[SOLVED] Computer freezes with a black screen during certain games ?

[Josh12419]

So recently I have been having some strange issues with my rig with how it likes to freeze up and black screen with a deafening noise and I have been trying to troubleshoot it and nothing seems to solve my issue, this is my problem as of late and what I have done to try to resolve it and it's symptoms

Computer Specifications:
Motherboard: Z390- A PRO
CPU: i9 9900k
GPU: RX 5700xt
RAM: HyperX Fury DDR4 2 x 8
PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G+

My first symptom is that I can't run in dual channel mode, if I go in a proper configuration to be able to utilize that it'll just not post, the motherboard will start flashing about the ram, and the thing is about that is that I have had this issue before with my previous motherboard, and the odd thing is that the first time this happened I was using the computer and then it would freeze up and then I all of a sudden could never use it in dual channel mode, keep in mind this was a different motherboard, set of ram AND cpu, I had that motherboard replaced with this one and what's odd is that I am getting the exact same situation, not being able to post in dual channel configuration, how ever in single channel it posts just fine

This isn't however where the problems end, on occasion doing certain tasks will make the computer black screen and freeze up, predominately it's whenever I use a VBA emulator to play GBA games and what not, it also does occasionally do the same thing for other tasks, but this particular one seems to spring up consistently, the times it does do this are either mild in terms of play time, like being able to play a few hours and it just black screens to severe, where it will only take a few moments and it'll do the same thing, for some reason though it can go long legs if not no hiccups at all doing other similar tasks

What I have tried to do to remedy it is resitting the CPU, because from what I understand a CPU being installed and depending on if pressure is uneven it can make ram channels inoperable, but testing each slot they work fine, it's just ONLY if I am in dual channel configuration it doesn't seem to post

I've also replaced the motherboard but as I said earlier, I have had multiple motherboards do the same thing, dual channel just doesn't ever post

What I do think it could be, my theory is that it could be the GPU, due to the fact it is black screening and freezing up and nothing else makes it seem like that is contributing to that particular problem, like some kinda of driver issue, but here's the thing, I have the latest drivers and previous drivers do just the same thing, they don't actually fix my issue.. However what throws me off the most is how I haven't ever been able as of late being able to boot in dual channel mode, I have tried multiple motherboards, multiple CPU's and multiple brands of ram from the same kit but the GPU has always stayed the same as well as the PSU

If you have any ideas of what I should try to do to remedy my issue I am more than happy to hear

 

[Ralston18]

Describe "with a deafening noise".

Explain more: "on occasion doing certain tasks will make the computer black screen and freeze up ". What certain tasks?

Look in Reliability History and Event Viewer for error codes, warnings, and even informational events that precede or correspond with the black screens.

Double check (via the motherboard's manufacturer's website) the supported RAM and RAM configurations.

Download and reinstall the emulators - the emulators could be buggy and/or corrupted.

 

[Josh12419]

Describe "with a deafening noise".

A: The noise I hear can only be described if you put an audio cable on something conductive and it's if it's on 100%, just a really loud buzzing noise

Explain more: "on occasion doing certain tasks will make the computer black screen and freeze up ". What certain tasks?

A: Those tasks being when I am playing a video game but it's rather sporadic, most of the time it doesn't happen, it's just some games cause my computer to black screen and freeze up

Look in Reliability History and Event Viewer for error codes, warnings, and even informational events that precede or correspond with the black screens.

A: https://ibb.co/fNZWh0z From top to bottom as of recently ranging from the 17/06/2021 to now
and here is my Event Log from event viewer https://easyupload.io/0by6bu

Double check (via the motherboard's manufacturer's website) the supported RAM and RAM configurations.

A: Double checking and the memory I use is compatible with the motherboard, the ram I use is HX432C16FB3K2/16
https://pangoly.com/en/review/msi-z390-a-pro/compatibility/ram


Download and reinstall the emulators - the emulators could be buggy and/or corrupted.

A: I have used multiple emulators and they all cause the same thing

 

[Ralston18]

The buzzing is a good starting point:

https://thegeekpage.com/how-to-fix-audio-buzzing-in-windows-10/

Work through some of the listed actions and tips. No need to install additional software beyond drivers downloaded via the applicable manufacturers websites.

Reinstall and reconfigure as necessary.

Also, sketch out a simple diagram of your systems audio connections showing what all is connected and how the components are connected. Include electrical connections and all (if any) power bars, surge protectors, etc.. VR devices as well.

From Reliability History, Steam VR seems to be a problem. Trying reinstalling it.

Also the unexpected shutdowns may have caused file corruption.

Use "sfc /scannow" and "dism" - they may find and fix something.

References:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow-to-repair-windows-system-files-2626161

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image

If no changes and the problem continues then delve deeper.

Power down, unplug, open the case.

Clean out dust and debris.

Verify by sight and feel that all cables, cards, RAM, and jumpers are fully and firmly in place.

Inspect for signs of damage. Especially connectors and cables showing bare conductor. Or maybe kinked, crimped, or pinched. Any signs of metal to metal contact where it should not be. Remember that when the system is operating there are airflows and vibrations. Some cable may move a bit as a result. Does not take much to create a short and subsequent buzz perhaps.

Also moving thread to Home Audio. More specific category and someone may recognize the problem.

 

[Josh12419]

The buzzing is a good starting point:

https://thegeekpage.com/how-to-fix-audio-buzzing-in-windows-10/

Work through some of the listed actions and tips. No need to install additional software beyond drivers downloaded via the applicable manufacturers websites.

Reinstall and reconfigure as necessary.

Also, sketch out a simple diagram of your systems audio connections showing what all is connected and how the components are connected. Include electrical connections and all (if any) power bars, surge protectors, etc.. VR devices as well.

From Reliability History, Steam VR seems to be a problem. Trying reinstalling it.

Also the unexpected shutdowns may have caused file corruption.

Use "sfc /scannow" and "dism" - they may find and fix something.

References:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow-to-repair-windows-system-files-2626161

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image

If no changes and the problem continues then delve deeper.

Power down, unplug, open the case.

Clean out dust and debris.

Verify by sight and feel that all cables, cards, RAM, and jumpers are fully and firmly in place.

Inspect for signs of damage. Especially connectors and cables showing bare conductor. Or maybe kinked, crimped, or pinched. Any signs of metal to metal contact where it should not be. Remember that when the system is operating there are airflows and vibrations. Some cable may move a bit as a result. Does not take much to create a short and subsequent buzz perhaps.

Also moving thread to Home Audio. More specific category and someone may recognize the problem.

As for the ram not working in dual channel mode, could this be related or is that it's own kettle of fish?

 

[Ralston18]

That would be, as you say, "it's own kettle of fish".

The starting point there is to verify that the motherboard supports the installed RAM and the current physical installation/configuration.

Some motherboards require that the first physically installed RAM module be inserted into a specific DIMM slot.

And RAM modules purchased for dual channel use must come together in a kit that matches the RAM modules for dual channel use.

Motherboard Manual:

https://download.msi.com/archive/mnu_exe/mb/E7B98v1.2.pdf

[Do verify that I found the correct manual.]

Supported Memory is listed on Page 13, Configuration Information is on Page 71.

Do go to MSI's website for more information on compatible memory.

However, for the sake of focus, try to stop or end the audio buzzing as the immediate objective.

 

[Josh12419]

That would be, as you say, "it's own kettle of fish".

The starting point there is to verify that the motherboard supports the installed RAM and the current physical installation/configuration.

Some motherboards require that the first physically installed RAM module be inserted into a specific DIMM slot.

And RAM modules purchased for dual channel use must come together in a kit that matches the RAM modules for dual channel use.

Motherboard Manual:

https://download.msi.com/archive/mnu_exe/mb/E7B98v1.2.pdf

[Do verify that I found the correct manual.]

Supported Memory is listed on Page 13, Configuration Information is on Page 71.

Do go to MSI's website for more information on compatible memory.

However, for the sake of focus, try to stop or end the audio buzzing as the immediate objective.

That buzzing noise as I said is only prevalent when the computer black screens and freezes, there isn't any buzzing noise during use

 

[Ralston18]

Okay.

We need to find or otherwise discover some common error or condition that precedes or corresponds with the black screens and freezes.

There appears to be an "every other day" pattern to the critical errors.

Take a look at some of the technical details - especially for any captured error codes. The error codes may or may not helpful....

All in all, to me anyway, increasing numbers of varying errors suggests a PSU problem.

Do you have a multi-meter and know how to use it? Or know someone who does?

FYI:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-manually-test-a-power-supply-with-a-multimeter-2626158

Not full test because the PSU is not under load. However any voltages at or out of tolerance would make the PSU suspect.

 

[Josh12419]

Okay.

We need to find or otherwise discover some common error or condition that precedes or corresponds with the black screens and freezes.

There appears to be an "every other day" pattern to the critical errors.

Take a look at some of the technical details - especially for any captured error codes. The error codes may or may not helpful....

All in all, to me anyway, increasing numbers of varying errors suggests a PSU problem.

Do you have a multi-meter and know how to use it? Or know someone who does?

FYI:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-manually-test-a-power-supply-with-a-multimeter-2626158

Not full test because the PSU is not under load. However any voltages at or out of tolerance would make the PSU suspect.

So far in testing, it seems to be that SteamVRCommon crashing was indeed the problem, I am not 100% sure but so far testing with the games that would cause my rig to black screen hasn't done it since removing it, I'll be sure to also test my PSU but so far from the sounds of it, it was due to that crashing, I'll be back in about a couple weeks time to keep you posted

 

[Josh12419]

Okay.

We need to find or otherwise discover some common error or condition that precedes or corresponds with the black screens and freezes.

There appears to be an "every other day" pattern to the critical errors.

Take a look at some of the technical details - especially for any captured error codes. The error codes may or may not helpful....

All in all, to me anyway, increasing numbers of varying errors suggests a PSU problem.

Do you have a multi-meter and know how to use it? Or know someone who does?

FYI:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-manually-test-a-power-supply-with-a-multimeter-2626158

Not full test because the PSU is not under load. However any voltages at or out of tolerance would make the PSU suspect.

So it's been a couple weeks and I have deduced the problem, it was indeed Steam VR that was causing the issue but there is an underlining problem that was causing it to crash I feel, but it hasn't happened NEARLY as much and at the moment I am abit torn in calling out bad drivers in all honesty

When SteamVR was uninstalled the only problem I'd ever have beyond that point, which happens like once a week at this point is that sometimes my display driver times out, which must've crashed SteamVRCommon which would THEN crash my whole system, since uninstalling it only games would freeze up after a driver timeout and would just crash the game, it doesn't black out and lock up the system, having a RX 5700 XT it's avidly known that it can cause these issues from poor driver support, I am of course very up to date with me drivers but in all honesty I'd rather deal with this than having my computer seemingly lock up from SteamVR

As for testing my PSU I haven't gotten round to that from just figuring out that since uninstalling SteamVR my problems haven't been nearly as awful