PC freezing very irregularly

[Halp12]

Hi, my computer freezes about every 15-25 days. Longest I've gone keeping it on was probably 28 days, shortest must have been 2 freezes in the span of one week. When it freezes, everything on the monitor is frozen, keyboard/mouse is unresponsive. My HD light on the case also stops flickering. Last freeze was just the computer sitting overnight doing nothing. I come back to my desk to see it froze sometime at 5am according to the time stamp. It's been happening since I put it together 2 years ago.

Here's my build:

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz 1151 Boxed Processor

Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan (RR-212E-20PK-R2)

MOTHERBOARD: GIGABYTE LGA1151 Intel Z170 ATX DDR4 Motherboards GA-Z170X-Gaming 3

GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 G1 Gaming Video/Graphics Cards GV-N1070G1 GAMING-8GD

SSD: Samsung 850 EVO - 500GB - 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-75E500B/AM)

PSU: CORSAIR CXM series CX650M 650W 80 PLUS BRONZE Haswell Ready ATX12V & EPS12V Modular Power Supply

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2400 (PC4 19200) Intel Z170 Platform / Intel X99 Platform Desktop Memory Model F4-2400C15D-16GVR

CASE: NZXT S340 Mid Tower Case CA-S340MB-GR Matte Black/Red

OS: Windows 10 Pro 64 bit (Version 1803) (OS Build 17134.112)

Here's everything I've tried to fix/diagnose the problem:

- Reinstalled windows 10 (I purchased the key on reddit and used USB installation from Microsoft website)
- SSD benchmark test: https://i.imgur.com/eY9l0hU.jpg
- RAM Memtest with both RAM sticks installed: https://i.imgur.com/nBuUuvH.jpg
- intel diagnostic tool shows all Passes for CPU.
- Updated nVidia drivers
- Replaced a SATA power cable connected to my SSD that looked forced/bent due to the orientation of the SSD. Installed the SSD upside down to fix issue. Before: https://i.imgur.com/wWLZsKN.jpg. After: https://i.imgur.com/xMkzWFs.jpg.
- Temperatures from HWMonitor https://i.imgur.com/nnTyABg.jpg

I am at my wit's end. The freezes are so infrequent that I just can't seem to understand what component to isolate. I have to wait about 30 days before I know if the solution worked or not.

 

[Burpo]

Are you running latest bios?

 

[daveybrat]

Reading all of the reviews for that board and the issues you're having, it does sound like the motherboard to me.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Does your case have a HDD light, and when it hard-freezes, is the light stuck ON? If so, the problem might be your SSD or a HDD.

 

[meliodas mehraa]

I had the same exact problem once. After all the digging i found the problem was in my process which would heat up and would stop automatically. Try cleaning your processor and even touch the pins in process cuz that would ruin your processor and tighten all the connections.

 

[LTC8K6]

Why are those first voltages, +3.3V > VBAT, so far off?

 

[UsandThem]

Try cleaning your processor and even touch the pins in process cuz that would ruin your processor and tighten all the connections.

Wut?

 

[rchunter]

Probably a motherboard or power supply issue, your voltages look off. But yeah also try updating your bios if you haven't done it.

 

[Halp12]

Are you running latest bios?

I'm not. I've heard updating BIOS can sometimes brick the motherboard, but in this case I can understand updating it because of the issue I'm having. However I don't have a backup motherboard just incase something happens. Are the chances really low? Since I need my computer for school.

Reading all of the reviews for that board and the issues you're having, it does sound like the motherboard to me.

Ok I'll take this into consideration. Do you suggest any substitute motherboard?

Does your case have a HDD light, and when it hard-freezes, is the light stuck ON? If so, the problem might be your SSD or a HDD.

I forgot to mention this, the HDD light goes OFF completely when it freezes. During normal operation of the computer its flickering. I also thought it could be the SSD because of this reason alone. But the diagnostic test on the Samsung drive shows nothing.

I had the same exact problem once. After all the digging i found the problem was in my process which would heat up and would stop automatically. Try cleaning your processor and even touch the pins in process cuz that would ruin your processor and tighten all the connections.

Do you mean I should remove and re-install the CPU?

Why are those first voltages, +3.3V > VBAT, so far off?

Probably a motherboard or power supply issue, your voltages look off. But yeah also try updating your bios if you haven't done it.

I'm not sure about the voltages. I haven't OC'd or touched anything in the BIOS other than enabling XMP. Which line looks worrisome to you under the Voltage category?
Here's an updated status from HWMonitor, the image in the OP is a few weeks old. https://i.imgur.com/7ahDkZA.jpg

 

[Mayne]

mobo is dying.

 

[Ketchup]

Gigabyte boards come with a built-in backup BIOS and, if you installed the software that came with the board, the app will find that latest BIOS and install it automatically. Painless.

 

[Halp12]

Gigabyte boards come with a built-in backup BIOS and, if you installed the software that came with the board, the app will find that latest BIOS and install it automatically. Painless.

Is this what you're referring to? https://www.gigabyte.com/FileUpload/global/Microsite/369/images/app-center.html

what is the small risk of doing this btw? Is it just bricking the motherboard or also causing problems to other hardware connected to the motherboard?

 

[Ketchup]

Worst case is an error would occur (such as a power failure during the update), it would revert to the backup BIOS, and you wouldn't get the update.

Yes, your link refers to the update program.

 

[LTC8K6]

The +3.3V through VBAT lines in your first HWmonitor image all appear to be way off.

 

[Ketchup]

The +3.3V through VBAT lines in your first HWmonitor image all appear to be way off.

To be fair, all the lines appear to be off through that program. So much so that I seriously doubt the computer would even be running if that was accurate. I would recommend looking at these numbers through the BIOS and see what they truly are.

 

[Halp12]

To be fair, all the lines appear to be off through that program. So much so that I seriously doubt the computer would even be running if that was accurate. I would recommend looking at these numbers through the BIOS and see what they truly are.

Here's all the voltage values I could find in the BIOS, How do they look.
https://i.imgur.com/5x1YirO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/XzMjd4I.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/P3hoTXI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/OAwu7RP.jpg
Vcore
https://i.imgur.com/7x2NGLf.jpg

 

[Ketchup]

First pic would be the main one you would want to look at, and all voltages look perfectly fine. In this case, it's just the application mis-reading the numbers.

 

[Halp12]

First pic would be the main one you would want to look at, and all voltages look perfectly fine. In this case, it's just the application mis-reading the numbers.

I'm installing the application, and when I go to update it (the app itself) I get "this driver can't release to failure!!"

it updated the @Bios app anyway though

however everytime I open @Bios I get the same message about the driver can't release to failure. Anything to worry about?? I can still access @Bios

a quick google search tells me this pop-up is because of drivers not being up to date?

 

[Ketchup]

If it is showing driver updates are available, I would do that first. I have not personally seen that message, but I have only worked with two Gigabyte boards recently running their latest software (@Bios, app center, etc).

 

[Halp12]

If it is showing driver updates are available, I would do that first. I have not personally seen that message, but I have only worked with two Gigabyte boards recently running their latest software (@Bios, app center, etc).

these are the drivers I updated
https://i.imgur.com/8LsUktG.jpg

Btw can you recommend another motherboard. Preferably a reliable brand such as asus or any others. if you can specify a particular model that would be great. I read reviews of the one I have and they aren't very favorable.

Here's an Asus I found https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...=Asus_1151_motherboard-_-13-119-039-_-Product

 

[Ketchup]

Gigabyte is my favorite. Asus is almost tied (boards are great, support is terrible). Install the latest bios for your board through the Gigabyte program and let us know if things improve.

 

[Halp12]

Gigabyte is my favorite. Asus is almost tied (boards are great, support is terrible). Install the latest bios for your board through the Gigabyte program and let us know if things improve.

Gonna update it on Thursday. I like to prepare for the worst. If something happens I can atleast go to Microcenter and buy another board.

If you like gigabyte, what's another board you can recommend preferably under $130. I am also researching other boards too that are compatible with the other parts of my rig

 

[UsandThem]

Gonna update it on Thursday. I like to prepare for the worst. If something happens I can atleast go to Microcenter and buy another board.

If you like gigabyte, what's another board you can recommend preferably under $130. I am also researching other boards too that are compatible with the other parts of my rig

I used to be a big Gigabyte fan, but their BIOS updates for my Z170 board left it in a bad place. I might trust them again at some point in the future, but whoever writes their BIOS needs some QA.

I'll recommend two boards. One is a little over your budget ($149 after MIR), but is a nice board (it's what I replaced my Gigabyte board with). It's been rock solid and reliable for about a year now:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157754&ignorebbr=1

If too much, take a look at this one:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157746&ignorebbr=1

 

[Halp12]

I used to be a big Gigabyte fan, but their BIOS updates for my Z170 board left it in a bad place. I might trust them again at some point in the future, but whoever writes their BIOS needs some QA.

I'll recommend two boards. One is a little over your budget ($149 after MIR), but is a nice board (it's what I replaced my Gigabyte board with). It's been rock solid and reliable for about a year now:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157754&ignorebbr=1

If too much, take a look at this one:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157746&ignorebbr=1

Hey thanks. The 2nd one looks good.

What do you think of this one

http://www.microcenter.com/product/...imus_VIII_Hero_LGA_1151_ATX_Intel_Motherboard

 

[UsandThem]

Asus generally makes good boards as well, so it should be an improvement from what you have.

I think that was the Asus board I was considering before I saw the Taichi on sale for $130 and went with it based on seeing the glowing reviews from users on our forums.