Best way to debug an Intel Core i5 hang - likely graphics (possibly power) related

[Graeme Russ]

Hi Mulyadi,

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 9:44 PM, Graeme Russ <graeme.russ at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Mulyadi,
>
> On 01/31/2012 04:49 PM, Mulyadi Santosa wrote:
>> Hi :)
>>
>> On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 11:52, Graeme Russ <graeme.russ at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> So RAM modules not the problem, that leaves CPU, Motherboard and PSU...
>>>
>>> So I switched out the PSU - Fail (really quickly this time... interesting)
>>>
>>> So that's when I decided to look at the SDRAM voltage - I looked up the
>>> datasheet for the RAM and compared it to the BIOS setting... Hmm, right
>>> at the upper limit of the spec'd DIMM voltage, so I set it to 1.5V
>>> manually.
>>>
>>> Since then it has not skipped a beat (only been ~18 hours, but that's way
>>> longer than previously)
>>
>> A very well done trouble shooting! you're lucky that during the
>
> Thanks :)

Alas, after 36 hours it froze again - tweaking the SDRAM voltage up and
down didn't resolve the problem.

I'm convinced it's motherboard related (most likely a flakey voltage
regulator)

>> process, your memory module isn't burn out (voltage overload could do
>> that sometimes AFAIK).
>
> Hmm, the MB voltage was just at the upper limit of the operational voltage
> - I think the max. rated voltage goes a little higher although there are
> two voltages that must be kept at correct levels relative to each other
> (one must always remain less than or equal to the other)
>
>> lately many issues surface which tend to has something to do with
>> hardware, for example the excessive power consumption (ASPM). Sensors
>> are all we need. Linux could already fetch numbers from SMART, cpu
>> sensors etc. Maybe we need memory voltage sensors too? :)
>
> Yes, I would love to get all the on-board and on-die sensors working
> (temperatures, voltages, fan speeds). This is going to be an 'always on'
> media server which will also operate as a part-time dev machine. I would
> love to do complete system status logging. Any idea how I could find out
> what the correct kernel options I need to do so?

I recompiled with the various sensor bus options as modules and got it
working

Regards,

Graeme