Audio Loop System Crash at random times when streaming

[joe_in_need]

Hi,

Motherboard: ASUS F2A55-M
BIOS: version 5107 (2012)
APU: A6-5400K with ATI/Radeon 7540
Video Driver: AMD Catalyst 14.09
Cooler: Hydra T4
RAM: 2 x 4gig 1600, memtest passed
PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower 650 Gold
OS: Xubuntu 14.04

PROBLEM: System crashes at arbitrary times, but only when streaming. Happens in XBMC and Firefox.

What Have I Tried: This has been a persistent problem for over a year. I have upgraded computer case, power supply, heatsink. I upgraded OS from earlier versions of Ubuntu up to Xubuntu.

The computer in question is attached to network of 3 computers, the other 2 running ubuntu 14.04 without the same issue and both have Intel chips with Nvidia drivers.

Thought it may be a wireless issue, purchased CAT6 20' cable to hardwire the connection. Would a 20' ethernet connection require a signal boost, the lack of which able to cause a system crash?

I have nothing over-clocked. Have BIOS settings in Optimized Defaults. Of note, the system assigned PCIE/PCI as graphics, not IGFX. Changed this setting to IGFX and system crashed in usual way, i.e., radom time when watching a streaming video.

Tried to research whether IGFX or PCIE/PCI setting really matters, but could not find much of anything on the various forums and nothing at all at ASUS website nor AMD website. In fact, I could not find any worthwhile infomation on the topic at all.

I am coming to you for help before my last 2 options: first, update BIOS and see what happens, provided all goes well with the flash update, and second, go out and buy Intel. I will not try the former until I am ready for the latter.

So, any suggestions or clarifications I can add to solve this riddle?

Thnaks in advance for taking the time to get to this sentence.

 

[joe_in_need]

I updated the BIOS from version 5107 to 6202. Since the update, the system has not crashed. Perhaps it was a BIOS issue; will have to see what happens over the next week or so.

 

[joe_in_need]

UPDATE: No crashes since BIOS update (see above). Whether streaming from XBMC, youtube, spotifiy or pandora, system has been running without any hiccups, stutters or failings of any kind for 2 days. For now, at least, I will consider this issue solved.