Computer crashes when playing certain games etc.

[Tom Cload]

Hello everyone,

Recently I've been having a problem with my PC freezing when playing only a select few games like Dead Island, and Verdun. I've not had much of a problem with others as of yet. But not only this but it crashes when watching Youtube videos - but only on Google Chrome. It's fine on Internet Explorer and on Firefox.

When it crashes I have to hard reset - The mouse is frozen, gameplay is frozen, and the sound just stops. The system sounds fine, no harsh noise or anything like that. This can happen anywhere between immediately, and over an hour in, but it will ALWAYS happen with those games (but only in game and not in the menu) and on Youtube.

I have tried everything I can possibly think of - I've uninstalled and reinstalled Adobe Flash, Shockwave, Google Chrome. I've also updated all my drivers/windows updates. I've resorted to uninstalling my AMD Drivers, and reinstalling the latest versions. It isn't a heat issue, my CPU id'es at around 20-25C and peaks at around 50C, my GPU idles at around 30C and peaks at around 60C very occasionally. I also dusted everything out inside and ouside my PC.

I built the PC myself around April 2013 and I've had no problems until recently when this started happening.

My PC:

Motherboard - ASUS Sabertooth 990FX
CPU - AMD FX8350 Black Edition 8 Core Processor
RAM - Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB)
GPU - ASUS Radeon HD 7870 DirectCU II 2 GB
PSU - Corsair HX850 850w Gold Power Supply
Case - CoolerMaster Enforcer

If anyone could give me any guidance on this subject it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[mattmidori]

for youtube try html5 player https://www.youtube.com/html5?gl=PL
for your games try install reinstall or check anti virus or whatever.

 

[Mysticking32]

Well the first thing I would try after doing all of that is reinstalling windows entirely. But first let's see what errors you're getting. Go to windows events log the next time your computer crashes and tell me what error you're getting.

It sounds like it's either kernel event 41 or display driver has stopped responding.

Also, try taking the gpu out of the pci slot and reseating it and make sure to prop it securely in the slot. Sounds silly, I know but a lot of people have fixed their issues by doing that. Make sure all wires are secure etc.

 

[Tom Cload]

for youtube try html5 player https://www.youtube.com/html5?gl=PL
for your games try install reinstall or check anti virus or whatever.

Sorry, forgot to say, I've done both of these, and since doing the HTML5 player extention, I don't think I've noticed it on youtube, but then - I've been actively avoiding using it.

 

[Tom Cload]

Well the first thing I would try after doing all of that is reinstalling windows entirely. But first let's see what errors you're getting. Go to windows events log the next time your computer crashes and tell me what error you're getting.

It sounds like it's either kernel event 41 or display driver has stopped responding.

Also, try taking the gpu out of the pci slot and reseating it and make sure to prop it securely in the slot. Sounds silly, I know but a lot of people have fixed their issues by doing that. Make sure all wires are secure etc.

Just had a look, and for every crash I've hard recently it's been caused by Kernal-Power Event 41. Can you give me a little more information about this please? Thank you.

 

[Mysticking32]

Yeah. This issue usually refers to and is caused by a failing power supply. There are some instances where it's the video card, but usually 3/4ths of the time it means there's an issue of the power supply.

Let's try some solutions. Firstly, try reseating the gpu and doing the step mentioned in my above post.

Second, try disabling your antivirus for a short time. Sometimes these programs have a tendency to cause strange issues. Especially if running side by side with another antivirus program.

You're best option however is going to be to reinstall windows completely. Considering you've tried updating drivers and doing most of the other conventional methods, most people recommend. It's probably going to be the easiest option.

Let me know how it goes!

ALSO if your gpu is overclocked, lose the overclock and try it normally. Or if your cpu is overclocked. Try disabling overclock is what I'm saying. If you even have it.

 

[Tom Cload]

Yeah. This issue usually refers to and is caused by a failing power supply. There are some instances where it's the video card, but usually 3/4ths of the time it means there's an issue of the power supply.

Let's try some solutions. Firstly, try reseating the gpu and doing the step mentioned in my above post.

Second, try disabling your antivirus for a short time. Sometimes these programs have a tendency to cause strange issues. Especially if running side by side with another antivirus program.

You're best option however is going to be to reinstall windows completely. Considering you've tried updating drivers and doing most of the other conventional methods, most people recommend. It's probably going to be the easiest option.

Let me know how it goes!

I see. 🙁

Failing Power Supply as in I'm going to have to replace it?

I'll do all the above and get back to you, it may be some time though.

Thanks for everything you have done!

 

[Mysticking32]

We're not to the point where I'll recommend replacing it yet. Let's walk through this troubleshooting and I'll let you know.

I'm thinking it's probably a loose wire to your gpu. But we'll walk through the process first. Make sure all wires are secured etc. ^^^

 

[Tom Cload]

We're not to the point where I'll recommend replacing it yet. Let's walk through this troubleshooting and I'll let you know.

I'm thinking it's probably a loose wire to your gpu. But we'll walk through the process first. Make sure all wires are secured etc. ^^^

Yupp, just backing up all my important stuff first. Then I'll get onto the troubleshooting. Also, I haven't overclocked anything.

 

[Tom Cload]

We're not to the point where I'll recommend replacing it yet. Let's walk through this troubleshooting and I'll let you know.

I'm thinking it's probably a loose wire to your gpu. But we'll walk through the process first. Make sure all wires are secured etc. ^^^

Okay, so I've backed everything up, and opened up my PC. I've reseated my GPU and checked all cables are secure. Youtube seems to be working fine now, but I think that's due to the HTML5 extension. But as soon as I got in a game on one of the games that crashes my PC (Verdun) it froze again.

So what is my next step?

 

[Mysticking32]

Was it still the same kernel event power 41 error?

And the next step I'd do is disable antivirus for a little while and then test games. You can also try using catalyst control center to underclock your cpu by about 40 mhz.

But if neither of those work, reinstalling windows is the next best option.

 

[tiny voices]

This is commonly caused by having multiple Audio drivers installed.

http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f299/solved-kernel-power-41-63-error-434613.html

Here is a thread with similar issues discussed.

There are ALOT more things to do before you even think about reinstalling Windows.

 

[Tom Cload1]

This is commonly caused by having multiple Audio drivers installed.

http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f299/solved-kernel-power-41-63-error-434613.html

Here is a thread with similar issues discussed.

There are ALOT more things to do before you even think about reinstalling Windows.

Okay, so I reinstalled Windows before I saw this. - I wanted to sort out my HDDs anyway, they were cluttered.

Anyway, so I am still experiencing freezes, but now on installing things such as updating drivers.

I didn't mention this before because I thought it might have been unrelated, but further research changed my mind. I have been having random BSODs prior and between the crashes starting, which leads me to think it might be a faulty RAM. The BSODs occur randomly it seems, but most notably when I wake my PC up from sleep.

Does this all sum up?

 

[Mysticking32]

Take one ram stick out and run a memory test on it. You can use intel xtreme tuning utility. And do the other also. It's possible but I doubt it. Such a problem would have presented itself at the beginning of your pc's life. Not now.

At this point I'm thinking it's the power supply or possibly the video card.

Do you have another video card you could test inside your system by chance? If the other video card freezes inside your system then it's for sure the psu. If it doesn't then it might be the video card.

Or if possible test your video card inside someone elses system.

 

[Tom Cload1]

Take one ram stick out and run a memory test on it. You can use intel xtreme tuning utility. And do the other also. It's possible but I doubt it. Such a problem would have presented itself at the beginning of your pc's life. Not now.

At this point I'm thinking it's the power supply or possibly the video card.

Do you have another video card you could test inside your system by chance? If the other video card freezes inside your system then it's for sure the psu. If it doesn't then it might be the video card.

Or if possible test your video card inside someone elses system.

I'll try that first, thanks.

I do not have direct access to any other parts, this is the problem I'm having,

 

[tiny voices]

Run memtest86 for 5 passes. this will give you a 100% clean answer about the RAM.

I do not think this is PSU at all, or GPU. I believe it is RAM or HDD.

 

[Tom Cload1]

Thank you.

I've already ran a disk check on all my HDDs to see of theres any errors and everything seems fine.

Could you run me through the process for Memtest86 as I've never done a RAM test.

Thanks.

 

[tiny voices]

You just download the test. Burn it to a DVd or USB as per the directions, and then boot to it and it will run the test.

 

[Tom Cload1]

Okay, thanks. Do I need to keep both my RAM in or test individually?

 

[tiny voices]

Test them together. If the test fails, then test individually to find the issue.

 

[Tom Cload1]

Okay, thank you. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[Tom Cload1]

Okay, so I'm currently running the Memtest86 and it's on Pass 1 - But on Test 13 (Hammer Test) it has been stuck at 16% for about 30 minutes, where as the other tests showed quite a lot of progression. I'm probably just being overly cautious. Also, if I have to leave it on overnight, how do I find out if there were any errors?

 

[tiny voices]

Memtest does not usually get stuck like that. Let it keep going. It will report errors if there are any.

 

[Tom Cload1]

Okay, so I left it running overnight, and woke up to find it still on Test 13 - Hammer Test at 16%. Would you say this is an error with Memtest86 or with my RAM? Surely it wouldn't take about 9 hours to process one test, and never get past 16%?

 

[Tom Cload1]

Should i try running the test with individual RAM sticks instead to see if one works and the other makes it stop?

How about i run a Prime95 test?