Frequent computer freezes even after reinstall!

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PresidentDylan5

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Apr 30, 2013
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I am being driven insane by this. After a lot of troubleshooting that just led me in false directions, I still haven't got anywhere. My computer has completely random freezes. It ranges from time to time how often it is. Just now it lasts a few minutes so I can't do a resource scan.
I have completely reinstalled the operating system.
Resource scan showed everything fine.
I think it is hardware related, perhaps my AMD CPU. I am having some heating problems (massive lag spikes) which I pretty much got rid of with a hair dryer (was getting freezes as well) but was still planning on redoing paste and stuff soon. Maybe it's not a coincidence that these two issues arose at once? The lag spikes appeared before the freezes, which would make sense. However, HW monitor (in the brief time before a freeze just now) said my proccesor was at 30C!
A friend told me that a common windows problem is Ram, and another (who basically copied my build:) has the same ram and motherboard. He was getting blue screens and stuff which he managed to fix through voltage settings.
I was playing Titanfall beta all afternoon today with no problems whatsoever but (this could be coincidence) when my friend called me on Skype IT CAME BACK. I reinstalled OS for no reason. It was the refresh feature on windows 8 by the way.

Someone please help me!

Fx 8350
GTX 770
ASRock 970 extreme 4
(Ram has really strange name but it is corsair veangance)
SSD vertex 3
Caviar blue 500gb
Black 1tb
Zalman z9 plus
 
Solution
gumbykid
Since it failed, return the RAM settings to normal. As nostall suggested, if you haven't already, reset everything to default. This should be under Exit>Restore Default Settings.

Then reboot. If it crashes, change the Command Rate to 2T (I didn't see you post that you tried this).

I agree with nostall as well about the PSU, it's just I'd rather try the little things before making you spend money or have a non-functioning computer while you're waiting for the replacement to come.

Swapping out PSUs should take about 15 minutes if you're semi-experienced with it, could take up to 45 if you're really incompetent (it's just remembering where the cables used to be then plugging them back in).

Did you run the two tests I suggested? They're...
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I acquired a fan for that test. I thought I might as well do that before I try to replace the RAM. It didn't seem to make a difference in terms of freezing despite lowering temperatures. I will contact Corsair today. I don't think it would be realistically possible to do a ram swap teat for a while. Now the second time I was happy to see a freeze! :)

Other notes: My max CPU temperature has gradually increased since the new thermal paste. Remember it was 59C on Battlefield? It has been high 60s and even reached 70C on the same map just recently. Also the 3.3 rail has got as low as 3.216V at least according to HWmonitor, in demanding applications, although it is occasional.
 
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You have your test, we have our tax deadlines. Won't be on consistently for the next week or so, up to my neck in paperwork.
3.3 is o.k. CPU temp is o.k.
Try HWInfo64. I have never gotten good readings with HWMonitor - at one time showed my 12v rail with only 8volts, while the PC was running and they don't run when that low. AMD actually recommends Core Temp for monitoring and that is what Puget computers (a high end company making really neat PC's) uses for monitoring. http://www.pugetsystems.com/
http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/
Close up the case and check your CPU temps occasionally to see if they go down again.
When do you take the actual exams?
 
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I've been in and out of this thread because of my lack of knowledge. At this point I would personally start replacing my computer parts by going to Best Buy, getting a part, putting it in, and returning it if the issue wasn't solved (b/c of their return policy).

So you're stuck for a bit. I'm out of knowledge and nostall is busy.
 
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Oh I forgot to say that I tried CoreTemp as well and it was pretty much the same for CPU temperature. Also the temperatures go right down when I'm not doing anything; the record low is 5C. I will try HWInfo tonight.
My exams are next week and I will be replacing g the RAM so don't worry about not posting anyone! :) Gumby: I know that's pretty much what I'm doing now! 😀
 
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Haven't managed to try HW Info the PC is freezing randomly and may work in a couple of hours. Just thought I would mention that Corsair has approved my request and I found the packaging for the RAM. I was just curious as on it there are the symbols for Intel i3,5,7 and then AMD Phenom II. Is the fx 8350 a Phenom II chip? I haven't just been a complete noon have I? I'd have to break that my friend who copied my build! 😀
 
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Oh god... The 'part number' is CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 if that's what you mean. That'll lead you to it anyway. 1600Hz 2x4gb.

Not as important but I can't find voltages for power supply in HwInfo, that's probably a question for Nostall though.
 
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Sorry I think I will delay the replacement a bit as I just remembered about the oldish desktop at m mum's house. I could take the ram out of that and see if my PC freezes with it in. I think it is DDR3. Forgive me for not thinking of this earlier; I never use it and it's in a room I never go in. :) I thought I should do this before sending off the ram as it's going to Holland again and J should try saving some money.
 
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Still haven't managed to do the ram test. Hopefully will do it tomorrow. Booted the pc just now and it did the boot with no screen and no beep (it had done this a few tomes before). Still did at after a reboot. When I pressed the 'Clear CMOS' button, it displayed the screen that it does when you turn on the motherboard with no OS (where it lists components and stuff) and then booted. It froze very quickly. On reboot it did no screen again, then after another boot it worked for about 5 minutes. Is this revolutionary in any way?
 
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OK I did the RAM test and it certainly isn't in the ram! At first I just ran with the normal ram until it froze then out the test ram in, and I was able to play Battlefield for ages but eventually it froze on other games. Lucky I didn't send the ram to corsair! Any tests for CPU or motherboard then or should I just replace them?
 
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Well then it's either your CPU or MB (I hope).

I'm looking at your MB info, and it doesn't support the 8350.
AM3+ FX FD8300WMW8KHK 95W Piledriver 3300MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P2.10
AM3+* FX FD8150FRW8KGU(BE) 125W Bulldozer 3600MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 P1.40
AM3+ FX FD8140WMW8KGU 95W Bulldozer 3200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 P1.60
AM3+ FX FD8120WMW8KGU(BE) 95W Bulldozer 3100MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 P1.40
AM3+ FX FD8100WMW8KGU(BE) 95W Bulldozer 2800MHz 2000MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 P1.40
AM3+ FX FD6350FRW6KHK 125W Piledriver 3900MHz 2200MHz 2MBx3 8MB C0 P2.00
AM3+ FX FD6300WMW6KHK 95W Piledriver 3500MHz 2000MHz 2MBx3 8MB C0 P2.10
AM3+ FX FD6200FRW6KGU 125W Bulldozer 3800MHz 2200MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 P1.50
AM3+ FX FD6130FRW6KGU 125W Bulldozer 3600MHz 2200MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 P1.70
AM3+ FX FD6120WMW6KGU 95W Bulldozer 3500MHz 2000MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 P1.70
AM3+ FX FD6100WMW6KGU(BE) 95W Bulldozer 3300MHz 2000MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 P1.40
AM3+ FX FD4350FRW4KHK 125W Piledriver 4200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx2 8MB C0 P2.10
AM3+ FX FD4320WMW4MHK 95W Piledriver 4000MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 4MB C0 P2.10
AM3+ FX FD4300WMW4MHK 95W Piledriver 3800MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 4MB C0 P2.10
AM3+ FX FD4200FRW4KGU 125W Bulldozer 3300MHz 2200MHz 2MBx2 8MB B2 P1.70
AM3+ FX FD4170FRW4KGU(BE) 125W Bulldozer 4200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx2 8MB B2 P1.40
AM3+ FX FD4150WMW4KGU 95W Bulldozer 3900MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 8MB B2 P1.60
AM3+ FX FD4130FRW4MGU 125W Bulldozer 3800MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 4MB B2 P1.60
AM3+ FX FD4100WMW4KGU(BE) 95W Bulldozer 3600MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 8MB B2 P1.40
Click to expand...

It supports the 8300 (which was an older model) but not the 8350. This could be the source of your problem. There is a difference between the two, the main one being the 8350 is 125W. I don't see why it wouldn't support it, being an AM3+ board. I doubt this is the problem, but it's something to look into.
 
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Wow, well to be honest I could have put more research into my motherboard when I built this PC. However, looking at BIOS updates it says one of them (2.30) improved fx 8350 compatibility. http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.asp?Model=970+Extreme4&o=All
Nevertheless, it could still be incompatible couldn't it? If this was the case, I don't think there would be much point in claiming warranty; maybe I could just sell the cpu and motherboard separately and make a Haswell upgrade?

I should add that lately I seem to have developed performance problems which I expect is related to the freezing issue. I may be due to the latest geforce driver but I doubt it. I seem to have generally decreased performance (not lag spikes as I had when the cpu was overheating) and it seems to get worse the longer I play. However the really strange thing is that when I switch to a different game, even if it is more demanding, the process will start from the beginning! Weird... I tried switching back to the 334 driver but I don't seem to be able to.
 
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