System is Freezing

[thekrustykrab]

I recently built a desktop PC about 2 months ago and I have been having crashing infrequently. I normally crash while playing video games but sometimes I crash while I just have a web browser and Skype open.

When I do crash my screen freezes and my sound loops a small sample until I hard reboot. Upon rebooting I see no error messages besides the one saying that my PC was not shut down properly and asks if I want to start in safe mode or boot normally.

I have tried several methods to figure out which component is causing my crashes and I have yet to figure out what it is exactly.

I have ran memory tests on my RAM separately for 20+ hours each with no errors and I even booted up with 1 stick and then the other to see if the test may have been wrong but I have crashed both times while alternating memory sticks.

I have tried running HDTune to see if there may be a problem with my HDD but it found no errors as well.

I've tried swapping out my Radeon HD 7850 for my old GeForce 8800 Ultra (which is working fine) and I have crashed too. I have also made sure that my video drivers are up to date as well.

I have updated my BIOS and tried reinstalling video drivers too and still crash.

I have also tried switching my 500w PSU to a 700w PSU and I still crash.

My temps are all usually ranging from 30C-40C across all parts except the GPU (My AMD Radeon HD HIS 7850 2GB runs at ~50C while idle and ~65C while running games and my GeForce EVGA 8800 Ultra runs at ~66C while idle and anywhere from 79C-83C while running games. I am aware that the 8800 Ultra naturally runs hotter).

My specs are:

CPU: Intel i7 3770 @ 3.4GHz
OS: Windows 7 64bit Home Premium
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB
Mobo: ASUS P8Z77-V LX
RAM: ADATA 8GB DDR3 (4GB x2)
PSU: OCZ 700w
HD: 1 TB -- 32M Cache, 7200 RPM, 6.0Gb/s - Single Drive

I have not overclocked any of my components. Everything is running at their stock values.

If anyone has any advice I'd gladly appreciate it.

 

[smorizio]

In the asus bios make sure your running in standard mode. In performance mode the mb changes some ram to my settings and can cause lock ups.
In the bios make sure xmp profile is turned on. Use Cpuz use the memory tab to see if your mb set your ram speed and timing right. Check to see if your ram 1.5 or 1.65v if it 1.65v you have to bump up the dram voltage.
If it still locks up see if a friend has a spare dimm to test with to rule out that the mob does not like that brand of ram.

 

[thekrustykrab]

In the asus bios make sure your running in standard mode. In performance mode the mb changes some ram to my settings and can cause lock ups.
In the bios make sure xmp profile is turned on. Use Cpuz use the memory tab to see if your mb set your ram speed and timing right. Check to see if your ram 1.5 or 1.65v if it 1.65v you have to bump up the dram voltage.
If it still locks up see if a friend has a spare dimm to test with to rule out that the mob does not like that brand of ram.

My RAM is running at 1600MHz with 1.5V. I am also running in standard mode. I do not have a friend with a spare DIMM however.

 

[thekrustykrab]

Bump

 

[nostall]

Since you bumped this, I assume you are still having problems.

1st: Exactly what model is your OCZ power supply? They have some good ones and they have some bad ones.
This link/list will give you a really good idea where your PSU stands re. quality
http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx
Your problem sounds like power issue, but as with all PC problems it may not be. I am chasing a similar problem and have narrowed it down to the MoBo or Windows 7.
Have you tried a re-format and re--install of your OS?
This is what I have just tried (spent all day installing, reloading programs, etc.) and may have solved an almost identical problem.
I know it is a REAL BIG p.i.t.a, but worth a shot.

 

[thekrustykrab]

Since you bumped this, I assume you are still having problems.

1st: Exactly what model is your OCZ power supply? They have some good ones and they have some bad ones.
This link/list will give you a really good idea where your PSU stands re. quality
http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx
Your problem sounds like power issue, but as with all PC problems it may not be. I am chasing a similar problem and have narrowed it down to the MoBo or Windows 7.
Have you tried a re-format and re--install of your OS?
This is what I have just tried (spent all day installing, reloading programs, etc.) and may have solved an almost identical problem.
I know it is a REAL BIG p.i.t.a, but worth a shot.

Yeah, I recently reinstalled Windows 7 and it seemed to have fixed my issue for a couple days but I crashed earlier today and I was really disappointed. It's really hard to figure out if I have fixed it or not since my PC seems to crash at random intervals. I'll check what model my PSU is later tonight since I'm using the PC at the moment.

 

[thekrustykrab]

Since you bumped this, I assume you are still having problems.

1st: Exactly what model is your OCZ power supply? They have some good ones and they have some bad ones.
This link/list will give you a really good idea where your PSU stands re. quality
http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx
Your problem sounds like power issue, but as with all PC problems it may not be. I am chasing a similar problem and have narrowed it down to the MoBo or Windows 7.
Have you tried a re-format and re--install of your OS?
This is what I have just tried (spent all day installing, reloading programs, etc.) and may have solved an almost identical problem.
I know it is a REAL BIG p.i.t.a, but worth a shot.

Sorry for the wait but my PSU is a OCZGXS700, I'm not sure when it was manufactured however, is there a way to check?

 

[nostall]

Well, back to the PSU. That unit is manufactured by FSP. They make some good ones and some not so good. The quality of the power that the not so good ones produce is often out of spec.. This is one of them. Here's a link to a very reputable review site, and its test:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=24
Might need to put another PSU in there to check things out.

Now back to the RAM. Try running only one stick of RAM at a time. Start with it in the DIMM slot that ASUS tells you has to be populated: usually #1. Run the computer, at least for a day if it doesn't crash. If it runs, replace it with the second stick of RAM and do the same. BE SURE to unplug the PC and either use an anti-static wrist band or ground yourself before handling the RAM.
If the PC ran okay (and it will do things slower) then the RAM is o.k. If one stick acts up or won't run, you have found the problem. MEMTEST86 and Windows Memory Diagnotiics found nothing in my RAM, but yesterdays test as above pointed to one bad stick out of 4.
And Smorizio is correct, pull a ram stick and see what voltage it's supposed to run at, then check Bios to be sure that that is correct. (You have probably done this already, sorry)
Also, go into Control Panel > Administrative Tools>Event Viewer>Windows Logs. Look through the categories ' System' and "Applications". Any with a yellow triangle warning or red circle with an x, double click and, below, read the general and detailed description of the problem. This has led me to the motherboard and RAM on my problem computer.
I am now working on checking the MOBO; more on that later.
Good luck, repost please. I will advise what I find out on mine, also.

 

[thekrustykrab]

Well, back to the PSU. That unit is manufactured by FSP. They make some good ones and some not so good. The quality of the power that the not so good ones produce is often out of spec.. This is one of them. Here's a link to a very reputable review site, and its test:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=24
Might need to put another PSU in there to check things out.

Now back to the RAM. Try running only one stick of RAM at a time. Start with it in the DIMM slot that ASUS tells you has to be populated: usually #1. Run the computer, at least for a day if it doesn't crash. If it runs, replace it with the second stick of RAM and do the same. BE SURE to unplug the PC and either use an anti-static wrist band or ground yourself before handling the RAM.
If the PC ran okay (and it will do things slower) then the RAM is o.k. If one stick acts up or won't run, you have found the problem. MEMTEST86 and Windows Memory Diagnotiics found nothing in my RAM, but yesterdays test as above pointed to one bad stick out of 4.
And Smorizio is correct, pull a ram stick and see what voltage it's supposed to run at, then check Bios to be sure that that is correct. (You have probably done this already, sorry)
Also, go into Control Panel > Administrative Tools>Event Viewer>Windows Logs. Look through the categories ' System' and "Applications". Any with a yellow triangle warning or red circle with an x, double click and, below, read the general and detailed description of the problem. This has led me to the motherboard and RAM on my problem computer.
I am now working on checking the MOBO; more on that later.
Good luck, repost please. I will advise what I find out on mine, also.

I have previously tried running with 1 stick at a time and have eventually crashed with each stick. I checked the system folder in the control panel and I am seeing a few yellow triangles but they don't seem to be related to my crashes. The red X's and !'s either tell me that the system was rebooted without cleanly shutting down first (system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.) or that my previous system shut down was unexpected. The dates and times for these events are around when I crash as well. My RAM is running at the correct speed and voltages though.

While my RAM is not listed in the QVL in the MOBO manual I was told it doesn't really matter.

Also after reading the review on that PSU it doesn't seem bad at all receiving a total score of 8/10. However I do not have a spare PSU to test and I'd rather be 100% sure it's a specific component before purchasing another one.

Currently I'm trying to see if my PC will crash when sitting idle in the BIOS but so far it has yet to do so. I'm running out of troubleshooting ideas lol.

 

[nostall]

Your running out of troubleshooting ideas (Uhhhh, don't actually shoot the trouble tempting as it may be, OK. Make you feel better? Yes. Get in real trouble, probably. lol) and so am I.
You already swapped PSU,(sorry i missed that), video cards, spent hours/days testing RAM, reformatted and then reinstalled Windows.
Event viewer details didn't help (really too bad, damn
So that leaves the mobo.
Might be time to call ASUS and see if they can RMA it, or return to the vendor for exchange if you can.

(have narrowed my problem down to 1, maybe two sticks of bad RAM, or one or two of the secondary ram DIMMS/mobo being faulting. Testing continues tonight and tomorrow.)

 

[thekrustykrab]

Your running out of troubleshooting ideas (Uhhhh, don't actually shoot the trouble tempting as it may be, OK. Make you feel better? Yes. Get in real trouble, probably. lol) and so am I.
You already swapped PSU,(sorry i missed that), video cards, spent hours/days testing RAM, reformatted and then reinstalled Windows.
Event viewer details didn't help (really too bad, damn
So that leaves the mobo.
Might be time to call ASUS and see if they can RMA it, or return to the vendor for exchange if you can.

(have narrowed my problem down to 1, maybe two sticks of bad RAM, or one or two of the secondary ram DIMMS/mobo being faulting. Testing continues tonight and tomorrow.)

Alright I'll try replacing the mobo. Hope you figure out your problem as well. May bump again if this somehow doesn't fix my issue lol

 

[nostall]

Your running out of troubleshooting ideas (Uhhhh, don't actually shoot the trouble tempting as it may be, OK. Make you feel better? Yes. Get in real trouble, probably. lol) and so am I.
You already swapped PSU,(sorry i missed that), video cards, spent hours/days testing RAM, reformatted and then reinstalled Windows.
Event viewer details didn't help (really too bad, damn
So that leaves the mobo.
Might be time to call ASUS and see if they can RMA it, or return to the vendor for exchange if you can.

(have narrowed my problem down to 1, maybe two sticks of bad RAM, or one or two of the secondary ram DIMMS/mobo being faulting. Testing continues tonight and tomorrow.)

Alright I'll try replacing the mobo. Hope you figure out your problem as well. May bump again if this somehow doesn't fix my issue lol

It sucks, but that is probably going to be the only way to know, and if the build is only 2-3months old it should be under warranty.
Does this sound possible: buy a couple sticks of RAM at a big-box store and try them and see if the problem persists. If it does, return the RAM. If it doesn't, then you were the unlucky person to lose two sticks at once. (That means we have the same luck in life and computers, haha). Its one last shot at keeping from having to "rebuild".
I have been running the suspected bad RAM for over 14hrs: gaming, virus scan, a short period of Prime95, malware scan, surfing, and idle. Nothing. So the RAM is probably good. In my case looks like the MoBo; specifically DIMMS 3 & 4.
Don't know if I will replace it or not.
Hang in there my friend. I have had a couple bad mobo's over the few years I have done computers and it really sucks. ONly encouraging thing I can tell you is that ALL manufactures have the occasional bad product roll off the assembly line. When you look at the millions of parts out there, it is pretty amazing that there really are so few defective ones.