Computer freezing regularly, no BSOD

[Shigu]

Greetings everyone -

Just hoping to find some help with the problem I'm currently having with my PC. Recently my PC has started freezing out of nowhere, it tends to be while I'm playing a game, this started happening about 3 weeks ago roughly. I initially thought it may be Rust (game seems to be resource hungry like mad) even though I've not had problems with it before. Even on lowest possible settings I still had the problem, though with my PC spec's I assumed I should be comfortable at highest. Now the problem has started with WoW (just started playing again), last played about 6 months ago and had no problems with it, even with all settings on max.

In terms of the freezing, let me explain a little bit. Computer will be running fine, will sound normal, no louder or quieter than usual. Then both screens will freeze completely, sometimes sound sticks and stutters on the current audio. PC will continue to sound the same, fans dont speed up, which I assumed would indicated an overheating issue. Sometimes, it will unfreeze on its own after 2-5mins. Other times it will stay frozen until I manually restart with button on case. When it comes back on I don't have an warnings, or requests to start in last known good config etc. When checking Reliability history, the only error is "Windows was not shut down correctly" from pressing the reset button on case.

I've not made any modifications to my system since Sept 2016 (roughly). Last modification I believe was new GPU and SSD.

Any advice on things to try, or anything really that could potentially improve the freezing situation, and any other information needed just ask. Thanks in advance!

System Specs:
http://i.imgur.com/jNE3owz.png

Userbenchmark:
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3611458

 

[Tolis_GR]

Can you re-produce the error by your own will or is it completely random? Errors that are random and cannot be re-produced can be either from hard drive or most probably from memory. Isolate the problem out with your hard drives first and move to your ram. Remove ram sticks one by one and see whether the problem is resolved or not. Once you find out the slot or the ram being faulty, try cleaning everything up and if needed replaced the ram.

 

[Shigu]

Can you re-produce the error by your own will or is it completely random? Errors that are random and cannot be re-produced can be either from hard drive or most probably from memory. Isolate the problem out with your hard drives first and move to your ram. Remove ram sticks one by one and see whether the problem is resolved or not. Once you find out the slot or the ram being faulty, try cleaning everything up and if needed replaced the ram.

I dont think I can re-produce it myself, doesn't happen every time I play either, does seem just completely random. I've got two 8gb G Skill sticks and 2 4GB generic ones that came with the system like 4 years ago, so I'll try the Memory first - Both SSD's show 100% health and 98% lifetime remaining on Kingston and Intel SSD Toolbox, so it is likely to still be them? (Kingston has OS Intel has Rust on it. All other games are on WD). Thanks

 

[Tolis_GR]

Can you re-produce the error by your own will or is it completely random? Errors that are random and cannot be re-produced can be either from hard drive or most probably from memory. Isolate the problem out with your hard drives first and move to your ram. Remove ram sticks one by one and see whether the problem is resolved or not. Once you find out the slot or the ram being faulty, try cleaning everything up and if needed replaced the ram.

I dont think I can re-produce it myself, doesn't happen every time I play either, does seem just completely random. I've got two 8gb G Skill sticks and 2 4GB generic ones that came with the system like 4 years ago, so I'll try the Memory first - Both SSD's show 100% health and 98% lifetime remaining on Kingston and Intel SSD Toolbox, so it is likely to still be them? (Kingston has OS Intel has Rust on it. All other games are on WD). Thanks

Try to isolate the games that induce the crash, whether they are copied on your OS drive or your data drive. Some games can give errors if they are not copied to the OS hard drive. If you have crashes for both drives, and your diagnostics are good also, move to the ram memory and your ram slots.

 

[Eximo]

What about the power supply?

 

[Shigu]

What about the power supply?

http://i.imgur.com/KBDQYG1.jpg

 

[Eximo]

Not that familiar with NovaTech, but if it is more than a 3 or 4 years old I would start pointing at it.

Particularly with the 420W rails. As the capacitors degrade this output will be less, and you might be hitting the point where your computer can draw just enough to trip the OCP, or drag the voltage low enough to trigger UVP etc.

If you have access to another power supply, I would give that a go.

That or your 24GB of memory, try removing all but 16GB. The different sizes may have played nice for a while, but everything degrades a little over time.

 

[Shigu]

Thanks for advice both - taken out the 2x4GB sticks, will see if the issue resolves itself. While doing that realised I'd actually setup my front intake as a front exhaust, is it possible I was maybe overheating my hard drives because of that? Thanks

 

[Tolis_GR]

Thanks for advice both - taken out the 2x4GB sticks, will see if the issue resolves itself. While doing that realised I'd actually setup my front intake as a front exhaust, is it possible I was maybe overheating my hard drives because of that? Thanks

Kinda difficult for moderate use but always possible depending on the circumstances.

 

[Shigu]

Kinda difficult for moderate use but always possible depending on the circumstances.

Yeah, I'll see how it manages now, but seems quieter. After taking out the 2x4GB, Speccy is showing my 16GB RAM as single channel now, even though its Dual-Channel. They are in DIMM1 and DIMM3 - (1 and 3 are labeled "first" on my MB). Should I move them or have I just done something wrong? Thanks

 

[Tolis_GR]

Kinda difficult for moderate use but always possible depending on the circumstances.

Yeah, I'll see how it manages now, but seems quieter. After taking out the 2x4GB, Speccy is showing my 16GB RAM as single channel now, even though its Dual-Channel. They are in DIMM1 and DIMM3 - (1 and 3 are labeled "first" on my MB). Should I move them or have I just done something wrong? Thanks

No, nothing wrong. Are those rams identical ( a kit)? What make and model? Also what make and model are those removed? (2x4gb). Mixing rams can create problems nonetheless so try to use for the time your 16 gb if they are a kit, hopefully you will resolve those freezes. Try to remove your rams and reseat them again, maybe try to place the one of DIMM3 to DIMM1 and vice versa. If you are still on single channel try DIMM2-DIMM4

Edit: Sorry misread. Only Speccy shows single channel? What does bios or cpu-z say?

 

[Shigu]

Kinda difficult for moderate use but always possible depending on the circumstances.

Yeah, I'll see how it manages now, but seems quieter. After taking out the 2x4GB, Speccy is showing my 16GB RAM as single channel now, even though its Dual-Channel. They are in DIMM1 and DIMM3 - (1 and 3 are labeled "first" on my MB). Should I move them or have I just done something wrong? Thanks

No, nothing wrong. Are those rams identical ( a kit)? What make and model? Also what make and model are those removed? (2x4gb). Mixing rams can create problems nonetheless so try to use for the time your 16 gb if they are a kit, hopefully you will resolve those freezes. Try to remove your rams and reseat them again, maybe try to place the one of DIMM3 to DIMM1 and vice versa. If you are still on single channel try DIMM2-DIMM4

Yeah they are a kit, G.Skill RipjawsX 16GB 1866MHz [https://www.novatech.co.uk/products/g-skill-ripjawsx-16gb-2x8gb-ddr3-pc3-14900-1866mhz-dual-channel-kit/f3-14900cl10d-16gbxl.html] (Although I'm pretty sure my pcs trying to tell me they are 1333Mhz, gunna have to look into that. Will try to reseat them now, thanks ^^,

 

[Tolis_GR]

Kinda difficult for moderate use but always possible depending on the circumstances.

Yeah, I'll see how it manages now, but seems quieter. After taking out the 2x4GB, Speccy is showing my 16GB RAM as single channel now, even though its Dual-Channel. They are in DIMM1 and DIMM3 - (1 and 3 are labeled "first" on my MB). Should I move them or have I just done something wrong? Thanks

No, nothing wrong. Are those rams identical ( a kit)? What make and model? Also what make and model are those removed? (2x4gb). Mixing rams can create problems nonetheless so try to use for the time your 16 gb if they are a kit, hopefully you will resolve those freezes. Try to remove your rams and reseat them again, maybe try to place the one of DIMM3 to DIMM1 and vice versa. If you are still on single channel try DIMM2-DIMM4

Yeah they are a kit, G.Skill RipjawsX 16GB 1866MHz [https://www.novatech.co.uk/products/g-skill-ripjawsx-16gb-2x8gb-ddr3-pc3-14900-1866mhz-dual-channel-kit/f3-14900cl10d-16gbxl.html] (Although I'm pretty sure my pcs trying to tell me they are 1333Mhz, gunna have to look into that. Will try to reseat them now, thanks ^^,

You have to configure your BIOS settings to go beyond 1333 mhz. Anything beyond 1333mhz is actually an overclock. If your rams are XMP compatible you will find a setting in your bios to enable XMP profile. They will overclock to 1866 automatically this way.

 

[Shigu]

Kinda difficult for moderate use but always possible depending on the circumstances.

Yeah, I'll see how it manages now, but seems quieter. After taking out the 2x4GB, Speccy is showing my 16GB RAM as single channel now, even though its Dual-Channel. They are in DIMM1 and DIMM3 - (1 and 3 are labeled "first" on my MB). Should I move them or have I just done something wrong? Thanks

No, nothing wrong. Are those rams identical ( a kit)? What make and model? Also what make and model are those removed? (2x4gb). Mixing rams can create problems nonetheless so try to use for the time your 16 gb if they are a kit, hopefully you will resolve those freezes. Try to remove your rams and reseat them again, maybe try to place the one of DIMM3 to DIMM1 and vice versa. If you are still on single channel try DIMM2-DIMM4

Edit: Sorry misread. Only Speccy shows single channel? What does bios or cpu-z say?

CPU-Z said the same thing. Put them in Dimm2 and Dimm4 now and its showing as dual again. And thanks for the info about XMP, just turned it on now and I think its showing properly now

I just need to wait now and see if I get any more freezes while playing etc. Thanks

 

[Tolis_GR]

Kinda difficult for moderate use but always possible depending on the circumstances.

Yeah, I'll see how it manages now, but seems quieter. After taking out the 2x4GB, Speccy is showing my 16GB RAM as single channel now, even though its Dual-Channel. They are in DIMM1 and DIMM3 - (1 and 3 are labeled "first" on my MB). Should I move them or have I just done something wrong? Thanks

No, nothing wrong. Are those rams identical ( a kit)? What make and model? Also what make and model are those removed? (2x4gb). Mixing rams can create problems nonetheless so try to use for the time your 16 gb if they are a kit, hopefully you will resolve those freezes. Try to remove your rams and reseat them again, maybe try to place the one of DIMM3 to DIMM1 and vice versa. If you are still on single channel try DIMM2-DIMM4

Edit: Sorry misread. Only Speccy shows single channel? What does bios or cpu-z say?

CPU-Z said the same thing. Put them in Dimm2 and Dimm4 now and its showing as dual again. And thanks for the info about XMP, just turned it on now and I think its showing properly now

I just need to wait now and see if I get any more freezes while playing etc. Thanks

Ok, keep us informed, good luck

 

[Shigu]

Greetings folks,

Just updating, the problem seems to be fixed for the moment, haven't had a crash like the ones I was experiencing yet. Not sure what the fix actually was, could have been the RAM removal or fixing the fans and stop my ssd from overheating. But it seems okay now, thanks for the help!