New computer randomly freezing and rebooting

[fflyash]

I've been having some trouble with a computer I built a few weeks ago. It seemed to be working fine for the first few days; however it started to reboot itself randomly. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to the reboots, I can go a few days without seeing one or they could a happen several time in a few hours and it doesn't seem to matter what I'm doing at the time.

Most of the time, the computer just shuts down instantly, like someone cut the power and then it starts up again by itself. There's no blue screen or any kind of error message (I’ve disabled automatic restart on error) and it's listed in the event viewer as a "Kernel-Power" error. Sometimes the computer will completely freeze for around 30 seconds before shutting off and starting up again. I have had 2 blue screens, however these both occurred very close together and I haven’t experienced any since. The errors listed were:
“INTERRUPT_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED” and “IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL”

I’ve also noticed occasionally when I shut down the computer and try and start it up again right away, no image will be displayed on the monitor. Everything else seems to be working. But I’ll get no image.

I’ve tried testing all the obvious things; however I’m running out of ideas. Unfortunately I don’t have access to another computer to test the PSU or the motherboard which is making this quite difficult since I’m beginning to think one of these might be causing the problems.

Here’s a list of what I’ve tried so far. None of these have allowed me to identify the cause or prevent the reboots:

• Monitored temperatures: They never go above 75°c even when I stress the system using prime95, furmark or the intel burn in test and they’re usually around 30°c - 40°c while idiling.
• Ran memtest86 overnight: Tried with both sticks, each stick individually and in different slots and never got an error.
• Ran with 1 stick of RAM: Kept getting reboots with either stick.
• Updated all drivers: No effect, bios was already up to date.
• Ran without the video card: No effect
• Switched all the SATA ports and SATA power connectors
• Unplugged the DVD drive
• Checked all plugs were secure and no capacitors appeared to have died on the motherboard

The only ideas I have left are the PSU and the motherboard. Which of these seems more likely, or is there something else I can test?

Here are my system specs:
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate
CPU: Intel i5-4570 3.2GHz
Motherboard: ASRock H87-PERFORMANCE
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 770 2GB
RAM: GSkill Ripjaws-X 8G Kit(4Gx2) DDR3 1600
PSU: Antec Neo Eco 620C-BR 80Plus Bronze 620W

Thanks for the help.

 

[fflyash]

I've just noticed something new. I was trying to watch a video on youtube, however after around 5 minutes the computer restarted. i tried watching the same video again and it only made it around 30 seconds before it restarted.

I tried waiting for a while and experienced no more restarts, so I opened a different video and my computer froze instantly and restarted about 30 seconds later.

I've never noticed any connection between youtube videos and the restarts before, I've watched quite a few since this issue started without any problems. Not sure if this means anything.

Edit: And it's stopped. I can watch videos without it crashing anymore

 

[fabler]

I had a similar problem. Random shutdowns with no blue screens. Similar errors in even viewer. Tried all the usual but it still happened. Bought a cheap PSU to either prove or eliminate the PSU as the problem and it's been running fine ever since. That reminds me to get a decent PSU for it! Can you borrow another PSU from someone to try?

 

[code65536]

@fflyash

What does BlueScreenView say about the two BSoDs?
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html

This is a long shot, but what's your storage drive? Samsung recently released a firmware for the 840 and 840 Pro that fixed some power management issues.

 

[fflyash]

I do have an 840 evo but it looks like the firmware is already up to date. Here's all the info for the 2 BSOD's. I've had a look and couldn't find anything useful and I haven't see any for a while:

==================================================
Dump File : 033014-4102-01.dmp
Crash Time : 30/03/2014 3:34:07 PM
Bug Check String : IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
Bug Check Code : 0x0000000a
Parameter 1 : 00000000`00000001
Parameter 2 : 00000000`0000000d
Parameter 3 : 00000000`00000000
Parameter 4 : fffff800`02c234ca
Caused By Driver : hal.dll
Caused By Address : hal.dll+134ca
File Description :
Product Name :
Company :
File Version :
Processor : x64
Crash Address : ntoskrnl.exe+75bc0
Stack Address 1 :
Stack Address 2 :
Stack Address 3 :
Computer Name :
Full Path : C:\Windows\Minidump\033014-4102-01.dmp
Processors Count : 4
Major Version : 15
Minor Version : 7601
Dump File Size : 291,928
Dump File Time : 30/03/2014 3:40:00 PM
==================================================

==================================================
Dump File : 033014-4165-01.dmp
Crash Time : 30/03/2014 3:44:09 PM
Bug Check String : INTERRUPT_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
Bug Check Code : 0x0000003d
Parameter 1 : fffff800`00b9bfa0
Parameter 2 : 00000000`00000000
Parameter 3 : 00000000`00000000
Parameter 4 : fffff800`02ce7750
Caused By Driver : ntoskrnl.exe
Caused By Address : ntoskrnl.exe+75bc0
File Description : NT Kernel & System
Product Name : Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Company : Microsoft Corporation
File Version : 6.1.7601.18247 (win7sp1_gdr.130828-1532)
Processor : x64
Crash Address : ntoskrnl.exe+75bc0
Stack Address 1 :
Stack Address 2 :
Stack Address 3 :
Computer Name :
Full Path : C:\Windows\Minidump\033014-4165-01.dmp
Processors Count : 4
Major Version : 15
Minor Version : 7601
Dump File Size : 291,928
Dump File Time : 30/03/2014 3:48:16 PM
==================================================

I might be able to borrow a PSU off a friend, but I'll have to wait a while. I guess it's probably my only option a this point.

 

[Ketchup]

What hard drive(s) are you running, and do you have any RAID arrays going?

It sounds like you are either looking at the results of a bad driver or a bad stick of RAM.

 

[fflyash]

I've got a Seagate 3.5" Barracuda 2TB ST2000DM001 SATA3 7200rpm 64MB Cache Hard Disk and a Samsung 840BW EVO MZ-7TE250BW 250G SATAIII SSD. No RAID arrays.

What other drivers could be causing this? I've got all the most up to date drivers off the motherboard manufacturers website, video card driver and wireless card driver.

 

[Drummerdude]

I had the same issue before. Turned out, the ram controller in my cpu was bad. Replaced the processor, problem has been gone ever since.

 

[Ketchup]

I've just noticed something new. I was trying to watch a video on youtube, however after around 5 minutes the computer restarted. i tried watching the same video again and it only made it around 30 seconds before it restarted.

I tried waiting for a while and experienced no more restarts, so I opened a different video and my computer froze instantly and restarted about 30 seconds later.

I've never noticed any connection between youtube videos and the restarts before, I've watched quite a few since this issue started without any problems. Not sure if this means anything.

Edit: And it's stopped. I can watch videos without it crashing anymore

Glad the problem is gone for now. Let us know if it creeps up again.

 

[fflyash]

Ah, I meant it stopped rebooting every time I try and watch a youtube video. It's still doing it randomly. I probably could have worded that better.

It does seem like the reboots/freezes occur more often while streaming videos. Although, This could just be a coincidence.

 

[fflyash]

Just got another BSOD. I don't have a lot of time to do any research at the moment, but it looks like it could be RAM or a driver again. How likely is it that my RAM is still causing it after passing all those tests?

==================================================
Dump File : 040714-4960-01.dmp
Crash Time : 7/04/2014 7:37:19 AM
Bug Check String : KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
Bug Check Code : 0x0000001e
Parameter 1 : 00000000`00000000
Parameter 2 : 00000000`00000000
Parameter 3 : 00000000`00000000
Parameter 4 : 00000000`00000000
Caused By Driver : ntoskrnl.exe
Caused By Address : ntoskrnl.exe+75b90
File Description : NT Kernel & System
Product Name : Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Company : Microsoft Corporation
File Version : 6.1.7601.18247 (win7sp1_gdr.130828-1532)
Processor : x64
Crash Address : ntoskrnl.exe+75b90
Stack Address 1 :
Stack Address 2 :
Stack Address 3 :
Computer Name :
Full Path : C:\Windows\Minidump\040714-4960-01.dmp
Processors Count : 4
Major Version : 15
Minor Version : 7601
Dump File Size : 291,968
Dump File Time : 7/04/2014 7:38:14 AM
==================================================

 

[Ketchup]

I didn't see any mention of another install. Wipe the drive and do a fresh Windows install. Just use the EVO. Grab as many drivers as you can from Windows Update.

It is hasn't crashed yet, run the machine for a while with just those drivers. If it lasts a couple days with no crashing, hook up the other drive an see what happens.

 

[fflyash]

Alright. Just found out I might be able to borrow a power supply soon, so I might hold out and try that first just to rule it out. If it doesn't work I'll do a wipe and see what happens.

 

[fflyash]

My computer was rebooting itself so often last night that it was almost unusable, so I decided to try reformatting it instead of waiting to borrow a power supply. I've reformatted the hard drive and reinstalled windows. Right now I've only got one hard drive connected and no video card.

While I was using it this morning, it froze again and the image on the screen was all messed up. I've attached a picture so you can see what I mean.

What could have caused this? I would have guessed the video card, but since it's not installed at the moment I'm not really sure.

 

[Smoove910]

raise the voltage of your ram to 1.65v

 

[fflyash]

raise the voltage of your ram to 1.65v

Just tried that. After I increase the voltage it takes the computer a couple of tries to boot. The light comes on, the fans start and then it powers down straight away and starts up again by itself. It did this about 3 times before it would actually boot, so I've set it back to 1.5V for now.

I'm assuming it's not supposed to do that?

 

[Smoove910]

what are your timings set at? 9-9-9-24?

I apologize for not looking into the brand of your ram closer... alot of times 1600 ram requires 1.65v, which your Ripjaws apparently do not.

 

[fflyash]

Yep, timings are set to 9-9-9-24.

 

[Smoove910]

when you built the system, did you load ALL the drivers for the motherboard?
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Fatal1ty H87 Performance/?cat=Download&os=All

Also, have you verified your ram is on the compatibility list?
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Fatal1ty H87 Performance/?cat=Memory

 

[Ketchup]

My computer was rebooting itself so often last night that it was almost unusable, so I decided to try reformatting it instead of waiting to borrow a power supply. I've reformatted the hard drive and reinstalled windows. Right now I've only got one hard drive connected and no video card.

While I was using it this morning, it froze again and the image on the screen was all messed up. I've attached a picture so you can see what I mean.

What could have caused this? I would have guessed the video card, but since it's not installed at the moment I'm not really sure.

OK, if you run one stick of RAM at a time, can you reproduce that image?

 

[phis6]

Since you've posted a garbled screenshot I would definitely suggest that you may try to replace or check your video card. As the garbled screen may indicate a GPU memory failure and technically causes unwanted system restarts when the processor is hot. Just give it a try.

 

[fflyash]

when you built the system, did you load ALL the drivers for the motherboard?
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Fatal1ty H87 Performance/?cat=Download&os=All

Also, have you verified your ram is on the compatibility list?
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Fatal1ty H87 Performance/?cat=Memory

I did install all the drivers for the motherboard before I reformatted. Apparently the exact model of RAM I'm using isn't on the compatibility list, could that be causing the problem? There's a few very similar G.Skill sticks listed.

Since you've posted a garbled screenshot I would definitely suggest that you may try to replace or check your video card. As the garbled screen may indicate a GPU memory failure and technically causes unwanted system restarts when the processor is hot. Just give it a try.

I haven't got the video card installed at the moment, it's just using the motherboard graphics.

 

[fflyash]

OK, if you run one stick of RAM at a time, can you reproduce that image?

I've had it running on 1 stick of RAM all day and it hasn't done this again, but it has been rebooting regardless of which stick is in.

 

[Ketchup]

I've had it running on 1 stick of RAM all day and it hasn't done this again, but it has been rebooting regardless of which stick is in.

Make sure I have this correct - running one stick at a time, you are not getting the display corruption, but you are still getting random reboots?

If blue screen, what file it is pointing to?

 

[fflyash]

Make sure I have this correct - running one stick at a time, you are not getting the display corruption, but you are still getting random reboots?

If blue screen, what file it is pointing to?

Yes, at least so far. I got the display corruption early this morning with both sticks in. I took one stick out and after a while it restarted with no display errors. I switched the memory with the other stick and let it run for a while. It did reboot while I was away so I can't be 100% sure, but I haven't seen it reboot after the display corruption occurs, it usually just freezes. I left that stick in for the moment to see what happens.

I'm not getting any blue screens again, it either powers down instantly or freezes.