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PC freezes

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Delacroix

n00b
Joined
May 31, 2013
Messages
8
Specs:
MB: ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
CPU: Intel i5 2500K
RAM: Corsair 2x4GB DDR3 1600 MHz XMS3
GFX: ASUS EAH6770 DC/G/2DI/1GD5 (tested with newest regular and beta drivers)
HDD: Samsung 840 250GB SSD (newest firmware)
OSs: Windows 8 Pro / Windows 7 Home Premium (updated everything)
PSU: Corsair HX650

Other hardware:
Logitech G400 mouse
Logitech G930 headset
Filco 105 keyboard
Samsung 24/19" monitors

Computer freezes randomly... Started with BSOD on a Win7 that was updated to Win8 Pro and only in a specific game (Star Trek Online). BSOD: DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION (could be SSD or drivers) so I did a clean install of Win8 Pro and updated my drivers, which removed the BSOD, but shortly after the PC started freezing and not only in STO but other games and even in af freshly booted Windows (twice in 20min).

So I installed Win8 on a regular HDD (didn't update it, only install browser with java and flash) and started playing the games again, which ran without problems for a day.
And as I had a buddy which have had the same freezing problems on Win7 with the OCZ Agi 3 disc, so I purchased a new one (Samsung 840 250GB).

Installed Win8 Pro, updated all, installed the programs needed and started gaming. Everything ran good for the rest of the day, until I was about the shut down and the PC froze again... Then the entire day after: no problems. Then the next day: froze again during a game.

So I tried with a clean Win7 on the old SSD and the motherboard drivers which have been running fine with my hardware. Still freezes.

Done a single pass with memtest86 without errors, I know it need to run longer as the errors can hide.

In the process of testing an old gfx (problem is that it uses the exact same drivers as the new now, so if it fails I'll need to test with old gfx drivers).
As a side note to this (don't know if any of this is of importance): I installed 3D Mark 11 to test for heat problems, but in Win8 it crashed every time I tried to start a test (ie way before it got warmed up). Test ran fine in Win7.

So if it still freezes after old gfx card/old drivers test and an extended memtest doesn't reveal any errors, I'm at a loss to figure out what to test for next, which hopefully is where you guys come in.
 
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What PSU and case do you have?
Also, test the system using only the onbaord video. Physically remove the video card from the PC and completely uninstall the related drivers.
 
Are you using the same SATA cable or did you swap it out when you changed drives?
 
Tried with 2 different SATA cables/power cables and SATA connectors on the MB.

Have a Coolmaster Cavalier cabinet and a Corsair HX650 PSU

Just tried with the onboard gfx card (removed ATI gfx and drivers), still freezes.

In the process of testing the RAM, one block at the time.
 
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Those values aren't accurate, so you can ignore them.

Look over your motherboard. See if you have any damaged caps. For you to be trying so many different combinations of hardware, it's time to focus on what's not been changed.

RAM
Motherboard
CPU
PSU

Since you're testing the RAM, and speaking of RAM is it running at 1600 mhz or 1333 MHZ? If it's 1600, try lowering it down to 1333. Look over the motherboard physically for any signs of damaged/leaking/exploding caps and any other damage.

You aren't overclocking are you?
 
the RAM is running 1333 now. Went to check and for some reason the Extreme clocking preset in Bios was activated (don't know if I accidentally pressed it when I was in the Bios to activate the onboard gfx to test that, or I for some reason have activated it earlier). Nomally I don't OC my machine, but if I did it a long time ago, it could have helped fuck up the RAM, or?

before this I took out one RAM block and ran with only one (4gb), did memtest for 8 hrs while not using it (no errors) resumed normal opreations and suddenly another freeze.

Then I switched the RAM blocks (putting the other block in a different slot), then I went to check the clock and set it to normal (1333), ran a error less memtest for 8 hrs.

Last night I got a BSOD in STO (original problem (maybe)). The windows is newly installed, so hadn't thought of disabling the auto restart on BSOD, so I don't know if the BSOD was the exact same as to start with.

I have recently learned that BSODs in STO isn't all that uncommon after an update late last yet.

Bottom line: If the PC have been OC'ed for longer, could it have contributed to slowly fucking up my RAM, giving the freezes? So basically replacing one RAM block and staying out of STO should leave me crash free.
 
Delacroix said:
Bottom line: If the PC have been OC'ed for longer, could it have contributed to slowly fucking up my RAM, giving the freezes? So basically replacing one RAM block and staying out of STO should leave me crash free.
Click to expand...
Unless you actually OC'd the RAM itself to run beyond DDR3 1600 speeds, overclocking the CPU should not have fucked up the RAM.

Now, have you tried different sets of known working RAM and PSUs?
 
Short answer. No. You have DDR3 1600 RAM, that's what it's rated at.

Long answer. While you do have DDR3 1600 RAM, if you had an auto overclock function turned on, it could have adjusted the voltage to that RAM to get it to it's rated 1600 Mhz. If that's the case, RAM running at 1.65V or higher can potentially damage your CPU. It's recommended to get RAM at 1.5V or less. Now I highly doubt that's what happened in your case. You still need to narrow down what is causing the problem.

8 hours is not really long enough. Run memory test on each individual RAM stick for a solid 24 hours straight. If you get no errors with each individual, then run them in the pair for 24 hours. If still no errors, it's safe bet to assume the RAM is fine. Move onto something else.
 
Looks like the error has been found... after activating the "Normal" clock preset in Bios the machine has been running without any freezing for the last 3 days.

So thanks for all the help/info guys, really appreciate it :)
 
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