Question Win11 soft and hard freezing during video playback, no bsod

[Uorufu]

My PC:

CPU 13900K (not overclocked at all, considered undervolting it at one point but never got around to do it.)
128 GB DDR5 6000 (running at 5600, custom xmp but was super stable when I memtested it)
RTX 4090
RTX A6000

I've been running this PC hard for over a year (anything from gaming to AI, often sustained loads) without any issues. Last week or so I've been getting freezes specifically during video playback. Fairly randomly (sometimes fine for a couple of hours, sometimes it goes wrong after couple of minutes, but it's a daily occurrence.)

Most of the time, the video starts to ' buffer' (even though internet is fine and doesnt matter if I set source to 4k or 144p and it looks like the downloaded bar has plenty left to show) and all input freezes, audio sometimes keeps playing fine but nothing else works. PC completely unresponsive but no bsod or anything to see what went wrong. Reset button is the only thing to get out of it. Re-seating USB devices or anything doesn't make the system respond.

Sometimes it starts buffering and I can sort of save it by closing browser quickly (PS, happens using any browser, tested librewolf, edge and chrome) and restarting it. But obviously only works when my keyboard/mouse don't stop working.

100% of the freezes happened specifically during video playback (youtube, netflix, prime, etc.) I never have any issues when training AI or playing games or whatever else.

Am I one of the unfortunate owners of a burnt intel CPU or is there still something I can do to trouble shoot this?

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

Hey there,

Turn on/off video hardware acceleration in whichever browser you use. Then test again.

 

[falcon291]

Video playback is not something CPU dependent. So I don't think it is really related.

Check event viewer, it may or may not give a clue.

 

[Uorufu]

Video playback is not something CPU dependent. So I don't think it is really related.

Check event viewer, it may or may not give a clue.

Thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately nothing shows up prior to the pc restarting after I reset it.

 

[johnbl]

cpu is pretty good at calling a bugcheck if there is a error.
the GPU is not. I would make sure you have updated all the GPU drivers (including the CPU gpu driver)
then I would disable any HD sound source that does not have a speaker connected to it.
I have even seen USB subsystem creating so many error messages that it caused timeouts in video subsystem.
mostly when 3rd party drivers were used for AIO system coolers. sometimes with applecharger usb drivers

 

[Ralston18]

PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

Event Viewer may prove helpful. However, start with Reliability History/Monitor - much more end user friendly and the timeline format may reveal patterns.

You can also use Task Manager and Performance Monitor to observe system performance. Use both tools but only one tool at a time.

Look for what changes when the problems begin.

 

[Uorufu]

PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

Event Viewer may prove helpful. However, start with Reliability History/Monitor - much more end user friendly and the timeline format may reveal patterns.

You can also use Task Manager and Performance Monitor to observe system performance. Use both tools but only one tool at a time.

Look for what changes when the problems begin.

PSU: be quiet! Straight Power 12 Platinum 1500W (7 months old)
OS installed on a SAMSUNG 990 PRO 4 TB SSD (1 year old)
Two other 1gb samsung 980 pro in raid0 as secondary drive (3 or so years old, from old PC)
Both drives about 50% full

Enabling or disabling hardware accel didn't work. Testing is kinda hard as sometimes everything seemingly works fine for a couple of hours, unfortunately. It's hard to trigger the issue. I just open a couple of tabs running youtube now inbetween trying things.

I do have latest drivers installed for GPU. I will try an older version because that is one of the things I updated before issues started. I also installed CUDA toolkit 12.4 sometime before I had issues.

 

[Ralston18]

What is the requirement to use RAID 0?

= = = =

Power down, unplug, open the case.

Clean out dust and debris.

Verify by sight and feel that all connections, cards, RAM, jumper, and case connections are fully and firmly in place.

Use a bright flashlight to inspect for signs of damage: bare conductor showing, melting, browned or blackened areas, pinched or kinked wires, loose or missing screws, cracks, corrosion, signs of liquids, swollen components, and scratches.

Is all important data backed up at least 2 x to locations other than the host computer in question? Are those backups confirmed to be recoverable and readable?