Can someone help please?

[Gdog96]

Hi guys, first real post here (excluding a post for the competition!) so hi, how's everyone.

On to my problem...

Ever since I built my PC I have had this annoying freezing problem that I couldn't be bothered to sort out until now. My computer will kind of stutter, as if the screen has gone down to 1 frame per second, then it will freeze all together and more often than not it will emit a loud buzzing noise from my speakers until I am forced to do a hard reset.

My PC specs are as follows:

CPU: I5 3570K

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z77 D3H

GPU: Gigabyte GTX 660 non ti version

Ram: Crucial Ballistix 8gb DDR3 1333 mhz

Power supply: Some random OCZ 500 watt.

Case: NZXT Switch 810

Now, I know it isn't the cooling that's the problem, I have 3 case fans and 3 SP 120s in pull on a 360 radiator in a custom water cooling loop, that only cools my CPU, my GPU is air cooled with the stock gigabyte cooler. When I first noticed the problem I was using stock cooling and have changed the cooling method a few times since then and the problem has persisted. All temps are fine too.

Also, since I noticed the problem, I have changed the ram, GPU, primary SSD, secondary HDD, re installed windows twice and re installed all drivers twice (all are latest except motherboard drivers, it will take ages to download them with my internets)

It seems to happen randomly, sometimes it won't happen for a few weeks, sometimes it will happen multiple times in one day, and it seems to only happen when I am doing something on the internet like loading a youtube video or downloading something. I can play demanding games for long periods of time and it will be fine.

I have had enough with this problem and hope someone on here can help?

Thanks guys.

[Dave :)]

If you enter safe mode does the problem still persist? Sounds like a motherboard / CPU problem to me (my bet is it's a motherboard problem). Unfortunately, the only real way to fix it would be RMA the board.

[Emkryan]

This might sound funny but if you're using realtek drivers that's your issue, I've had 3 builds with motherboards that had realtek drivers that caused the same issue and I have ended up buying a new PSU before finding out that it was the realtek drivers. Uninstall the realtek drivers and let windows do its own thing. If anything I have said is completely irrelevant then I guess anyone else can just keep thins in mind for when it is relevant.

[Gdog96]

Thanks for the replies guys.

This may sound stupid but what is realtek again? It rings a bell but its pretty late here and I'm pretty tired.....lol. (Lame excuse aye?)

[Emkryan]

Thanks for the replies guys. This may sound stupid but what is realtek again? It rings a bell but its pretty late here and I'm pretty tired.....lol. (Lame excuse aye?)

It's an audio driver. and it has caused crashing on every computer I've built that used them.

[Rhotis]

Well first and foremost you have already stated you do not have the latest drivers for that board. Go download ALL the latest drivers on your manufacturers website for that board in question. Honestly should have been the first thing you did after installing and updating windows when you first built the box. Check if there is a bios update for your motherboard as well and get that applied (if you have never done this read directions word for word 5 or 6 times before you do it so you do not brick your board).

After you do those things if it is still doing this you can try the suggestion of removing the realtek drivers but honestly I think most motherboards use realtek for audio and frankly I have never had a problem with it.

[Gdog96]

Ok I'll be sure to do that soon. I don't think it is the audio drivers because I used to have a sound card so I used the Asus drivers for that, and the problem still occurred.

And yeah I know, I should have downloaded the latest motherboard drivers but I was eager to use the PC when I first built it and have never got round to doing it since.

I'll follow this thread up when I have done this.

EDIT: I have updated to all of the latest drivers, so I'm going to wait to see if it freezes again, and if it does, I will flash the latest BIOS. Turns out I'm using a year old BIOS lol

[Rico123]

Hi Guys,

Drivers are always a good place to start because it is easy and cheap to try but the problem persists then sounds like maybe a faulty motherboard.

Most of these type of symptoms could be associated to a number of things but sounds like you are doing process of elimination which is good.

Good luck,

[Gdog96]

Thanks Rico, so far so good with the updated drivers, I haven't had a freeze yet, lets hope I don't jinx myself...

EDIT: Lol guess what just happened....Imma try and flash the bios later to see if that fixes it.

[asusfan]

driver's can cause what your discribing.

if you think its a sound driver try to disable the onboard sound in Bios and uninstall the drivers, see if it still happens.

memory - have you tested it?

[Gdog96]

Yup, I upgraded the ram to see if that was the problem, to no avail unfortunately. I used to have a sound card also, so I used those drivers and it still persisted.

[Gdog96]

So I want to flash a new bios but I have a couple of questions.

I downloaded the bios and extracted it to a memory stick. I have two files there now, an 'F18' file called 'Z77D3H.F18' and an application called 'Efiflash'. I'm assuming that when I click to Q flash in the bios, I choose the application? This is my first time doing this so yeaah...

I did watch Linus' video where he flashed a bios onto his G1 sniper, so I have a rough idea of what to do, but some help would be appreciated....thanks.

[Taipeek]

If you are in the BIOS you actually cant run any app (.exe) I assume that the Efiflash is a Gigabyte app for flashing right from Windows (but i would NOT recomend that since your pc can crash in anytime and that would cause your mobo to die) or under the DOS.

In BIOS if you click Qflash and choose the BIOS file 'Z77D3H.F18' you should be ok ;)

[mgsstar]

So I want to flash a new bios but I have a couple of questions. I downloaded the bios and extracted it to a memory stick. I have two files there now, an 'F18' file called 'Z77D3H.F18' and an application called 'Efiflash'. I'm assuming that when I click to Q flash in the bios, I choose the application? This is my first time doing this so yeaah... I did watch Linus' video where he flashed a bios onto his G1 sniper, so I have a rough idea of what to do, but some help would be appreciated....thanks.

I wouldn't recommend flashing your bios in a Windows Environment because they are very buggy imo. The Asus bios flashing tool on Windows almost bricked my motherboard. I would go to your bios setup screen and find the option to flash a bios.