Computer Started Freezing

[YoshiHDify]

Hey LTT community!

 

I have got a freezing issue nearly nailed down but would just like a second opinion.

 

Issue:

Freezing, this is highly repeatable! Boot up Windows, run Furmark and it'll hard freeze (no sound) between 1 to 3 minutes in.

    *Another (less repeatable) way is to play Overwatch, it freezes generally between 1 to 2 games.

Pressing reset on case reboots computer after a good pause and it will reboot then freeze again anywhere between post to Windows login (Exactly once).

But this time it shuts down shortly by itself. This is highly repeatable. Starting up computer again afterwards will successfully boot into Windows.

 

Testing:

1. Graphics card (GTX 680) swapped out with a GTX 970.

    - Same freezing occurs in Overwatch but Furmark seems to get further (past 12 minutes)

2. Memory ran through 6.5hrs of memtest86 (almost 3 passes) with 0 errors. Also swapped out 4x4GB kit with single 2GB stick.

    - Same freezing, no difference.

3. Power supply (Corsair 750W) is a newly replace part that is less than half a year old.

Swapped out GTX 680 with GTX 970 (lower power consumption) and used a secondary power supply to power 1 of the 6-pins in the 970. (To further reduce load)

    - Same freezing, no difference.

    *Insufficient power to a graphics card causes the screen to artefact/freeze but right now it seems to just freeze on the desktop like a screenshot.

4. BIOS had CMOS reset, then later updated to latest BIOS version.

    - CMOS reset allowed system to run fine ONCE! >40 minutes of Furmark and playing Overwatch for 2 games at the same time. But after restart, went back to freezing.

5. Windows reinstalled with a fresh copy of Windows 10. Computer was running Windows 10 previously before it started freezing.

    - No difference

6. NVidia drivers (older versions from January 2016) clean reinstalled

    - No difference

 

Full system details:

INTEL i5-3570K

Corsair Vengeance 16GB 1600Mhz

ASUS Z77 Sabertooth

ASUS GTX 680

CORSAIR CM750

 

Final Note:

The system appears to never freeze when running in integrated graphics mode with discrete card removed.

 

My hunch:??

The motherboard is beginning to fail? or (I think highly unlikely power supply).

 

Sorry for long post guys, spent 2 days trying to figure this stupid thing out...

 

Thanks in advance for reading!

Regards,

 

YoshiHDify

[ZackBarletto]

Greetings yoshiHDify,

 

 

[ZackBarletto]

My apologies, I hit enter for return and it submitted comment....

I do not post often to the forums but noticed you has a freezing pc issue and no one quit helped out yet.

I work as help-desk IT and will do my best to assist you.

 

First things first. You say your computer freezes after Furmark runs for a bit, then overwatch after a few games (is this a graphically intense game) I do not know my apologies....

 

Will your system freeze if you power it on, then let it idle and play casual games or simple browse the web?

 

Based off gaming load or benchmark loads, it could be related to heating issue or power consumption. Can you record temps, and see if it freezes after a certain thresh-hold?

 

Also record Motherboard temps? Switching graphics cards but still issue may indicate same thing (temps) but for motherboard.

 

*you use two separate power supplies to power one card!?!? I never in my wildest dreams..... ahhhh hiiiiiii!*

 

With a 750W you should be okay to power everything off that one supply. I use a 550W with a 8350 & R9 290 Formula-Z and data drives

 

you went over OS and BIOS..... you seemed to cover everything. But what i ask above is what i would try to find a correlation with. The big kicker here is if your computer freezes during idle or low load. If your PC DOES NOT FREEZE. It must be related to load witch may equal power, heat, or simply bad PCB somewhere....

 

I am 100% open to criticism, and do not consider myself and expert. If anyone else has any advice or reply to my comment please feel free to correct me.

 

Please let me know how this goes and I will try to continue to help you. Thanks

 

I will try to reply as soon as possible.

[ZackBarletto]

And to further explain a possible solution*

 

I don't know how comfortable you feel digging around the BIOS, but If it does boil down to a possible motherboard issue, Check BIOS settings for any weird settings and check best practices for what you are trying to do. May that be defaults or over clocking junkie! lol jk but there should be a guide somewhere explaining what setting to use and why (formula-z overclock guide explains each setting and why we choose it for overclocking, check for a general use for your motherboard or chipset)

 

And if you put your graphics card in the same slot each time, try putting it into the second one, or the third, or the last.

I understand this is lower bandwidth on some boards PCI-E 4x etc. but this can at least help to see if it is a specific Express lane and may be a work around if you willing to deal with it, or just want to know.

 

Some boards let you turn PCI-E lanes off individually. Playing with this may help if you decide to deal with a 2nd slot card at all times or not.

 

One again thanks for reading and thanks for your constructive criticism.....

[YoshiHDify]

16 hours ago, ZackBarletto said:

*Your post*

Thank you for your reply!

 

I ran Furmark with HWMonitor and all motherboard temps that can be detected are normal. It also froze at about 5 minutes.

This computer will freeze playing casual games and browsing internet such as YouTube as well. It doesn't freeze as predictably though.

 

All BIOS settings have been restored to factory defaults, this system has been running on them for 3 years with no problems.

 

One other note though, I have run this computer with a different (600W) power supply to power everything and it still freezes.

However, when I used my GTX 970 with the 600W power supply in this system (on its CPU, motherboard, ram, etc.) it seems to not freeze.

 

This is getting really confusing for me  

 

Regards,

YoshiHDify

 

[ZackBarletto]

Okay lets get dirty!

 

When you say your computer freezes, it is legitimately a hard freeze cursor and all? Does it reboot itself? Does it show a Blue screen? Try turning off automatic restart on system failure. Start > *Right-Click* Computer > Properties > Advanced System settings > Advanced tab > under startup and recovery menu select "settings" > *Un-Check-Box* automatic system restart. This should be nearly the same for windows 10. Get your PC to freeze/reset again, but take note of (if any) blue screen codes. The title of the error may be at the top.There may also be a lot of 0x0000000*blah*, but either snap a picture, or post the codes that are about 3/4 down the screen after 'STOP'.

 

^This should hopefully tell us something more^

 

I know you said you get all updated stuffs for your board, but verify please:

 

BIOS #2104  date 9-16-13
IMEI (IntelManagementEngineInterface) date 9-23-15
Chipset date 9-23-15
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/SABERTOOTH_Z77/HelpDesk_Download/

 

^^Please get the rest if you don't have them, but these are the most important imo. lol^^

 

ALSO, noticed you said you use an older driver from 2016 clean install.... I found some nvidia drivers that came out that specifically title to windows 10 and bug fixes.

 

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx

 

Put your info in, and find driver... should be: version 368.69 (WHQL) dated: 7-6-16 and shows your card as supported.

Was there a reason to use that specific nvidia driver of yours? Just curious, everyone has their reasons.

 

 

*it is possible that the other power supply had an issue supplying the motherboard with enough power to the PCI-E lanes. How the PSU and MOBO sort this out, I have no clue. dont ask me. lol. But im wondering if some defect in your 750W is causing anything drawing too much out PCI-E to fail. I gather this from integrated graphics working reguardless (NO PCI-E). and your 970 working with your 600w but not your 750w. Do you have a third PSU to try? Will the 670 work with the 600w psu as well?

 

What pin connectors do your 670 and 970 use for power?

[ZackBarletto]

Noticed you have not posted back recently. But just in case you still haven't figured it out, I just though over an easier solution to get a shutdown or restart error code. (is you get one)

 

When your computer comes up from one of these freezes, do you get a notification that your PC has not shut down correctly? Do you get a 'more info' drop-down with details?

 

This message can also supply the error code information needed call the BCCode.

 

If any of this is too complicate please let me know and I will be more than happy to simplify further.

 

Thanks,

[ZackBarletto]

Well, I hope you have figured your issue out. Whether it is settled to the GPU, MOBO, or PSU. I hope the manufacturers take care of you and are nice enough to get you what you need.

 

Have a great life adventure Yoshi. We will meet again on the interwebs soon, we just may not know it.