PC Freezing Seizing Up After 20 Mins

[djoegibson01]

Hello everyone, so my PC isn't the best with a lot of people saying "Well Your GPU is to Powerfull for your CPU" and that is one thing I'm concerned about with this problem I am facing. I am aware of some bottlenecking issues.

I had a 500GB Hard Drive that has lasted me around 2 years and has served me quite well over that time, My PC has been freezing and doing this weird thing which I will get around to in just a moment, and I managed to fix it by rolling back some drivers and reinstalling some and I can't exactly pinpoint the main cause of this issue.

Right, after I plugged in my HDD I did some HDD cloning or in a way, migrating the OS over from my old 500GB to my 2TB and everything was fine. Games ran fine, Programs and some other things worked normally, until I bought Farming Simulator 19. Now I've done a lot of looking up on things about the game and minimum requirements are:
####
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: 64-bit Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i3-2100T @ 2.5GHz or AMD FX-4100 @3.6 GHz
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia Geforce GTX 650, AMD Radeon HD 7770 graphics card or better (min. 2 GB VRAM, DX11 support)
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 20 GB available space
####

My PC pretty much ticks all the boxes. I can run the game and play it for like 20 mins until my entire PC locks up. My screen shows the still image of what I was doing, keyboard and mouse are still on and none of the buttons seem to change the state. This issue then carried out to all my other games like CSGO and Siege. All the games run perfectly fine at like 60+ FPS I have also reached out to one of my friends who has been looking into this problem and he was not too sure himself. He said to use a software called AIDA64 Extreme which can be used to identify problems and manage power usage such as the voltages and I could hardly understand any of it.

Things I Have Tried:
- Reinstalling The Game
- Removing Game files and letting the game Reset Them
- Starting A New GameSave
- Reinstalling Windows
- Formatting HDD, Both 2TB & 500GB
- Using Cleaning Programs and AntiVirus Software such as CCleaner, AVAST, Malwarebytes, WinDefender etc...

Here Is My SPEC:
####
Windows 10 Pro
Radeon Software Version - 18.5.1
Radeon Software Edition - Adrenalin
Graphics Chipset - Radeon RX 580 Series
Memory Size - 8192 MB
Memory Type - GDDR5
Core Clock - 1411 MHz
Windows Version - Windows 10 (64 bit)
System Memory - 16 GB
CPU Type - AMD FX(TM)-6300 Six-Core Processor
MotherBoard - GIGABYTE GAMING SLI MOTHERBOARD (Not Exactly Sure)
Barracuda HDD - 2TB
600W PSU
####

I'm quite new to PC building and its everything I know at the top of my head, I used the radeon system setting to pull this info out. If someone can help me with this issue, it is highly appreciated.

 

[jay32267]

I would be looking at the temperatures and the PSU voltages.

Many times when PC crashes after a certain period of time it's one of these things.

You can monitor the temperatures with Afterburner. It gives you a nice graph.

The voltages can be checked with HWMonitor or HWInfo.

^^^^All that is free software.

Basically you don't want your GPU temp going above about 85.....and ideally you want you CPU temp to stay below 70 (my opinion).....but 80 should be OK.

Voltages should all be within 5 %. The main ones are +12, +5 and + 3.3.

 

[gullidotwog]

How old is this PC? Is it clean? Are processor coolers/fans clear and clean? How old is thermal paste?

Is this home build or store build, they often try to economize on the PSUs... if it is store build and more than couple years old could well be PSU.

 

[djoegibson01]

I would be looking at the temperatures and the PSU voltages.

Many times when PC crashes after a certain period of time it's one of these things.

You can monitor the temperatures with Afterburner. It gives you a nice graph.

The voltages can be checked with HWMonitor or HWInfo.

^^^^All that is free software.

Basically you don't want your GPU temp going above about 85.....and ideally you want you CPU temp to stay below 70 (my opinion).....but 80 should be OK.

Voltages should all be within 5 %. The main ones are +12, +5 and + 3.3.

Hello Jay, cheers for getting back to me, i have already got afterburner installed and have been using it for a couple months. It is great software and my GPU temp normally reaches around 60 - 75 if I am playing games. I dont think i can change the Voltages in afterburner, i can change the Power Limit, Temp Limit, Core and Mem Lock and fan speed. The Core Voltage at the top seems to be greyed out and inaccessible. I did change the Power Limit to +12. My core clock though is set to 1511mhz and memory is set to 2000mhz, is this ok?

 

[gullidotwog]

I think you have to unlock GPU core voltage adjust in the options with Afterburner. Frequencies are fine for that card (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-rx-580.c2938)

Sounds like GPU temp is okay if only 75... what about CPU>

 

[djoegibson01]

How old is this PC? Is it clean? Are processor coolers/fans clear and clean? How old is thermal paste?

Is this home build or store build, they often try to economize on the PSUs... if it is store build and more than couple years old could well be PSU.

Hello Gullidiotwog, The PC itself is around 2 years old and has been cleaned only a few times. The reason for this is that I am afraid of maybe not grounding it and breaking a cable. It can be quite possible that the PC is dusty at the moment and the fans as you said can be considered quite clogged. The thermal paste has not been replaced since I bought my PC. I have removed my CPU at one point to try and clean some dust off of it and the same thermal paste was both on the fan and the CPU still, Is it recommended to replace the thermal paste?

This PC is, in fact, a home build, I bought all the parts from Overclockers.co.uk which is a reliable store, probably the best PC component retailer in the UK and I put all the parts together. The PSU is something that I am also concerned about, I'm going to say that could be a highly likely chance of causing the freezing.

 

[gullidotwog]

Yes eventually you should always replace thermal paste, but it can last quite happily for 5-6 years. Obviously many PC users aren't knowledgeable enough to do it themselves. Two years really isn't that long, however if you said you already removed processor for cleaning without applying new thermal paste, that could a problem maybe. I think when you do remove heat sink it is always recommended to reapply new paste, otherwise you risk getting dirt, dust, bubbles or uneven application... when applying new you should put one pea in the center of processor and the pressure of putting the sink on will spread it out into an even layer. If your thermal paste isn't doing a very good job and fans are a little clogged, it could be enough to overhead the CPU.

Jays advice was still the best starting point imo. Check the temps of everything you can. The CPU, the GPU etc. (I think you can only monitor ram temps on certain types of DIMM, although ram is least likely overheating candidate if you are able to swap out your ram or remove one at a time, maybe be worth a quick test as well, if CPU temp is okay)

If all temps are okay, then I would try to find some way to test the PSU, can you borrow an equivalent to test with?

 

[jay32267]

"my GPU temp normally reaches around 60 - 75"

This is normal.

". I did change the Power Limit to +12. My core clock though is set to 1511mhz and memory is set to 2000mhz, is this ok?"

You coudl leave the power limit at +12....it's not going to matter much. The core clock and memory clock should change as you use the card. You should see this in Afterburner.

As far as cleaning.....I think cleaning is over-rated. I think you would be amazed at how well a totally filthy machine can run. I have many many filthy machines running in a filthy plant right now.

I'm not saying that cleaning is unnecessary. It can cause problems with connections and heat....I just don't think it causes as many problems as people think.

Although I would have changed the paste (as long as you were there anyway).

What are your CPU temps?

....and did you ever get a chance to look at the voltages?

 

[djoegibson01]

"my GPU temp normally reaches around 60 - 75"

This is normal.

". I did change the Power Limit to +12. My core clock though is set to 1511mhz and memory is set to 2000mhz, is this ok?"

You coudl leave the power limit at +12....it's not going to matter much. The core clock and memory clock should change as you use the card. You should see this in Afterburner.

As far as cleaning.....I think cleaning is over-rated. I think you would be amazed at how well a totally filthy machine can run. I have many many filthy machines running in a filthy plant right now.

I'm not saying that cleaning is unnecessary. It can cause problems with connections and heat....I just don't think it causes as many problems as people think.

Although I would have changed the paste (as long as you were there anyway).

What are your CPU temps?

....and did you ever get a chance to look at the voltages?

Hello again, so I did go and have a look at my PC using the HWmonitor and I am still unfamiliar with what to really look for. I managed to run my game as well as a logging file with HWmonitor and waited until my PC froze. It made some interesting Graphs but I don't know which ones to look at, I have got ones saying VIN1 VIN2 VIN3 all the way to 7 in image files and I will have links here:

https://ibb.co/rsrtyT2
https://ibb.co/v3Tkd23
https://ibb.co/JyXsxh7
https://ibb.co/m4NxH3B
https://ibb.co/MnFJ1kz
https://ibb.co/DkTVcpw

There is a seventh and it runs at 1.66 constant like No.6

 

[djoegibson01]

Yes eventually you should always replace thermal paste, but it can last quite happily for 5-6 years. Obviously many PC users aren't knowledgeable enough to do it themselves. Two years really isn't that long, however if you said you already removed processor for cleaning without applying new thermal paste, that could a problem maybe. I think when you do remove heat sink it is always recommended to reapply new paste, otherwise you risk getting dirt, dust, bubbles or uneven application... when applying new you should put one pea in the center of processor and the pressure of putting the sink on will spread it out into an even layer. If your thermal paste isn't doing a very good job and fans are a little clogged, it could be enough to overhead the CPU.

Jays advice was still the best starting point imo. Check the temps of everything you can. The CPU, the GPU etc. (I think you can only monitor ram temps on certain types of DIMM, although ram is least likely overheating candidate if you are able to swap out your ram or remove one at a time, maybe be worth a quick test as well, if CPU temp is okay)

If all temps are okay, then I would try to find some way to test the PSU, can you borrow an equivalent to test with?

Hello Again Gull, Yeh I completely understand what you mean about removing the CPU fan without changing the paste. Not many of my friends have PC's and its quite hard to get hold of one for a short amount of time. I was thinking about upgrading it anyway and maybe try buy a CoolerMaster PSU from my 600W to maybe 750W+

I am going to be upgrading to a RYZEN 5 1600X with an Asus ROG STRIX B350-F Motherboard from AWD-it but I don't really want this issue to persist when i upgrade if you know what i mean

 

[jay32267]

Great job running HWMonitor.....but the three main voltages I am interested in are +12, +5 and + 3.3.

MAYBE you can't get graphs for these....I'm not sure....but I am sure that you can look at the values in HWMonitor when it's running.

The 12V value needs to be between 11.4 and 12.6.

The 5V value needs to be between 4.75 and 5.25.

The 3.3V value needs to be between 3.13 and 3.47.

 

[gullidotwog]

Think Jay is asking for this part up here

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gbxdkv29c8jn542/voltages.jpg?dl=0

 

[jay32267]

^^^Yes....and in that case VCC is the +5V.

Although if he could get graphs of the +5, +12 and + 3.3, that would be ideal.

....but I've had where sometimes....all I have to do is look at th screen you posted and see a voltage is wrong right away.

 

[djoegibson01]

^^^Yes....and in that case VCC is the +5V.

Although if he could get graphs of the +5, +12 and + 3.3, that would be ideal.

....but I've had where sometimes....all I have to do is look at the screen you posted and see a voltage is wrong right away.

So, i went back onto HWmonitor to grab the requested voltages, but they are the ones gull has shown but called VIN.

https://ibb.co/G7VzpGJ

They are in the same place as pointed out?

 

[jay32267]

Wow I've never seen that.

I've always seen the +12, +5 etc voltages up there. (like someone up above posted).

You could also try HWInfo...it's free and should also give you the voltages.

Also....I don't think we even talked about this.....what is your CPU temp like?

 

[djoegibson01]

Wow I've never seen that.

I've always seen the +12, +5 etc voltages up there. (like someone up above posted).

You could also try HWInfo...it's free and should also give you the voltages.

Also....I don't think we even talked about this.....what is your CPU temp like?

https://ibb.co/cFnmzHD

Thats the HWinfo with the summary setting on.

https://ibb.co/yY4mqZT

This is the CPU temperature before the crash. I would say 64 seconds was me loading up the game and from 64 - 512, the game was running normally

 

[jay32267]

Now I really think it's the temperature.

Great graph by the way.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2066487/max-temperature-amd-6300-handle.html

I would try and get it down below 65 as is suggested.

 

[gullidotwog]

Wow 65 is a really low max temp (I'm used to intel running fine @ 75-80)... but yeah, from that thread, it seems 78 is a pretty hot for your CPU.

Clean out all the fans + heatsink to begin with. After what you said before about removing and remounting the heat sink without reapplying paste, I would really recommend that you take it off again, clean off the old paste and and re-apply new. Cleaning out fans well may be enough to stop problem, but it risks coming back if the paste is doing a bad job and your processor will still be running hotter than it could be which will reduce its lifetime.

Use pure alcohol on a clean rag or bit of cloth (avoid cotton wool and toilet paper, fibres and bits can fall off and is nightmare) to clean off old.

Here is a nice little video which shows the main ways of applying thermal paste (most common methods people use) and demonstrates which one is best. (actual method to use is at about 2m10s)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hNgFNH7zhQ

Good luck

 

[djoegibson01]

Wow 65 is a really low max temp (I'm used to intel running fine @ 75-80)... but yeah, from that thread, it seems 78 is a pretty hot for your CPU.

Clean out all the fans + heatsink to begin with. After what you said before about removing and remounting the heat sink without reapplying paste, I would really recommend that you take it off again, clean off the old paste and and re-apply new. Cleaning out fans well may be enough to stop problem, but it risks coming back if the paste is doing a bad job and your processor will still be running hotter than it could be which will reduce its lifetime.

Use pure alcohol on a clean rag or bit of cloth (avoid cotton wool and toilet paper, fibres and bits can fall off and is nightmare) to clean off old.

Here is a nice little video which shows the main ways of applying thermal paste (most common methods people use) and demonstrates which one is best. (actual method to use is at about 2m10s)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hNgFNH7zhQ

Good luck

Thank you so much guys, you really helped me fix my issue, I haven't got back because I ordered some rubbing alcohol and some thermal paste and my games have been running smooth and haven't crashed. Temperatures have settled a lot and I'm really happy that this finally was my answer to my problem.

The Thermal Paste I used came from Amazon for around £4.99 called "ARTIC MX-2 THERMAL COMPOUND" and I made a cross whit it on my CPU and then installed the fan. My fan was really hot after playing a game before. I cleaned the Heat Sync with some "HAZ Rubbing Alcohol 70%" (Isopropyl) from Amazon for an around £5.99 for 2x 500ml bottles and it got rid of a lot of dry and old paste. I was going to use some compressed air as i ordered some but it hasnt shown up yet, but when it does arrive, its worth just clearing out the dust gathering up all around the Motherboard.

Rubbing Alcohol
"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00TYEG81I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"
Thermal Paste
"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004D3TUG0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"
Compressed Air
"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000MQ7DZC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"