PC Freezes While Playing/Editing Video and Gaming

[ecomog]

I've been having this issue ever since I built the PC last year. Randomly while gaming, or editing/viewing HD video the PC will completely lock up, causing me to do a hard reboot. Sometimes I'll even get a freeze when I'm not even doing anything. I've tried almost every solution the web had to offer, to no avail since the problem is getting worse and becoming more frequent (sometimes happening a couple minutes after a reboot).

Specs:
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68 DELUXE/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68
Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5
PSU: Antec High Current Gamer 900W
RAM: G.SKILL Sniper Gaming Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-17000CL9Q-16GBSR
Case: XCLIO Windtunnel Fully Black Finish 1.0 mm SECC Chassis ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Things I've Tried:

• Cleaning drivers and reinstalling
• Replacing the motherboard (RMA'd the board and got a brand new one)
• Reinstalling Windows 7
• Installing Windows 8
• Trying different RAM
• Tried with 2 sticks of RAM, then 1 (froze both times)
• Lowered RAM frequency/voltages
• Trying a different Video Card
• Testing it in Safe Mode (froze)
• Monitoring temps
• Doing a clean boot
• Running Prime95
• Running memtest+
• Defragging HDDs
• Updated BIOS
• Bought a new PSU
• Running Virus/Adware/Spyware scans
• Running benchmark for my GPU (didn't freeze)
• Adjusting voltages
• Booting from a different HDD
• Opened the case and ran a fan next to PC
  ...and a few other things I'm forgetting

I'm thinking maybe some setting in the BIOS is causing the freeze, but that's just a thought. I don't have any idea what to do at this point, so any help anyone can offer could be MUCH appreciated.

 

[fixbsod]

Looking at the RAM you have now it appears to be quad channel. Sandy Bridge uses dual channel RAM, and while yes quad channel should work fine perhaps your mobo is picky. How did running the system with difft RAM configs work out -- any better with difft RAM, less sticks, or lower speeds / voltages. What RAM voltages have you tried and what have you been using with @ 2133 ?

Can you run Prime 95 blend test without issues? Intel Burn Test?

 

[birthdaymonkey]

It seems to me that the thing you haven't tried to isolate yet is the motherboard. It could simply be a bad board. I suppose it could also be the CPU, but that is more unlikely.

 

[ecomog]

Looking at the RAM you have now it appears to be quad channel. Sandy Bridge uses dual channel RAM, and while yes quad channel should work fine perhaps your mobo is picky. How did running the system with difft RAM configs work out -- any better with difft RAM, less sticks, or lower speeds / voltages. What RAM voltages have you tried and what have you been using with @ 2133 ?

Can you run Prime 95 blend test without issues? Intel Burn Test?

Yeah, I thought maybe the RAM being quad channel could be the issue, so I bought dual channel ram and still experienced freezing. Tried a number of different RAM configurations (lowered it to 1600, then 1333), and I lowered the voltage to 1.5 since I thought maybe 1.65 was causing an issue. Still freezes.

I ran Prime 95 without an issue. Haven't tried Intel Burn Test yet

It seems to me that the thing you haven't tried to isolate yet is the motherboard. It could simply be a bad board. I suppose it could also be the CPU, but that is more unlikely.

I got a brand new replacement board back when I thought the board was the issue.

 

[ecomog]

Ran Intel Burn Test without a freeze

 

[fixbsod]

And when you say it ran IBT or P95 without issue -- are you meaning it ran for like 10 runs of IBT (stock run test) or 1 hr of P95 or more like it ran for a solid day +- without issue?

 

[ecomog]

And when you say it ran IBT or P95 without issue -- are you meaning it ran for like 10 runs of IBT (stock run test) or 1 hr of P95 or more like it ran for a solid day +- without issue?

Ran 10 runs of IBT on Maximum, and ran Prime95 for about 7-8 hours

 

[birthdaymonkey]

I would try a different model motherboard. That will rule out any possibility of some sort of weird incompatibility taking place. Do you have access to another CPU that you could try?

What about taking everything out of the case and just running the bare hardware to rule out the possibility of a short?

 

[ecomog]

I would try a different model motherboard. That will rule out any possibility of some sort of weird incompatibility taking place. Do you have access to another CPU that you could try?

What about taking everything out of the case and just running the bare hardware to rule out the possibility of a short?

Unfortunately I don't have another motherboard I could try.

I've tried running the PC using the "breadboard" method, with just the main HDD, the GPU, and RAM connected. Still froze

 

[Ketchup]

I wouldn't think its the motherboard just yet same model with the RMA). Two questions:

1. How old is the power supply?
2. What was the other RAM you tried?
3. Has this issue occurred on 7 and 8?
4. Have you ever updated the BIOS?

Did your computer 'blue screen' or just reboot? Have you checked Windows logs?

 

[ecomog]

I wouldn't think its the motherboard just yet same model with the RMA). Two questions:

1. How old is the power supply?
2. What was the other RAM you tried?
3. Has this issue occurred on 7 and 8?
4. Have you ever updated the BIOS?

Did your computer 'blue screen' or just reboot? Have you checked Windows logs?

1. Bought the PSU brand new last year
2. I don't remember exactly the other RAM I bought. I just remember it was dual channel Corsair RAM
3. Yes, it froze with both Windoes 7 and 8
4. Yes, I updated the bios to the latest version a few months ago

I never get a BSOD, the PC just locks up and I have to do a hard reboot

 

[Ketchup]

Does the hard drive activity light stay on when the computer does this?

Since the computer only fails in stressful situations (video editing and gaming) in my mind this would put it down to video card, RAM, and power supply (possibly hard drive).

What are the temps on your CPU and video card like?
Have you had the opportunity to try another power supply?
Do you play any game that don't trigger this behavior?

 

[ecomog]

Does the hard drive activity light stay on when the computer does this?

Since the computer only fails in stressful situations (video editing and gaming) in my mind this would put it down to video card, RAM, and power supply (possibly hard drive).

What are the temps on your CPU and video card like?
Have you had the opportunity to try another power supply?
Do you play any game that don't trigger this behavior?

Sometimes, when I'm barely doing anything (even when the PC is idle) it will still freeze. Plus, when I tried Windows 8, I was barely doing anything everytime the PC froze.

These are usually what my temps and everything else are:

I thought it was my old PSU that might've been causing the issue, so I bought this one thinking it would solve the problem.

Just about every game I play has the potential to cause a freeze. Sometimes I can play for a few minutes, sometimes hours. The freezes are so random I can never gauge when it'll happen.

I had Windows installed to a different drive, and when I reinstalled I used a brand new HDD. Nothing I do seems to solve the freezing. I haven't checked the HDD activity light. Next time it happens I'll take a look at it

 

[ecomog]

Just had another freeze when I was doing nothing but browsing the web. The HDD activity light stayed solid. No blinking or anything.

 

[Torn Mind]

First, drop everything to stock.

Systematically strip the computer down to a "bare level" of functioning. That means first testing the video card. Remove the video card and run it on the IGP. If everything is "clear" without the video card, then the video card is indeed the problem.

If it freezes with the video card removed, then the video card is not the primary issue, although it might have a separate one. Then you test RAM. Run the system on a single stick, see if there is any issue. If there is no problem, it the stick and slot is good. If there is an issue, it could be the stick, the slot, or both.

 

[Torn Mind]

It very well could be capacitor failure, as I have worked with an Optiplex 745 that randomly froze even when idling for an extended duration. But it might not be.

 

[Ketchup]

If the hard drive activity light is on solid during the freeze, to me that would cut down the problem to RAM or Hard Drive.

 

[ecomog]

First, drop everything to stock.

Systematically strip the computer down to a "bare level" of functioning. That means first testing the video card. Remove the video card and run it on the IGP. If everything is "clear" without the video card, then the video card is indeed the problem.

If it freezes with the video card removed, then the video card is not the primary issue, although it might have a separate one. Then you test RAM. Run the system on a single stick, see if there is any issue. If there is no problem, it the stick and slot is good. If there is an issue, it could be the stick, the slot, or both.

This particular board doesn't have integrated graphics, so I have to use the video card. I've tried running the PC with 1 and even 2 sticks of RAM, and the system still froze. I guess I could try using different slots and see if that works...

 

[Torn Mind]

Well then, I think it is the board, since you have tested pretty much everything else you could have tested and the problem remains despite changing up everything else.

 

[ecomog]

Well then, I think it is the board, since you have tested pretty much everything else you could have tested and the problem remains despite changing up everything else.

But to have the same exact problem with 2 boards? That's what led me to rule out the board itself as an issue.

 

[Ketchup]

If the hard drive activity light is on solid during the freeze, to me that would cut down the problem to RAM or Hard Drive.

BTW, your temps look good.

 

[Torn Mind]

But to have the same exact problem with 2 boards? That's what led me to rule out the board itself as an issue.

Well, I don't know then. You've tried pretty everything you could. Unless it is the CPU itself or some odd electrical issue with the case or house ground...
You could try to use the system out of the case, although you have to keep the components safe from electrostatic discharge(increase humidity, don't run it in a room with carpet).

 

[Torn Mind]

Well, we might as well go into BIOS and check some things out...
Hmm, what is your BCLK(base clock) set to? Try setting it to 99 Mhz or 100 Mhz.

 

[ecomog]

Well, we might as well go into BIOS and check some things out...
Hmm, what is your BCLK(base clock) set to? Try setting it to 99 Mhz or 100 Mhz.

It's set to 100. I'll try lowering it to 99

 

[ecomog]

Lowered the BCLK to 99 Mhz and it still froze