MSI Z68A-GD80 Freezes up @ 'Starting Windows' screen.

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Piknik1012

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MSI Z68A-GD80 (oc genie off, with corsair h60 cpu cooler, around 46 degrees celcius, as it reads in the bios. reset the cmos many times, tried a different cmos battery, also flashed to the newest BIOS version. )
8GB DDR3 g.Skill turbulence 2200mhz RAM (tried with 1 stick in DIMM 1 slot @1333 @1.6v, ect)
GTX480 x 2 (tried with and without a video card, tried on board via dvi, same result)
i7 2600k default values across the board
OCZ MX 1250W PSU
Tried with no HDD even, when installing windows, would get to the Starting Windows screen and freeze, or give me a BSOD: IRQL IS NOT LESS OR EQUAL TO
But I have also tried with hard drives, 120gb revodrive, 64gb ssd from corsair, and 640gb 6gb/s from western digital.

Everything I have tested on a different system working, including the processor. Am I missing something? The RAM might not be compatible? I unfortulately do not have another stick to test on the mobo.

Edit: Also, tried with both 32 bit and 64 bit w7 disks.
 
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Everything I have tested on a different system working, including the processor. Am I missing something? The RAM might not be compatible? I unfortulately do not have another stick to test on the mobo.
Click to expand...

Can you borrow another stick of RAM from anyone?

What is your current UEFI Version?
 
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http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z68A-GD80--B3-.html#?div=BIOS                    <--- latest bios update I did.

I can probably, but not anytime soon.
 
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Did you try with a different stick of RAM, or did you only attempt the one stick in the first slot ?
Did you set your DRAM timings to 9.9.9.24 at the time that you set the mem to 1333 ?
 
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Tried with all four different sticks. Tried with 2gb, 4gb, 6gb, and all 8gb. I didnt change the timings, no. And I have tried all of the DIMM slots.
 
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Piknik1012 said:
The timings you mentioned were actually the default ones. So yes those timings were the ones associated with the 1333mhz.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you means with associates with 1333,  you have to setup the ram speed manually at 1333 in the bios, usally when windows fail to install with a BSOD , it's the ram the problem. 
 
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What I meant was, with all of the timings on auto, 9.9.9.24 is the timing that was set in the bios by default. I tested it with those timings and the memory set @1333 and it still froze up. Going to try a different module later today to see if it the RAM was the issue, which it is looking like it is. I am hoping it isnt however, the Ram i have currently was really expensive when I bought it.
 
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I am hoping it isnt however, the Ram i have currently was really expensive when I bought it.
Click to expand...

Read this thread regarding the myth of 2133 marketing for the P67 chipset boards. https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=147704.0
 
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Bernhard said:
Read this thread regarding the myth of 2133 marketing for the P67 chipset boards. https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=147704.0
Click to expand...

I've had the RAM since the P55 chipsets, its been about three years now, but if nothing is wrong with it then I would like to continue using it, and if its my motherboard that is stopping my build from moving forward, ill go back to my 1336 socet board for a few weeks while I RMA this MSI board.

edit: also isnt the p68 chipset any different? results could differ?
 
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The real difference is this: P67 only supports OCing the CPU, Z68 supports OCing both the CPU and the on-board GPU (you could say the Z68 is like a combined P67-H67). Thats it. It uses the same CPUs with the same IMC at 1333.
 
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latest bios update I did.
Click to expand...
Not really sure why you flashed the 'as shipped' BIOS again, the one linked to. With system powered off, remove the PSU power cord, remove the battery, clear CMOS, reset BIOS, make the ODD the only boot device, try to load OS again. If successful, at reboot, reset boot priority, load the drivers & utilities desired. Suggest barebones configuration for initial startup, especially only one RAM stick placed in the blue primary dimm slot.

Added: From your description, the RAM does default properly to 1333 9 9 9 24? Only thing I can think of extra to do would be to set the DRAM V. at 1.55v's when in the BIOS doing the reset after the CMOS clear. This particular RAM sounds to be finicky with this platform.
 
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It does default properly. The reason why I flashed the stock bios was because I had exhausted all other options, running out of things to try, so I tried updating to the latest bios. I tried just now everything you mentioned. Disabled all of the other boot devices. The only thing that is plugged into the mobo is the 32 pin power, the power connected to the top upper left by the I/O shield, 1 stick of ram, the CPU, and one hard drive.
 
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The only thing that is plugged into the mobo is the 32 pin power
Click to expand...
Just to clarify, the main 24 pin & the EPS/ATX 8 pin correct? Need at least one VGA installed, PEG set in BIOS (or IGP set & DVI connected to monitor if only using the CPU graphics).

There are some beta BIOS's available in the OC & Undervolt & Mod Section of the forum you might try. They can be found in the sub Beta & Mod Section; https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=148779.0

Added: I guess I am a little confused. Is the OS on the HDD from another build? Migrated from another system? How did you flash the BIOS if it can't get in to Windows?
 
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Yes, the main 24 pin, and the 8pin in the top right(also works the same with 4 pins as i've tested. I'll put in my video card and try out those beta bios.
 
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I use the M-Flash utility in the BIOS to update BIOS. The OS on the HDD is from a different build, yes. However, it freezes at loading windows when I am attempting to install it from disk as well. This motherboard has never booted into windows yet.
 
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Beta bios produced same result. It has to be a compatibility issue, guess i'll have to order some new RAM. Not really too good of a way of knowing if it'll be compatible too. Works perfectly fine in my gigabye x58 ud7 motherboard :(
 
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Before spending more money on new components, any chance you have a source (friend or relative) to temporarily borrow a DDR3 RAM stick to test with (even a couple of different brands)? That could confirm the incompatilibity suspicion?
 
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I'm going to be here in a little bit. Would only be borrowing them, going to have to buy new RAM either way unless I RMA the board, which I don't want to do.
 
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