Maximus V Formula only booting in LN2 mode

[AvoK95]

Hey guys,I'm new to this forum and need some help. I recently modified my 3770K and replaced the thermal paste under the IHS. Ever since I've replaced it, the motherboard never boots in normal mode. I swallowed my soul and thought I murdered my CPU. Because the board was giving me a Q-Code of "00" and the CPU Q-LED was blinking. But then I tried LN2 mode, and it booted up normally but my settings were gone (I set them back).

What I want to know is, why isn't it booting in normal mode anymore? And does LN2 mode load from a different BIOS or does it just enable LN2 cooling ?:eek: Also, When it booted on LN2 mode, My CPU was running at 1.6GHz by default, I had to manually get it to its stock speed (Now OC'd to 4.5).

If LN2 mode runs from a different BIOS, than I guess the other BIOS got corrupted or something and needs to be refreshed.:blah:

I'm using the latest BIOS BTW.:cool:

So, I would appreciated some help please 😄

Thanks in advance! 🙂


[Hardware details :Intel Core i7 3770K @4.6 1.258V |Thermaltake Contact 29(With 2x CM SycleFlows)|Asus Maximus V Formula|8GB Corsair Vengance|WD 1TB WD10EZRX|ThermalTake VL80001W2Z V3 Black Edition Case(With 2x SycleFlows + Thermaltake Contact29 PWM Fan)|Inwin IRP-COM750|Sapphire 11197-01-40G AMD Radeon HD 7970 OC]

[Raja]

Ln2 Mode engages safe POST which down-clocks the CPU. This implies the processor is no longer stable at stock frequency - even to POST.

A few things that could be the cause:



1) You might have damaged the CPU inadvertently while removing the IHS.

2) There is excessive pressure on the socket from the cooler, or you have some bent pins in the socket.

Other than that, nothing else should cause the processor to stop POSTing at defaults. As the only change you've made is removing the IHS and then changing the paste something about that entire process is the likely cause.

-Raja

[AvoK95]

Well, I've been running it on 4.6 @ 1.258 volts just fine for almost a week and a half.
I did check for bent pins several times and they seemed fine, as for the pressure, my heatsink uses regular push pins like the stock cooler so I don't suppose it might cause high pressure on the chip. The seems fine aswell, since the IHS is always pushed by the socket and I don't see why it would be pushed with more pressure.
However I may have damaged the chip since it had a very very small chipped part on the bottom left corner (See in pic)

Is there a possibility of it stopping in the near future ?

[kkn]

i can stop in 1 min, 5 min, 1hour+++
you never know, it can last years or it can die after a few mins.
it can be you damaged it more when you did pull of the cover ( im asuming you changed the paste under the cover? )
it can be you damaged the print line when it got "chipped" on the bottom there ( as you stated ).

[AvoK95]

I did change the paste, I used Arctic MX-4, temps are amazing at 30s idle.

The print line? I think you've misunderstood where it's chipped, the chipped part is on the die and not the PCB (Shown in the picture above).

[Raja]

Yeah you have damaged the die - this is the likely cause of your problems. It will be worse still if MX4 is conductive (have not checked) and even if it is conductive and you chnage to another paste, sometimes the damage has already been done.

The only way you'd be able to confirm for sure would be to try another motherboard and see if it persists. If it does, chock it up to misadventure.

[AvoK95]

No, the MX-4 isn't conductive, that's why I chose it over Arctic Silver 5. I guess I should try it in another motherboard when I have the chance.

[Raja]

Yeah do that. If it is still flaky POSTing, you can safely assume the die damage is more than cosmetic.