Really odd problem! Computer crashes every morning!

finalepiphany

Junior Member
Aug 2, 2010
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Hi there, I've built a new system recently and been having the strangest problem. First, my system specs are the following (all running stock, no overclocking):

- AMD Phenom x4 955 3.2GHZ Black Edition
- Gigabyte 770TA-UD3 Motherboard
- Gigabyte GTX 460 Fermi 1GB Graphics Card
- Seagate Barracuda 7200 1TB 32MB cache
- 2 x 2G G.Skill Ripjaws CL-7-7-7-21 PC10666 RAM

Now the specific problem I'm having is that I would install WinXP or Win7 Ultimate 64 Bit just fine on my new system and tried both OS. I installed Starcraft 2, various other applications and games, they would run fine during that particular Windows session.

However, whenever I shut down the computer for the night and boot it up again the next morning, I start getting weird crash or error problems when I run Starcraft 2 which crashes and gives reports relating to texture loading, then Windows starting giving me random error messages like "Werfault.exe error" in Windows7 or simple BSOD in WinXP. If I simply restart trying to fix it, the problems would persist but if I shut down the computer completely again for say a hour or two, sometimes everything works fine again.

I'm getting very frustrated as I just got this new system and had it built from NCIX (a reputable Canadian computer parts retailer that does system assembly as well).and I feel it's a hardware related issue that I'm having because I tried both WinXP and Windows7 platforms and both have same problems in the morning when I start and on random Windows sessions throughout the day.

What's your take on my problem?

Thanks for your help in advance! Let me know if you need more detail to clarify.
 
Last edited:

Boyo

Golden Member
Feb 23, 2006
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Try running Memtest 86+ for at least 5 passes. That will help you narrow down your problem.
 

finalepiphany

Junior Member
Aug 2, 2010
7
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I would think either faulty memory or bad hard drive.

I would suspect so as well.

Is any other program that I can use to test out my memory or hard drive other than memtest 86? I use Win7 Ultimate 64 bit OS and would like to run the testing software during the windows session instead of booting from an external source like USB, etc.
 

betasub

Platinum Member
Mar 22, 2006
2,677
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Yes, there are other tests that stress RAM and may find errors for you while in Windows, but the whole idea is to test as much of the memory as possible by using a bootable version with minimum OS memory footprint.
 

stlcardinals

Senior member
Sep 15, 2005
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I would suspect so as well.

Is any other program that I can use to test out my memory or hard drive other than memtest 86? I use Win7 Ultimate 64 bit OS and would like to run the testing software during the windows session instead of booting from an external source like USB, etc.

You could always run the Memory test that comes with Windows.

Type Memory Diagnostics Tool into the start menu, it should ask you to reboot.
You can also get to it by pressing F8 after your motherboard posts and before Windows starts loading.
 

KGB

Diamond Member
May 11, 2000
3,042
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The CAS8 version is (the only difference between the HK and the RM are the heatspreaders), so the OP might try loosening the timings to CAS 8 instead of CAS 7.

:p

You know how I feel about unsupported RAM. :)
 

finalepiphany

Junior Member
Aug 2, 2010
7
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I fixed my problem by taking out one of my RAM sticks so now I'm operating on one 2GB G.Skill stick.

I don't think either one is defective so it must be the dual channel that's messing my system up.

What gives?
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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www.mfenn.com
I fixed my problem by taking out one of my RAM sticks so now I'm operating on one 2GB G.Skill stick.

I don't think either one is defective so it must be the dual channel that's messing my system up.

What gives?

Did you try running at CAS 8 like I suggested? The tight timings and dual-channel combination might be too stressful on the memory controller (if it is slightly flaky to begin with).
 

finalepiphany

Junior Member
Aug 2, 2010
7
0
0
Actually I didn't run my RAM sticks at 7-7-7-21 to begin with. I had them at 9-9-9-24 or something like that which is auto option from BIOS.

My system runs quite stable now with just one stick of RAM instead of two.
 

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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www.mfenn.com
Actually I didn't run my RAM sticks at 7-7-7-21 to begin with. I had them at 9-9-9-24 or something like that which is auto option from BIOS.

My system runs quite stable now with just one stick of RAM instead of two.

One other thing: did you try the memory in different slots? If the "bad" stick works in another slot, it might be the slot that is bad instead of the memory.