Computer crashes, rarely..?

[spectral]

It's a new computer, built about a month ago as my first one.
For the most part the computer runs smooth, but sometimes..it crashes.
As in, it would run perfect for like a whole day..and then all of a sudden, randomly, it would crash another time.. From speculations, it had crashed while not doing anything extensive, and while playing games. I do not think the problem would revolve around overheating or anything like that, as my CPU and GPU temps are fairly decent. (I live in Canada, and room temperature is pretty cool) And the case itself is fully ventilated, from the front, top, bottom. I do not get any weird blue/green screens..or any error msgs..just freezes, and forces me to do a hard reset/force off.

Just yesterday, when it crashed while playing a game, it forced me to do a hard reset. As the restarting process starts, goes through bios, then starts loading windows.. Windows started updating, but would not finish (it would get stuck to like 30%.. and then just freeze, which forces me again to do a hard reset or a hard power off..even though it tells you not to turn off while doing updates but.. no choice. I started getting paranoid, because Windows wouldnt even start.
CPU fan is spinning, GPU fan..Case fan.. all the fans..BUT..
Anyways.

After reslecting my boot priority in the bios to my HDD..windows starts loading and did properly. After reloggin back in, I would then try to srestart the computer just to reaffirm, it could not restart properly.. for some reason. But turning off the computer works.

Some things i observed around the time when freezing happened when trying to power up right after the crash, I heard some sounds..not fan sounds, but something like.. inside the HDD or just the optical drive or something. Nothing loud or cranky, but like the sound when u first put in a CD into the optical drive before it starts loading/spinning.

Any ideas as to what might be causing this..? It's weird because it doesnt happen consistently.. I haven't tried replugging/reassembling anything yet, but will. Drivers are up to date for the most part. I did some CPU/GPU stress testing, no errors.. what could it be?

Help would be greatly appreciated.

Specs are as follows:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Amazon) Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($79.79 @ Newegg) Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ NCIX US) Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US) Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.99 @ NCIX US) Case: Thermaltake Chaser A31 ATX Mid Tower Case ($68.37 @ Mwave) Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US) Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC) Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC) Monitor: BenQ GL2450HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($199.99 @ NCIX US) Total: $998.06 (Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.) (Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-14 16:13 EDT-0400)

 

[woltej1]

I'm thinking RAM or bad HDD. Search seatools for DOS and get that set up and going. Then try memtest.

 

[Deuce65]

The overwhelming majority of crashes such as what you described have nothing at all to do with hardware problems, installation or otherwise. But rather are caused by defects in the software you are running. Unfortunately, unless it is something really really obvious (like for example you never update drivers, etc, which obviously isn't the case here), it is extremely unlikely anyone is going to be able to solve this for you with something generic as, "sometimes when I run games my computer crashes". More specific information would help, but as I said more than likely this has nothing at all to do with your computer.

 

[spectral]

The overwhelming majority of crashes such as what you described have nothing at all to do with hardware problems, installation or otherwise. But rather are caused by defects in the software you are running. Unfortunately, unless it is something really really obvious (like for example you never update drivers, etc, which obviously isn't the case here), it is extremely unlikely anyone is going to be able to solve this for you with something generic as, "sometimes when I run games my computer crashes". More specific information would help, but as I said more than likely this has nothing at all to do with your computer.

Thanks for your reply, I tried describing what happened the best I can. I reckon this would be a weird one.. as all the indications that would cause crashing, is not in stake here.. Drivers are up to date, components are fairly new and seem to be working fine, etc...then again.

It is a vague description, sounding like the same dillema from thousands of people..

I ran the msmemsched (i think that was it) that comes with windows and ran it. It did some memory testing for about 15 mins, and finished with no errors..

When i did the hard reset and when windows tried loading after it crashed, the computer would freeze while doing updates..and could not start up. I dont know if this is any indication to anything..

 

[spectral]

I'm thinking RAM or bad HDD. Search seatools for DOS and get that set up and going. Then try memtest.

I ran the memsched test that came with windows.. it did some testing and passed.
Anymore ideas..?

 

[woltej1]

disconnect all usb devices except your mouse and keyboard, those are common sources of boot problems.

 

[Deuce65]

What programs specifically do you have running when it happens?

 

[spectral]

disconnect all usb devices except your mouse and keyboard, those are common sources of boot problems.

Not using any usb device except keyboard and mouse..
As of right now, I am using my computer, powered up no problem and started normally, running smooth.. BUT, something is triggering my computer to crash from time to time.

Might it be the setup of my cabling, motherboard, components..would cables being bunched up together tight cause any problems..?

What sticks out in my mind when this happened..was the noise I was hearing when I powered it up and when windows started loading..and couldn't. Its like the sound you hear, when you put a CD into your optical drive, the sound when it first tries to read it..then spins. It's kind of like the sound when your printer is printing something! But not to that extent. Just subtle...

I would like to do some testing on all my components. For my CPU, GPU, RAM. What are some easy to use, reliable programs?

 

[spectral]

What programs specifically do you have running when it happens?

on my start up according to task manager:

AiChargerPlus Application
Akamai Netsession Client (2)
Apple Push
Java(TM) Update Scheduler
NVIDIA Capture Server Proxy
NVIDIA Gefroce Experience
Realtek HD Audio Manager
WiFil GO! File Transfer



When im playing a game..i might have a web browser open..thats about it.

And when it happens, I don't have a specific program I use or have open everytime it does. It's very random..
Once it froze while I was just simply browsing. The rest of the times I was playing a game. Very weird.

 

[woltej1]

use the program called memtest, the stock one on windows isn't the greatest.

 

[GeorgeUSA420]

Diagnsoe computer memory problems as shown below:

1. In Start, type "Memory"
2. Open Windows Memory Diagnostic.
3. Click "Restart now and check for problems"