Question Desperatly looking for help: random BSOD/freezes

May 3, 2018
7
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hi. the issues have been bugging me for quite a while now. so im very grateful for your help.

Specs:

Board: Asus Z68 V Pro
CPU: i5-2500k
RAM: Samsung 8GB DDR3 1333
GPU: GTX 1070 TI
PSU: Seasonic 80 Plus
SSHD: Seagate Firecuda
Chassis: none
Cooler: Be Quiet Dark Rock 3

windows 10 Pro 64bit ;
latest bios v3603.

Issues:

  • BSOD (from more frequent to less): clock watchdog timeout; whea uncorrectable error; machine check exception
  • hard freezes (no BSOD, no error codes etc; -> forced to shutdown with power button)
  • mouse didnt get detected (had to replug it), i think that happened twice
Story:

  • system running fine
  • tried different overlock for i5-2500k
  • found a working setup ( 4.8 Ghz @ 1.5 V), temps etc were fine
  • did some other registry tweaks (network throttling, system responsiveness etc)
  • everything worked fine
  • after some time BSOD and/or freezes occured
Allready tried:

  • reverting all changes: tweaks, overlock
  • fiddled with graphic drivers and settings
  • windows was stuck on an older version
  • made a repair install -> windows succesfully updated
  • DISM -> sfc /scannow
  • chkdsk /f /r
  • fresh windows 10 installation from USB
  • after completing the installation -> BSOD
  • updated windows
  • installed drivers from asus -> only USB 3 driver is offered for windows 10
  • changed CMOS battery
  • installed latest graphics driver
  • installed latest version of logitech gaming software
  • noticed strange "distortion" of graphical elements (gfx install UI and logitech software)
  • usually the system freezes and stay like that or a BSOD appears: the last time, i noticed some slow down in responsiveness before BSOD : machine check exception
Thank you guys !
 
Last edited:

Lutfij

Titan
Moderator
Always list your specs like so:
CPU:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS: Which version of the OS are you on?

^ being as specific as possible.

Are you on the latest BIOS for that Z68 chipset board? How old is your PSU? Are you on the stock cooler?
 
May 3, 2018
7
0
10
just now, ive just had the browser open and boom...another whea uncorrectable error...rebooted...right away the same BSOD
ive uploaded a clip to youtube which shows how my pc boots to windows:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxMZ2a01Zpk
ive also just noticed that the windows integrity report as part of windows security says "some apps stopped working".
Problem solving says , the save location for temporary internet files would have been changed. -> could reset it to default
 
Last edited:
May 3, 2018
7
0
10
hi





- ive used

Intel® Processor Diagnostic Tool
short default test: all passed


burn in (3hours): passed


temperature : passed





- Hot CPU Tester Pro (3 hours): no issues (see attachment)


- Windows RAM test: passed





- ive always used asus highest performance preset in BIOS which would automatically overclock to 4.3 Ghz


just for testing purposes, ive set it to energy saving mode -> had no crashes/freezes for a while -> pretty sure its stable there (turbo would overclock to 3.7 Ghz)





- set it back to high performance :-> long time no issues then freeze during low resource game hearthstone


- PSU makes rattling noises (going by the sound, probably fan's ball bearing)


- when i changed the CMOS battery, the BIOS didnt get fully reset ( Overlock profiles were/are still there)





Questions:





- could it be that the PSU (at least 4.5 years old) cant handle the high performance settings anymore? -> need a replacement ?


- is the CMOS corrupt? (cant set preset settings properly anymore ?) do i have to use that mainboard switch?