PC freezing and screen showing random colours or vertical lines

[I730ITeoI]

Hello, recently I've started experiencing freezes which result in either a black screen, a random colour or vertical lines across the screen. These freezes aren't consistent since they can happen while I'm on youtube or in game and they're not connected with the graphic card overheating since It didn't crash while doing benchmark or playing for a few hours but then crashed at around 40 degrees Celsius while browsing the internet. I've checked my RAM with memtest, also swapped their place in the motherboard. I've cleaned the PC and got rid of a lot of dust, after that it worked for around 3 or 4 hours but the same issue occurred after that. I also uninstalled all of the graphic drivers and reinstalled the newest ones. I also didn't overclock anything, I've been using this PC for almost 2 and a half years.

My specs are :
CPU : Intel i7 4770k
GPU : ATI Radeon HD 7970
RAM : 2 x Crucial CT102464BA160BC16
Motherboard : Asrock B85 Pro4

 

[Lutfij]

When running memtest86, make sure you've subjected your ram's to at least 10 passes with each stick in each slot. Tedious, but it's the only way to know you're not in possession of faulty sticks of ram. When you spoke of using this machine for 2.5 years, did you experience this issue for the first time? If so then what was it that you changed? To me it looks like your OS is based on Microsoft's new platform. Have you also made sure your BIOS and remaining device drivers are up to date?

If you're indeed on Windows 10, you should disable automatic device driver updates and then proceed to uninstall/reinstall your GPU drivers following this tutorial. That being said, you didn't include all your components in your system's specs thus please include your full systems specs.

You might not like to hear this but why do you have an overclocking worthy(expensive) processor paired with an office grade, no frills, non-overclockable board? It defeats the purpose of owning a K suffixed processor part.

 

[I730ITeoI]

When running memtest86, make sure you've subjected your ram's to at least 10 passes with each stick in each slot. Tedious, but it's the only way to know you're not in possession of faulty sticks of ram. When you spoke of using this machine for 2.5 years, did you experience this issue for the first time? If so then what was it that you changed? To me it looks like your OS is based on Microsoft's new platform. Have you also made sure your BIOS and remaining device drivers are up to date?

If you're indeed on Windows 10, you should disable automatic device driver updates and then proceed to uninstall/reinstall your GPU drivers following this tutorial. That being said, you didn't include all your components in your system's specs thus please include your full systems specs.

You might not like to hear this but why do you have an overclocking worthy(expensive) processor paired with an office grade, no frills, non-overclockable board? It defeats the purpose of owning a K suffixed processor part.

Thanks for the help, I've let memtest run over the night twice but I haven't done it with only one stick in each slot I'll do it tonight. I haven't experienced this problem so far in these 2.5 years.I'm using Windows 7 and I've updated my Bios and the other drivers from asrocks website.I'll try and find out all the parts in this PC, It wasn't me who bought it so I can't answer the last question.Do you have any other advice?

 

[Lutfij]

Yep! Be patient when dealing with these sort of things, it can get very frustrating very quickly.
+
You're welcome though we're not out of the woods yet!

Other suggestion would be verify your installer/installation hasn't been corrupted.

 

[I730ITeoI]

Yep! Be patient when dealing with these sort of things, it can get very frustrating very quickly.
+
You're welcome though we're not out of the woods yet!

Other suggestion would be verify your installer/installation hasn't been corrupted.

I just checked both ram sticks with memtest, also tried to play games with only one of each sticks and it froze every time. I wasn't able to find the receipt so I can't find out exactly which parts are in the PC, am I able to find out the PSU and everything else just by opening the case?

 

[Inkiad]

You can check everything except PSU if you run HWmonitor or Speccy. To check the psu you have to open the case.

 

[I730ITeoI]

Alright so other than the parts already listed I have a Kingston SV300S37A120G SSD and a WDC WD7500AALX-009BA0 HDD. My PSU is this one http://www.lc-power.com/en/product/netzteile/super-silent/lc6600-v22/

 

[Inkiad]

Can be off topic but that is not a reliable power supply. Get a better one if you can.

 

[I730ITeoI]

Can be off topic but that is not a reliable power supply. Get a better one if you can.

I believe the only way I could find another one is if I bought one since none of my friends have a 500 or 600 W one. Any way I could check whether that's the exact reason of these crashes and not some other component? Also do you have any power supplies you could recommend?

 

[Inkiad]

You can try someone else's ram, like from one of your friend to see if it really is the RAM.
You can try to run the pc without graphics card to see if the problem remains.

Also do you have any power supplies you could recommend?

Depends on the budget and where are you from. Tell us your budget and your preferred website.

 

[I730ITeoI]

You can try someone else's ram, like from one of your friend to see if it really is the RAM.
You can try to run the pc without graphics card to see if the problem remains.

Depends on the budget and where are you from. Tell us your budget and your preferred website.

I'll see if I can borrow some RAM from someone. I don't really have any budget limitations but from what I saw in some stores here it is usually between 40 and 70 euros for most 600W power supplies.I'm just looking for some that's reliable. I ran it using the integrated gpu for around 3 hours and it didn't crash but I can't be certain since that doesn't need that much power and my PC worked for almost 5 hours today before freezing like that again.

 

[Inkiad]

Consider this power supply EVGA G2 550W - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20550y1
One of the best power supply in market right now. Comes with 10 years of warranty. Got 10 out of 10 from JohnyGuru - http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=440
Very good quality for the money.

Edit: Even if the problem is not the psu, change it. Otherwise the psu can be your problem next in near future. Also i see there is only 4 euro difference between 550w and 650w unit. G2 650w - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20650y1

 

[I730ITeoI]

Consider this power supply EVGA G2 550W - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20550y1
One of the best power supply in market right now. Comes with 10 years of warranty. Got 10 out of 10 from JohnyGuru - http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=440
Very good quality for the money.

Edit: Even if the problem is not the psu, change it. Otherwise the psu can be your problem next in near future. Also i see there is only 4 euro difference between 550w and 650w unit. G2 650w - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20650y1

Any chance you could take a look at some of power supplies available here since amazon shipping does add to the cost and it would be easier if there are some good ones available here. Those two are not available here, I can only buy the 1000W one and the 430W one. Here are some which are available here, are between 600 and 650 W and between 60 and 100 euros (the 6 power supplies at the top of the page should be ignored, they're like the featured products and don't match my criterias) : https://www.protis.hr/products/index/napajanja/32?filter=1dMwA5ADUAfAB-AHwANAAxADQAMAB8AH4AfAA2ADAAMAB8AH4AfABTAG4AYQBnAGEAIABbAFcAXQB8ACQAfAAzADkANQB8AH4AfAAzADIAMgAyAHwAfgB8ADYAMgAwAHwAfgB8AFMAbgBhAGcAYQAgAFsAVwBdAHwAJAB8ADMAOQA1AHwAfgB8ADMAMgA4ADAAfAB-AHwANgAzADAAfAB-AHwAUwBuAGEAZwBhACAAWwBXAF0AfAAkAHwAMwA5ADUAfAB-AHwAMwAwADIANwB8AH4AfAA2ADUAMAB8AH4AfABTAG4AYQBnAGEAIABbAFcAXQA%3D&filterComponentPriceFrom=450&filterComponentPriceTo=800

 

[Inkiad]

I don't understand the prices, what is Kn price?

Good power supplies i could find -
1. Any seasonic one is good. The G series is better than M12II EVO, M12II EVO are better than the S12IIs. If you have money get G series. All are good nonetheless.
2. XFX TS, XTR, proseries and core series are also good. Pro series are best, followed by others. Pro series is also called XXX sometimes lol.
3. Antec HCG (high current gamer) series 620W - https://www.protis.hr/products/details/napajanje-620w-antec-hcg620-ec/66284

Pick one from these.

 

[I730ITeoI]

I don't understand the prices, what is Kn price?

Good power supplies i could find -
1. Any seasonic one is good. The G series is better than M12II EVO, M12II EVO are better than the S12IIs. If you have money get G series. All are good nonetheless.
2. XFX TS, XTR, proseries and core series are also good. Pro series are best, followed by others. Pro series is also called XXX sometimes lol.
3. Antec HCG (high current gamer) series 620W - https://www.protis.hr/products/details/napajanje-620w-antec-hcg620-ec/66284

Pick one from these.

Thanks for the help, I sorted them so they were all between the 60 and 100 euros price in my currency. So are these in order of which you think are the best ones or are all of them somewhat equal performance and reliability wise?

 

[Inkiad]

Pick from these -
Seasonic M12II 620W - Review JohnyGuru, Review 2

XFX TS 650W gold - Made by seasonic - Review JohnyGuru

Antec HCG 620W - Made by seasonic - Review Like the seasonic M12II evo

All of these are high quality. Should serve you a decade.

Edit: I can not read your language, if the Antec one is not modular, don't go with that. The non modular one is same as the S12II 620W.

 

[I730ITeoI]

Pick from these -
Seasonic M12II 620W - Review JohnyGuru, Review 2

XFX TS 650W gold - Made by seasonic - Review JohnyGuru

Antec HCG 620W - Made by seasonic - Review Like the seasonic M12II evo

All of these are high quality. Should serve you a decade.

Edit: I can not read your language, if the Antec one is not modular, don't go with that. The non modular one is same as the S12II 620W.

Doesn't say anything about it being modular or not, only thing listed is the name, model number and how many W it has. I'll take a look at these then and decide, thanks for all the help.

Edit : The difference between the one you linked and the one listed in my store is that the one here is the HCG-620 EC and the one you linked is HCG-620M. Does that mean I should not be getting that one?

 

[Inkiad]

Then just get the XFX TS 650W. It is based on Seasonic S12G series, same quality as the M12II series, but gold rated. You also get extra 30W.

Edit: The XFX TS 650W GOLD one.

 

[I730ITeoI]

Then just get the XFX TS 650W. It is based on Seasonic S12G series, same quality as the M12II series, but gold rated. You also get extra 30W.

Edit: The XFX TS 650W GOLD one.

Alright will do, thanks for all the help, interesting that ever since I started this thread the freezing has become less and less frequent.

 

[Inkiad]

You need the power supply for the sake of the need of a better one.
Did you test with your friends ram?

Edit: If you want modular, go with the Seasonic M12II EVO. I would personally get this.

 

[I730ITeoI]

You need the power supply for the sake of the need of a better one.
Did you test with your friends ram?

Edit: If you want modular, go with the Seasonic M12II EVO. I would personally get this.

Sorry for not responding in a long time, yea I tested with some other Ram and the freezing happened again, I ordered the
seasonic one, should arrive in less than a week and hopefully will solve the problem.

 

[Inkiad]

Solid choice. The seasonic one comes with 5 years of warranty.
Let us know what happens.

 

[I730ITeoI]

Sorry for not responding in a while, received the new psu and so far haven't experienced any problems with freezes so hopefully this was the cause of the problem and is fixed now.