Mostly looking for recommendations on how to proceed diagnoses on a tricky issue. I'm running out of things to try.
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Observed Behavior:
The workstation will enter a "freeze" state with no clear trigger. At the start of this freeze programs will still run like normal for some tasks like typing, changing tabs, moving a 3d viewport, or switching active software. Internet services will cut out. Some actions like saving, closing, opening software, opening the start menu, or closing full-screen windows will freeze that one software. This will continue for any software that is closed.
The freeze is temporarily resolved by a reboot. Any files modified during this freeze state will be 0kb. This means any and all logs, system files, preferences, or scene files will all be 0kb upon the next restart. The computer otherwise has no signs that it had an emergency shutdown.
This doesn't always occur, can be anywhere from multiple times a day to once a month. So far its occurred around 20 times. No one primary software was running during all occurrences.
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Hardware:
Windows 10 pro 21H2 19044.2364
Intel Xeon E5-1660 V3 3.0GHz CPU
ASRock X99 Extreme6/3.1 Motherboard
Crucial 32GB (4 x 8GB) Registered DDR4-2133 Ram /or/ GSkill 32GB (2 x 16GB) unregistered DDR4-3200
NVidia 3090 GPU
Intel PCIE SSD boot drive /or/ Samsung 980 NVME boot drive
EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P2 1000W PCU
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Attempts to solve:
The event viewer has had no suspicious activity, and no logs were created after the start of any freeze.
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None of these attempts had an effect, the freeze still occurs.
I can't force the freeze to occur for testing. While the freeze has occurred under various conditions, I find I can somewhat "force" it by running 4k youtube, foobar, and twitch simultaneously. This seems to have the highest chance of getting the freeze to occur. To note, it has so far not occured during gaming, and has occured with only audible open.
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Thoughts:
Any idea what else it could be or what to try for more information? I've already replaced the boot drive and memory. Now it's down to the CPU, motherboard, GPU, PSU, operating system, or some individual software. My current plan is to replace the GPU with a 980ti, see if it's the GPU. Then replace the CPU and motherboard, but I'd prefer not to sink the cost into that if possible. I'm worried I'll rebuild the whole computer and it'll be something simple with the operating system.
---------------------------------
Observed Behavior:
The workstation will enter a "freeze" state with no clear trigger. At the start of this freeze programs will still run like normal for some tasks like typing, changing tabs, moving a 3d viewport, or switching active software. Internet services will cut out. Some actions like saving, closing, opening software, opening the start menu, or closing full-screen windows will freeze that one software. This will continue for any software that is closed.
The freeze is temporarily resolved by a reboot. Any files modified during this freeze state will be 0kb. This means any and all logs, system files, preferences, or scene files will all be 0kb upon the next restart. The computer otherwise has no signs that it had an emergency shutdown.
This doesn't always occur, can be anywhere from multiple times a day to once a month. So far its occurred around 20 times. No one primary software was running during all occurrences.
---------------------------------
Hardware:
Windows 10 pro 21H2 19044.2364
Intel Xeon E5-1660 V3 3.0GHz CPU
ASRock X99 Extreme6/3.1 Motherboard
Crucial 32GB (4 x 8GB) Registered DDR4-2133 Ram /or/ GSkill 32GB (2 x 16GB) unregistered DDR4-3200
NVidia 3090 GPU
Intel PCIE SSD boot drive /or/ Samsung 980 NVME boot drive
EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P2 1000W PCU
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Attempts to solve:
- Memtest86 passed.
- Replaced registered ram with new unregistered ram
- wmic checks ok.
- CHKDSK ok.
- CHKDSK /f /r ok
- C driver error checking passed.
- Full windows updates.
- Virus checks clear.
- Updated wacom drivers
- Cleared up 150 gb on boot drive.
- Replaced PCIE boot drive with new m2 boot drive
- Removed unneeded/suspected installed software
- Cleared out software that runs on boot.
- Ran DISM and SFC, passed.
- Removed and re-inserted RAM.
- Updated graphics drivers
- Removed and re-inserted GPU.
- Successful furmark test
- Removed and re-installed graphics drivers using wagnardsoft DDU and NVidia's driver installer.
- Tried both studio and gaming drivers for GPU
- Bios updated
- Confirmed cables were fully inserted.
- switching browsers from chrome to firefox
- Disconnect from power for a week.
The event viewer has had no suspicious activity, and no logs were created after the start of any freeze.
---------------------------------
None of these attempts had an effect, the freeze still occurs.
I can't force the freeze to occur for testing. While the freeze has occurred under various conditions, I find I can somewhat "force" it by running 4k youtube, foobar, and twitch simultaneously. This seems to have the highest chance of getting the freeze to occur. To note, it has so far not occured during gaming, and has occured with only audible open.
---------------------------------
Thoughts:
Any idea what else it could be or what to try for more information? I've already replaced the boot drive and memory. Now it's down to the CPU, motherboard, GPU, PSU, operating system, or some individual software. My current plan is to replace the GPU with a 980ti, see if it's the GPU. Then replace the CPU and motherboard, but I'd prefer not to sink the cost into that if possible. I'm worried I'll rebuild the whole computer and it'll be something simple with the operating system.
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