PC Randomly Freezes. [Solved]

[icewolf461]

After I bumped the voltages up a bit, I was able to game for 4-5 hours before it froze again. :l

 

[chusteczka]

For now, leave the HWMonitor up and running when you game. If the PSU fails for even a moment, allowing voltages to drop intermittently, then HWMonitor might pick that up in the Min() column. Although if the voltages drop, then the system is temporarily not working, similar to a person having a heart attack, and HWMonitor really will not be running at that moment to document the drop.

I am glad Ketchup is there to back us up. It helps to have another person looking at the symptoms. Thank you Ketchup.

I am thinking that something is failing, as end of life. That would be either the PSU or the motherboard. The PSU is easier to replace and test. As an amateur computer builder for friends and family, I have many parts sitting around and always keep one new PSU on hand for testing in such situations but you do not have that luxury available.

With purchasing a PSU, you will need to purchase one strong enough that this new PSU would power a new system. Just in case it is realized the motherboard is failing and it is necessary to purchase or build a new computer.

My suggestion is not to buy a new ThermalTake. I have had a few of their products break for cheap materials and construction.

Regarding brands Rosewill is good, I have purchased several. One shorted due to failed insulation after a couple years, which shows the Chinese manufacturers are still learning how to properly insulate electrical wiring. But I continue buying Rosewills and they keep working for me.

Other good brands include Seasonic, Corsair, Antec, and FSP (Fortron). And then there are those I am unsure about but could be good; NZXT, Fractal, Zalman, Gigabyte, EVGA. Get one with Active PFC correction.

I would recommend a PSU with minimum 620watts (Seasonic) or 650watts for other brands if you do not expect to purchase a strong video card if you do have to purchase a whole new system. If you expect to purchase a strong video card (AMD HD 7850 or above, R9 270 or above), then it might help to get a 750watt PSU.

I like the AVR and recommend one but it is not necessary with a good PSU having Active PFC correction. The AVR can be helpful, such as during a storm and the power drops for a moment, all the home lights go out and clocks reset yet my computer continues running, but it is not necessary.


EDIT: (again)
You could purchase a PSU tester. But this could be money down the drain if you are going to replace the PSU anyway.
newegg.com - Power Supply Tester

 

[Ketchup]

icewolf461, you do have any computer stores nearby (like a Fry's, Microcenter, or Tiger Direct? Would be a good place to go since we aren't 100% sure it's the power supply.

I don't think you need that much power for your rig. 500 watts would be more than enough.

 

[chusteczka]

I don't think you need that much power for your rig. 500 watts would be more than enough.

I'm good with that. :thumbsup:

I tend to go higher since I am often not sure exactly how much is needed and once ran into problems with not having enough. Additionally, my experience is with AMD parts, which require more power than Intel parts do.

 

[icewolf461]

Well I don't live in the USoA. So there's no Walmart or Best Buy or anything like that here. The local stores don't really have gaming parts, took me almost a month to get a PSU with long cables and a motherboard with a 775 socket. Everything in the PC has been replaced in the last months except the HDD, DVD ROM and RAM.

 

[Ketchup]

Well I don't live in the USoA. So there's no Walmart or Best Buy or anything like that here. The local stores don't really have gaming parts, took me almost a month to get a PSU with long cables and a motherboard with a 775 socket. Everything in the PC has been replaced in the last months except the HDD, DVD ROM and RAM.

What country are you in? Maybe we can help. Not to criticize, as I obviously don't know where you are, but does a new computer run much more than what you have spent already on that machine?

 

[icewolf461]

I live on a tiny island in the Caribbean called Trinidad. Well I've been slowing upgrading this PC since I got it in 2008, so a new computer may cost a combined price of everything I ever bought. $1 USD = $6.xx TTD and buying stuff online to ship here comes with a $50 shipping and handling price tag.

 

[Ketchup]

I live on a tiny island in the Caribbean called Trinidad...

Beautiful! I suppose that comes at a price tin other areas though. So does any option so far include hefty shipping, or do you have any local options?

 

[icewolf461]

Well there are 2 local stores. The close one sells parts at outrageous prices and the other sells them at cheap, wholesale prices but they are always out of stock.

 

[icewolf461]

Hey. Turns out the system registry got corrupted so I had to reinstall Windows. It works now but thanks for the help. [Solved]

 

[chusteczka]

You tried reinstalling before. Let's hope this fixes it, especially without needing to purchase more equipment. Are the voltages still bumped or did you put them back to AUTO?

 

[Ketchup]

Hey. Turns out the system registry got corrupted so I had to reinstall Windows. It works now but thanks for the help. [Solved]

Great news! Thanks for the update.

 

[John Connor]

Hey. Turns out the system registry got corrupted so I had to reinstall Windows. It works now but thanks for the help. [Solved]

How did you know the system registry got corrupted? How do you test for that?

 

[icewolf461]

You tried reinstalling before. Let's hope this fixes it, especially without needing to purchase more equipment. Are the voltages still bumped or did you put them back to AUTO?

Well that time when I thought it froze when trying to reinstall was actually it taking its merry time to load/extract from disc...xD. Yeah the BIOS is back to default/auto.

 

[icewolf461]

How did you know the system registry got corrupted? How do you test for that?

I carried it to a repair shop and the tech guy told me. I brought it back home and reinstalled Windows!

 

[icewolf461]

Well that repair guy didn't know shit lol. Still froze with new Windows. Bought new HDD, still froze. So I bought a combo of an AMD motherboard, AMD processor and DDR3 RAM. (My first AMD setup ) So everything is fine...since I just bought a new part for everything. x.x Just keeping you guys in the loop. It was most likely one of those 3. (Leaning more towards motherboard, since its my 3-4th motherboard purchase.)

 

[chusteczka]

These issues can be difficult to track down. Often it is easier to upgrade rather than track down the specific failing part but upgrading depends on available funds. You will be happy with the upgrade to a DDR3 system.

 

[Ketchup]

Well that repair guy didn't know shit lol. Still froze with new Windows. Bought new HDD, still froze. So I bought a combo of an AMD motherboard, AMD processor and DDR3 RAM. (My first AMD setup ) So everything is fine...since I just bought a new part for everything. x.x Just keeping you guys in the loop. It was most likely one of those 3. (Leaning more towards motherboard, since its my 3-4th motherboard purchase.)

I am so glad you were able to upgrade. Hope is lasts you for years and years to come!