AE Error

[Johnny5]

Hi All,

I just started getting a random AE error. I have made no changes to my system in a long, long time. All has been well, it has been stable.

My setup

RIVE
3930k with H100 - Stock Clocks currently but was set at 4.2ghz.
16gb GSkill 2133 (ran 4 cycles of Memtest per the guide a couple of weeks ago with ZERO errors)
3 x Crucial M4 128gb (not in RAID)
3 x 7970
AX 1200

On Friday I left my computer at the desktop and walked away. When I returned a few hours later it was showing a blinking cursor and a blank screen. I looked at the codes on the MB and it showed AE. I then tried to restart the computer and it kinda hung at the Press Delete key to enter bios screen and then went to a blank screen with the blinking cursor and an AE error. I then powered down and cleared the CMOS. I was then able to boot up into windows fine. I thought odd. So I started playing BF and then about 45 minutes into my Binge I had a hard lockup. I then restarted to another AE error, rinse repeat and the rest is history still getting AE error. I currently cleared CMOS again and here I am posting this running Prime 95 in the background. Also, I did a health check on my SSDs a few weeks ago and all was well according to the check.

I noticed on my RIVE that the fan cover on my RIVE is coming apart. I wonder if maybe its not cooling or its having a hard time or something or something is coming apart with the cooling unit. I cant imagine that my PSU is going bad or I would really know it. I am leaning on the MB having some kind of issue given that I can run PRIME95 for like 30m and nothing crashes.

Any thoughts are appreciated as I have never encountered this error before and it keeps popping up.

Thanks!

[Myk_SilentShado]

Error Code AE means Legacy Boot, i'd suggest having a look in your BIOS (if you're able to boot into it) and check to make sure the right drive is set to boot 1st. From what I understand, it's generally an initialization error when something goes awry.

[Johnny5]

Boot 1st is my SSD and second is my CD/DVD drive. This setting has been the same forever, I haven't made any changes. Is my order correct?

Thank you for the reply.

[Nodens]

It sounds like the Windows bootloader got corrupted. Use a Windows installation cd to do a startup recovery.

[Zka17]

Do you have some of the Debug LEDs on too? Specially curious about VGA LED...

The fact that your system crashed during a game and that prime runs with no problems (prime doesn't stress the graphics), I suspect that you may have some issues with your graphics cards...

Do you have those HD7970s OC'd? Not sure about the Gigabyte Windforce ones, but my 3x Matrix Plats needs more juice when heavily OC'd than 1200W...

[Johnny5]

My GPUs are overclocked at 1125/1575 stock voltage. I have measured 1100 -1200 ish at the wall while gaming. I am gonna try to repair the bootloader and see what happens. I also have a couple of reference cards I have been meaning to test before putting them under water so I will try those in and see what happens too.

[Zka17]

I thought so... 🙂 Now, if you're registering 1100-1200W at the wall, that's meaning that you're stretching your PSU... it won't be able to do it too long...

I would try lowering the setting on the graphics cards... - if then is working, will mean that you need a bigger PSU...

[Johnny5]

Zka17 you were right.

I put the cards back to stock clocks and I was able to play a round of BF3 no problem. No error, no hard lock up. It appears that after playing on the AX1200 with 3 7970s for the past year or so I have slowly killed my PSU. Now the question is, will a Lepa 1600 be enough long term for quad 7970s under water? I wonder because I am working on an STH10 build atm. I am thinking I may need 2 PSUs.

And, once again I froze at the desktop and had to power down, clear CMOS and then I was able to boot up windows no problem. I am leaning heavily on the PSU but I am also not ruling out the Motherboard. Perhaps one of the slots are going bad or something on the Motherboard is going bad. I believe I have ruled out the CPU, RAM and the SSDs.

I will try to repair the bootloader to see what happens. I really hate to mess with Windows, I have gone through so many installs in the past I am scared.

Also, should I be using the Ez Plug for 3 cards? Or is it just for 4 card setups? I have never used it in the past.

[Zka17]

The thing is that is better to keep your max load around 60-80% of the PSU capacity... - there you have the max efficiency...

I'm running 3x Matrix HD7970 Platinums from two Seasonic 1250W... everything is heavily OC'd, but even though 2x1250W is a bit overkill... - but it works fine... :cool:

[Johnny5]

I requested an RMA from Corsair. I will plan for using 2 PSU's with my WC build for the 4 7970s. I already have a Lepa 1600 on order I will plan to use that for the Gpus only and the 1200 for everything else.

Is there a dual PSU connector you recommend?