Win 10 Locks up, 100% CPU

[RichardsD]

Hello everyone:

 

Someone is wrong with my machine, I just can't pinpoint what. Take a look @ the end of the post for specs. So, about 2 months ago, my computer began to lock up. CPU would spike to 100% utilization, and all programs would become unresponsive. The mouse cursor, always, would still be functional but clicking would do nothing.

 

So, I have determined it is one of two issues: My CPU, or my SSD.  My CPU is an I5 2500K, and I checked the temperatures. When the machine locks up, the temps remain unchanged, always under 40c. My SSD is a 2 year old ADATA SPX 900 512GB, but I am uncertain how to check if that is the device malfunctioning. 

 

I had this issue first occur on this machine when I had Windows 7. I figured, since the install was years old I had malware, so I did a clean install. This is a 2 month old install, and I have no malware. It is a legitimate copy of Windows 10.

 

Thank you for the help, it is greatly appreciated.

 

Full specs!

 

I5 2500K @4.2 GHZ stable

ASUS Sabertooth P67 Board

16GB DDR3 @1600MHZ

512GB ADATA SPX900 SSD for Win 10

512GB SAMSUNG 530 EVO

1TB WD BLACK

2TB WD RED

Nvidia GTX 970 - ASUS manufactured

Corsair HX650 PSU

 

[scottyseng]

11 minutes ago, RichardsD said:

-snip-

Are you on the anniversary update of Windows 10?

 

I was going to say maybe it's hung up on a windows update. Other things I can think of are an unstable overclock (My 2500K has started to want little bits more power to stay stable over the years), RAM dying, or some kind of drive issue.

 

It happens randomly and not because of one specific task?

 

I think it's strange that the CPU usage spikes to 100% usage. Usually my 2500K just crashes or gets stuck in a loop.

[RichardsD]

6 minutes ago, scottyseng said:

x

I am on the anniversary update.

 

Unfortunately, I had this problem long before my OC, so I don't think it is that.

 

I am scanning my SSD to see if there are any issues. Generally the locking up happens randomly when multi-tasking, or right when Windows starts.

 

Update: Windows has already found an error on my SSD. I am wondering if my SSD is bricked. 

[scottyseng]

17 minutes ago, RichardsD said:

Update: Windows has already found an error on my SSD. I am wondering if my SSD is bricked. 

hmm, well, one error or a few on the chkdsk can happen. But if it keeps repeating, it is possible that the SSD is bad.

 

Ah, the other thing I would try is a new sata data cable. In my cousin's PC, we had a bad sata cable (it got cut when we pushed the side panel on too hard), and it would cause his PC to crash randomly.

[lettuce head]

1 hour ago, RichardsD said:

I am on the anniversary update.

 

Unfortunately, I had this problem long before my OC, so I don't think it is that.

 

I am scanning my SSD to see if there are any issues. Generally the locking up happens randomly when multi-tasking, or right when Windows starts.

 

Update: Windows has already found an error on my SSD. I am wondering if my SSD is bricked. 

sometimes when ssd's go bad you'll be able to read data but not write it onto the drive, id see if you can do that if nothing else to see what kind of state the ssd is in. but as scotty said, repeating chkdsk errors is a good sign that you have a failing drive.