, Vostro 1700 A06 was February 4th 2008, not June. A07 is June, sure, but if Dell's feature listing is anything to go by (...IF), then the latest CPU capability upgrading was in Feb on the Vostro. But I keep hearing 'A09', 'A09' 'A09' for when people want to upgrade the 1720 to something like X9000, so that's not very re-assuring ...

SIGH.....

 

Well, if it comes down to the BIOS chip, I think you seem to be in luck because there is a guy in the UK that will do this. Grains BIOS Repair but of course they will charge you but I don't think it's that much money though (comparative to getting a new laptop). However, if you think you are up to the task of doing this yourself, then just watch this video and be sure you can handle all that it entails. You can also just get a preprogrammed BIOS chip from the same website as well, it's just best to call one of them and ask them specifically about your particular issue, they may be able to better find a solution to your problem.

 

Oh my goodness. I like, love you.

I should pay you to be my personal technology assistant, it would save me so much time! LOL

Probably the productivity I'd gain as a result would in turn generate enough income on my part to cover your costs. win-win .

Anyway I will update this thread with the findings from my T9500 seller, and then whatever I do and whatever happens in the end, irrespective of what other responses and discussion may happen before then.

Boy, I really am taking this Vostro 1700 to its extreme. No GPU OC'ig though...meh..

 

WAIT, WAIT: i just realised: I could also upgrade to my desired 8GB of RAM too, if I get the Inspiron 1720 BIOS chip soldered onto my Vostro, right?

Considering it would work though!

I might not want to make such an obsessive upgrade in a hurry, and will see whether the soldering is actually NEEDED (for the X9000) or not, but yes - any knowledge on this BIOS chip soldering idea would be appreciated.

 

LOL, I just google, youtube and read threads, you could do that too! How many vacation/sick-days do I get?

You can try it but unless you go to the source and demand a 3GB PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM single module, you probably won't be able to use 8GB. BIOS hacking is great but the problem is if you screw up it becomes a problem and nothing major, just you need a new chip, which means desoldering the older one, resoldering the new one and etc.

 

Uhh Dell has pretty unrestrictive BIOS. It does not whitelists CPU,WLAN cards. Most old school Dells when SATA first came out allowed you to change SATA operation. Many manufacturers disabled that leaving consumers with IDE mode with no way to get to AHCI without some kind of BIOS hack.

I have personally owned Dells since 2002 and my parents go all the way back to 1997, so please read around before posting something like that.