Can a PSU cause your computer to freeze?

[ww1superstar]

My computer randomly freezes at times of high load. Sometimes it isnt on high load though, because usually its while playing strenuous games, but just recently it crashed when I tried to load a webpage (Loading a webpage may cause a second of high load I dont know). My computer has the following parts:
Processor: AMD FX 9590 -
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/ite...

Motherboard: AM3+ Asus M5A99X Evo R20 -
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/ite...

RAM: Kingston HyperX Fury-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/ite...

Power Supp: CoolMax ZU 1000 Watt -
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/ite...

Hard Drive: WD Red 2TB -
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/ite...

Tower: Ultra Defender II Black ATX Mid-Tower Gaming Case -
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/ite...

Graphics: Sapphire Vapor X Radeon R9 280X TRI X Graphic Card -
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/ite...

I have replaced the motherboard and processor already. It isnt a software issue as I just upgrade to windows 10 and it still happened between windows 7 and 10. My computer has only been built for 6 months now. The reason I believe it may be the power supply is because it is a pretty bad PSU and along side of that some reviews say it crashes under high load. I dont know if crashing and freezing could be considered the same but I doubt it. If it isnt the PSu then what could it be? I already know my motherboard cant support the voltage for the CPU so I underclocked my CPU, so that would probably not be the problem, although I cant say the same if my motherboard cant support enough voltage for the GPU but I dont know.

 

[USAFRet]

Power Supp: CoolMax ZU 1000 Watt -

Seeing as the CoolMax is a Tier 5 PSU, replace it anyway, even if it is not the specific cause.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

And since other things you've read point to it dying under load....why are you waiting? Replace it today.

 

[ww1superstar]

Power Supp: CoolMax ZU 1000 Watt -

Seeing as the CoolMax is a Tier 5 PSU, replace it anyway, even if it is not the specific cause.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

And since other things you've read point to it dying under load....why are you waiting? Replace it today.

I am going to replace it anyways, but I would prefer to know what else could also be causing the freeze if the PSU cant be the only thing.

 

[boosted1g]

Agreed you should be replacing PC regardless. FYI crashing is computer shutting off, not freezing. But that crappy PSU is not going to be happy with a 220w overclocked CPU and thus could cause it to have issues.

My next question would be about the overclock on the 9550, and what is your temps?

 

[ww1superstar]

Agreed you should be replacing PC regardless. FYI crashing is computer shutting off, not freezing. But that crappy PSU is not going to be happy with a 220w overclocked CPU and thus could cause it to have issues.

My next question would be about the overclock on the 9550, and what is your temps?

Temps are fine. I monitor it when playing games, and when browsing the internet they stay around 36C while games are usually just under 60C. I have made the maximum CPU load at 85% of its intended load, so I dont think it would be a wattage issue.

 

[USAFRet]

Power Supp: CoolMax ZU 1000 Watt -

Seeing as the CoolMax is a Tier 5 PSU, replace it anyway, even if it is not the specific cause.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

And since other things you've read point to it dying under load....why are you waiting? Replace it today.

I am going to replace it anyways, but I would prefer to know what else could also be causing the freeze if the PSU cant be the only thing.

Well, you've already replaced the motherboard, CPU, and OS.
That leaves RAM, GPU, and PSU.

Start with the known bad actor, the PSU.

 

[thx1138v2]

Yes, a PSU can cause those problems. See the section "The Power Good Signal" about 1/3 of the way down this web page: PSU 101

After the system is powered up and running the "Power Good Signal" can turn off which will turn the processor off. This time of year that is most likely due to heat issues if you are in the northern hemisphere but that signal can be turned off any time the power output of the PSU becomes unstable. So it could also be an indication of a PSU going bad.

"I already know my motherboard cant support the voltage for the CPU so I underclocked my CPU..." That can damage the CPU as well if the motherboard is supplying out of spec power.

Everything in the case and attached to the computer depends on good, clean power coming out of the PSU so never skimp on the PSU. Doing so can actually damage other components. And the components need to be selected to work together. If the mobo will run the CPU it should do so at the required specs. Low voltages are just as bad on electronics as high voltages.

 

[ww1superstar]

Power Supp: CoolMax ZU 1000 Watt -

Seeing as the CoolMax is a Tier 5 PSU, replace it anyway, even if it is not the specific cause.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

And since other things you've read point to it dying under load....why are you waiting? Replace it today.

I am going to replace it anyways, but I would prefer to know what else could also be causing the freeze if the PSU cant be the only thing.

Well, you've already replaced the motherboard, CPU, and OS.
That leaves RAM, GPU, and PSU.

Start with the known bad actor, the PSU.

I am also going to upgrade my motherboard to one that can handle more wattage. I have a feeling if the CPU cant get enough power then my high power GPU might not get enough power which could cause freezing. I also dont know how motherboards work, but if a few parts needing more power can take away power from other componets like RAM that would make a lot of sense, since my freezing feels like RAM shortage, yet my RAM is mine.

 

[ww1superstar]

Yes, a PSU can cause those problems. See the section "The Power Good Signal" about 1/3 of the way down this web page: PSU 101

After the system is powered up and running the "Power Good Signal" can turn off which will turn the processor off. This time of year that is most likely due to heat issues if you are in the northern hemisphere but that signal can be turned off any time the power output of the PSU becomes unstable. So it could also be an indication of a PSU going bad.

"I already know my motherboard cant support the voltage for the CPU so I underclocked my CPU..." That can damage the CPU as well if the motherboard is supplying out of spec power.

Everything in the case and attached to the computer depends on good, clean power coming out of the PSU so never skimp on the PSU. Doing so can actually damage other components. And the components need to be selected to work together. If the mobo will run the CPU it should do so at the required specs. Low voltages are just as bad on electronics as high voltages.

So even though I underclock my CPU so it wouldnt hit the voltage limit that it would on 100% CPU power, it could still cause damage?

 

[USAFRet]

I am also going to upgrade my motherboard to one that can handle more wattage. I have a feeling if the CPU cant get enough power then my high power GPU might not get enough power which could cause freezing. I also dont know how motherboards work, but if a few parts needing more power can take away power from other componets like RAM that would make a lot of sense, since my freezing feels like RAM shortage, yet my RAM is mine.

What, specifically, leads you to believe you need a different motherboard "that can handle more wattage" ?

Replace the PSU before it actually kills something else.

 

[ww1superstar]

I am also going to upgrade my motherboard to one that can handle more wattage. I have a feeling if the CPU cant get enough power then my high power GPU might not get enough power which could cause freezing. I also dont know how motherboards work, but if a few parts needing more power can take away power from other componets like RAM that would make a lot of sense, since my freezing feels like RAM shortage, yet my RAM is mine.

What, specifically, leads you to believe you need a different motherboard "that can handle more wattage" ?

Replace the PSU before it actually kills something else.

My motherboard can not support my CPU power requirements.

 

[USAFRet]

I am also going to upgrade my motherboard to one that can handle more wattage. I have a feeling if the CPU cant get enough power then my high power GPU might not get enough power which could cause freezing. I also dont know how motherboards work, but if a few parts needing more power can take away power from other componets like RAM that would make a lot of sense, since my freezing feels like RAM shortage, yet my RAM is mine.

What, specifically, leads you to believe you need a different motherboard "that can handle more wattage" ?

Replace the PSU before it actually kills something else.

My motherboard can not support my CPU power requirements.

And what is telling you this?

 

[ww1superstar]

It just happened again. Now it isnt just on high load and the times not on high load are happening more frequently.

 

[USAFRet]

OK...your motherboard - https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/M5A99X_EVO_R20/specifications/
Supports CPU up to 140 W

Your CPU - http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUResult.aspx
FD9590FHW8KHKAMD FX 8-Core Black EditionFX-95904700 220 W


Why are you running this?
Yeah, you need a different motherboard as well as a new PSU.

 

[ww1superstar]

OK...your motherboard - https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/M5A99X_EVO_R20/specifications/
Supports CPU up to 140 W

Your CPU - http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUResult.aspx
FD9590FHW8KHKAMD FX 8-Core Black EditionFX-95904700 220 W


Why are you running this?
Yeah, you need a different motherboard as well as a new PSU.

Im running this because I had my tech teacher from school who I became friends with, since it was only a few kids in the class, put together my PC parts since I didnt know much about parts a year ago. Turns out he was either really lazy about it or lied about knowing how to pick out good PC parts, as he picked out a motherboard that couldnt handle the CPU he picked out and a really cheap PSU just because it had a lot of watts. So now that I actually know some of the important basic stuff about parts, im trying to replace the bad apples and keep any good parts.