PC Processors

[clpedigo]

AMD FX-8320 processor

ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 motherboard, updated to most recent available BIOS (rev. 2101)

Windows 10 64-bit

System has been running fine for two years, now it is rebooting almost constantly. Can boot up into Safe Mode and it stays up anywhere from 1 to 10 minutes then it reboots, sometimes it will boot normally but it never stays up more than a minute after a normal reboot.

Event log shows the fatal hardware error message:

Component: AMD Northbridge

Error type: 11

Processor APIC ID: 0

Event ID:20

Source: WHEA-Logger

I've seen all sorts of posts, etc. but have not seen any real solutions. Is this an issue with the processor or the motherboard? I have not done any overclocking, etc., everything is default in the BIOS.

[elstaci]

Hard to tell.

If your problem started right after you updated your BIOS, that COULD be a reason. Either your updated BIOS is corrupted or it is not compatible with a hardware on your computer.

If your problem start after your updated the BIOS but the computer was working fine with the latest BIOS version, it could be a defective hardware or configuration issue in Windows.

Generally if a computer reboots by itself it is either a Overheating or Power issue and in same cases a driver not being compatible. Can also be a defective hardware like the motherboard or CPU or RAM Memory.

Open the side of your computer and make sure all the fans are working, especially on the CPU and possibly your PSU. Also check your PSU outputs. Make sure your PSU is supplying 3.3vdc, 5.0vdc, and 12vdc within 5% tolerances.

You can check by installing a hardware monitoring software like Open Hardware or HWMonitoring. If you are able to maintain Windows desktop long enough to see Temperatures and Voltages from the installed monitoring software.

Found this long old thread (2017) with the exact same error as yours: A Fatal Hardware Error Has Occured. AMD Northbridge. 

This HP Thread wit similar error indicates that "Fast Start" in Windows Power Options was the cause of the reboots: Random Reboots - AMD Northbridge Fatal Error - HP Support Community - 6493640 

Most of the threads have pointed to the first AMD Thread link that I posted above to find a solution.

But since it  reboots EVEN in Safe mode, does seem to indicate a hardware issue since in Safe Mode it only loads the minimum drivers needed to boot into Windows.

First try to disable "Fast Start" in both BIOS and in Windows Power Options and see if that stops the rebooting issue.

[clpedigo]

I came across that thread last week and unfortunately my system will not remain up long enough to open the control panel applet, and the "fast startup" feature does not show up when booted into safe mode.

I updated the BIOS in the effort to alleviate the issue, it was rebooting prior to any system changes. I cannot honestly say if this started after the last update form Microsoft; that being said, unless my components are still under warranty, I see where I have no choice but to replace the motherboad and processor. I will have to retrieve my serial numbers and check to see if they are still under warranty, gut I suspect not since they were purchased in August of 2015.

[elstaci]

What PSU do you have installed. Are you able to post your computer hardware specs?

[clpedigo]

I am not physically near the computer at the moment, I will have to get more information when I get  home (the original power supply that I purchased was faulty, I don't recall the specs on the replacement)

[clpedigo]

Here is what I have:

AMD FX-8320 Processor -
EightCore
3.5GHz
Socket AM3+
8MB L2 Cache
8MB L3 Cache

Asus AM3+ Motherboard uATX
Socket AM3+
AMD 760G Chipset
2000MHz DDR3 (O.C.)
SATA 3.0Gb/s
RAID
8Channel Audio
Gigabit LAN
CrossFireX Ready
USB 3.0 M5A78LM/USB3
BIOS updated to 2101

Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB Desktop Memory DDR3
1866 MT/s, 8GB Single, UDIMM (PC314900), 240Pin
times 2 for 16GB RAM

OS is installed on a Crucial BX100 500GB SATA 2.5" SSD - CT500BX100SSD1

Data is installed on a second SATA 1TB Hard Drive

Original power supply was SolidGear 650 Watt ATX

[elstaci]

Reset your overclock RAM back to "Default' and see if the reboots stops. Overclocking can cause many problems.

What GPU card do you have installed and Make & Model of Motherboard and PSU.

Remove all RAM and just install one RAM Module in the first main Memory Slot of your motherboard. Disconnect all external devices except your monitor and USB Mouse and keyboard, if applicable.

Make sure you don't have anything else Overclocked. Everything should be in "default".

Now see if it keeps rebooting with just the minimal hardware installed. Remove any other PCIe cards that you have installed.

Basically all this is to narrow down the hardware in use. Basically you should have installed on your motherboard - CPU, GPU, and one Ram Memory module. remove everything else.

Power on the computer and see if it keeps rebooting.

If you have a Digital meter or a analog Volt meter, plug it in a PSU 12vdc power cable like a Molex and see what voltage you have as an output from the PSU while powered on. Sometimes, In BIOS, it will show you temperatures and Voltages. If it does check that after powering up. See if you see anything abnormal. Do this with minimal hardware installed as per above instructions.

[clpedigo]

I put all the model information in an earlier reply with the exception of the video. The motherboard has an integrated ATI Radeon HD 3000 GPU, and I have been using a GE Force PCI graphics card. Off hand I don't recall the model of the graphics card, but I have already been through all the steps of remoinv memory, etc., all with the same result. Also as I stated earlier, nothing is over-clocked, I did NOT change any BIOS settings other than when I used the added PCI graphics card. Regardless of the  setup/peripherals connected the behavior did not change.

The only thing I have not done is test the power supply voltages.