Computer Doesn't Work Well Until Restarted Several Times

[G Bell]

Back in September 2015 I built my first computer.

Specs:

CPU: Intel Core i5 4460
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 (second hand)
RAM: 2x4GB HyperX Fury 1600MHz
MoBo: Gigabyte GA-H97M-HD3
PSU: Corsair CX500M
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB
Case: Silverstone PS08
OS: Windows 8 (upgraded to 10)

(Just FYI, this issue is definitely hardware related, I have thoroughly checked the system for malware and even reset my OS, definitely not a software issue.)

It worked fine for the first 2 weeks or so, and then it started playing up. It wouldn't work well until I restarted it several times, with seemingly no predictable behaviour, just luck of the draw. For example:

I couldn't play any games at all because even the menu screens were like slideshows, and even web browsing was framy. Also the hard drive seemed to be 100% utilised even when I wasn't doing anything. Then when I switched to integrated graphics and BAM - fixed. I didn't even take the card out. I checked my Motherboard and noticed the card wasn't inserted properly so I took it to a computer shop to see if they could do something about it and then they removed another PCIE bracket (yep, I'm an idiot) and it inserted fine.So I went back home convinced that the problem had been fixed but nope! The exact same thing still happened.

It was at this point I decided to get a new PSU. I bought a Cooler Master V650 (yes I know it's overkill) which is a tier 1 power supply on the Tom's Hardware PSU Tier List. You guessed it, the exact same thing happened. At this point I just gave up and took the GPU out of the computer and used integrated graphics for several months. Recently I reset my OS and purchased an R9 380X (it was on sale really cheap, that's why I didn't get a 480), and the EXACT same thing STILL happened. I have checked the GPU power connectors and they are definitely properly connected.

At this point there's only really the RAM or Motherboard left that could be the culprits, I'm leaning more towards the motherboard right now. Is it possible that I damaged the x16 PCIE slot by having the card incorrectly installed? Or is it possible that this is a problem with AMD cards? If I get a new motherboard and it doesn't work I think I might just start from scratch tbh (not that I can afford it, lol).

Sorry for the lengthy post, please help!

 

[Proofy]

1) use only one RAM module, try it, then change it with other one, if the problem persists it's not the RAM

2) since you tried 2 different GPU's on the same mobo and both with the same problem I can guess that your PCIe slot is damaged if ram shows to be ok

No it doesn't matter if it's nvidia or amd gpu since you have the same issue with 2 different graphic cards so the problem isn't the gpus

 

[Silverbear]

Update BIOS, definitely sounds like a piece of hardware isn't communicating properly. Could be a faulty RAM module (Rare but it happens) or there's an error in the Motherboard's BIOS that's causing either the PCI-E or Chipset to have problems communicating the graphics card (less rare, and usually the culprit of things like this.)

The only other thing I can think of at the moment is the Hard Drive, might want to test it for failure with CrystalMark.

 

[G Bell]

Ok, so I tried swapping the RAM sticks (different one each time) and that didn't work. I'm probably going to sell my old gpu and Xbox 360 to get a new MoBo. Any recommendations for an LGA 1150 MATX MoBo?

 

[Proofy]

MSI H81M-P33, MSI H81M-E34 or Asus H81M-E whichever is cheaper

 

[G Bell]

Haswell refresh CPUs don't work with 8 series boards unless you do a bios update on them which requires you to have an original Haswell CPU.

 

[Proofy]

? i5 4460 works on H81M boards

 

[G Bell]

I got a new MoBo: MSI H97M G43. It works! 😀