New computer crashing at odd, repeatedly places.

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ciaron454

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Nov 16, 2012
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Hello, I have recently had a new computer built for me but I'm getting a really odd issue. What happens is the computer will completely freeze (Image will freeze, audio stops.) when I either 1. Tell it to shut down / restart via start menu 2. Trying to play some games, Planetside 2 and Hitman Absolution at the moment.

I have no idea why it does this, I have ran Memtestx86, chkdsk on all my hard drives, full anti virus / malware scans and CCleaner. None of them report any errors or issues. BIOS, Windows and all drivers are up to date and nothing has helped.

If anyone has any idea what might be doing it, any help would be greatly appreciated.

My specs

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Intel i7 3820 3.6GHz
64 GB of Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600Mhz RAM (8 x 8gb)
Asus Sabertooth X79
ASUS GTX 670 Direct CU2 x 2 (SLI)
Corsair 1200AXi
WD 1TB 10000RPM Velociraptor x 2 for OS and games (In RAID)
+ A few other 1TB hard drives for storage
 
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Let's just go check something else, just for peace of mind :)

The PSU, for each cable line (that has a series of connectors), what is on each line?
For example, do you have the hdd's all on the same cable line?
Is the cd/dvd drive on its own line or mixed with the other storage hdd's?
Are you using any molex adapters?
Are all your hdd's the same rpms or are some different?
Are you using a floppy drive?

Is the 12v connector firmly clicked into the motherboard connector, they can be sometimes difficult to click into place.

The 100000000000rpm hdd should only be on a cable line by itself.
The other storage hdd's should be disconnected for this trouble-shooting problem but otherwise should be on their own cable line (same rpms)


Edit - If you change the RAID configuration, the OS my not be able to boot properly, you may need to re-install unless otherwise, prior to change of the RAID, you know the registry entries that would know the instances of the change then on reboot, you then change the RAID configuration to match that of the registry. Much the same as if you changed the IDE mode to AHCI (or vie-versa), you need to change the registry first then the bios.
 
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I did the test you mentioned, still getting the same freezes even when running solely off the one harddrive. I've tried running the games off of different harddrives too with no success.

Sorry for the delayed reply, life got busy for a while.
 
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64 GB of Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600Mhz RAM (8 x 8gb)

Not sure about the XMS, XMP is shown in the specs sheet, though.
The delay may be caused by the read/write of the excessive ram, you really don't need 64gb of ram, 16gb is more than enough for 99% od PC users. You'd need to be running a really huge server with 15 hdd's or doing huge video compilations for Imax to be wanting such ram.

Try using one stick of ram in each of the channels, A1 B1 C1 D1.

Is your ram Quad channel (kit of 4) ram or just pairs... If using pairs, make sure that you do actually use them as pairs and not mixed randomly in the slots.

Could you give the serial number as shown on each ram stick label?
 
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All the ram works fine on it's own is designated slots, the freezing still occurs no matter what composition or positions are used. (Including the recommended ones in the manual.)

If you're confused about the XMS3 thing, it's the version such as Platinum or Dominator, but this is XMS3 ram. I use XMP settings in the BIOS which are set to the correct voltages and timings (1.5v and 11-11-11-30)

And I know 64GB isn't needed, but it's a convenience thing, at the moment I use 40GB of it as a RAMdisk for recording my fraps files to for best write times which is then transferred to a dedicated storage drive or just loading games onto said RAMdisk to minimize load times.

 
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AHA! You never mentioned anything about using your ram as a "ram disk (drive)"!

Also, you mentioned something about not being able to Alt +Tab (out of games), does that mean you have something else going on like other apps runnng in the background?

According to Scan of Corsair, it is not compatible with quad channel, or it might be referring to something else...
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/16gb-(2x8gb)-corsair-ddr3-xms3-pc3-12800-(1600mhz)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-11-11-11-30-15v

At least make sure your ram pairs are actually paired and not mixed randomly.
 
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I can Alt + Tab when it's not frozen, it's when it's frozen that I can't.

Also, I didn't build the computer so I don't know if the RAM is in the correct pairs or not and it was the RAM recommended for the board by the company I went through.

Additionally, I've read from multiple sources dual-channel, triple-channel and quad-channel kits use matched sets of memory, but the DDR3 sticks are identical in all three cases. It's marketing, not a physical change in the memory. That's why you can use 2 dual-channel kits as a quad-channel kit.

Also, considering I still get the crash when running one stick of RAM in the correct slot as directed by the motherboard manual, wouldn't it be safe to say it is not the formation or amount of RAM causing it?

From Intel themselves about what Quad Channel is

Quad-channel mode
This mode is enabled when four (or a multiple of four) DIMMs are identical in capacity and speed, and are placed in quad-channel slots. When two memory modules are installed, the system will operate in dual-channel mode. When three memory modules are installed, the system will operate in triple-channel mode.

As I am using 8 sticks of identical RAM then this would mean I am using my RAM as quad-channel. Whether a kit is Dual channel, Tri channel or Quad channel means if it was tested in a dual / tri / quad setup with the correct about of sticks. (So dual channel would be 2 etc)

Link: http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-011965.htm
 
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It's not marketing, it's factual memory. Nothing is created out of pure marketing ideals otherwise they would be sued..

"Go buy a new car it has 15 wheels, well not really, but it sounds good so buy it from me!!"

Quad Channel ram utilises all four ram modules at the same time whereas dual channel ram uses one ram stick up and then the next one even though it is supposed to be shared, it's really just one module at a time which is why you can use one stick of Dual channel ram but you can't use just one, two or three stick of Quad Channelr am, it needs all four of them otherwsie issues occur.

You can use dual channel ram but make sure you keep them paired and not jumbled random mixes. Go check the ram, they are numbered... give us those numbers for all of them...

I don't think you are using dual channel ram, I think your ram are single channel ram giving you the 64gb of memory meaning that it will be bit slower than actual dual channel ram.. You need to give those serial numbers for each stick of ram to confirm or deny.
 
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The only numbers on them that are unique are

142400
142399
142398
142397
142360
142382
142386
142390

They all have this shared number CMX16GX3M2A1600C11
Also, what do you mean that they are paired? I've had them set out to how the manual says to do so (In opposite slots)
 
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Manufacturer's Description - 16GB XMS Memory kit for dual channel systems, 1600MHz, 11-11-11-30, 1.5V.

The product is capable of running at 1600MHz, however this is only possible when a voltage of 1.65v is used. When using the product at the standard/preset 1.5v it's only capable of running at 1333MHz.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMX16GX3M2A1600C11-1600MHz-Memory-Stick/dp/B006ZINK0S

"40GB of it as a RAMdisk for recording my fraps files " which leaves 24gb for the system?

I think your issue has all to do with using the ram for things other than regular memory us by the OS.

What program are you using for the ramdisk?
RamDisk 11 for Desktop Systems is only for Vista or XP
Version 11.8 for Windows 7 and 8.
http://download.cnet.com/RamDisk-Plus/3010-2094_4-13104628.html?tag=contentBody;whatsnew#whatsnew

A trial version will not perform properly past its use by date.
 
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I was using 11.7 when it was installed, it is not installed anymore and hasn't been for some time.

Although the part about the RAM voltages is interesting, mine does run at 1600 but only at 1.5v, I tried upping the voltage to 1.65v and then testing to see if it still crashes and it does.

Also, I would like to thank you for helping me, I do appreciate it.
 
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Tried that and to no success.

However I got fed up and decided to try a fresh install of Windows so I got a spare hard drive and plugged it in and unplugged the rest except my storage drive. I then installed Windows, DirectX, nvidia drivers and Hitman Absolution which is one of the freezing games. Well surprise surprise, it worked and I was able to play. Additionally Print Screen doesn't freeze it either.

From this I'm deciding I'm going to do a fresh install of everything and see what happens there. I'm planning to flash and update the BIOS in the process while also not setting up RAID.
 
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