Troubleshooting

Chenty

Chenty

New Member
Hi guys. I built a machine for a friend an it's been completely locking up randomly. No BSOD, but the video and sound completely lock up and the computer becomes non-responsive. We've eliminated the graphics card as it still happens when he used integrated graphics. I'm going to receive the system back from him in a week and trade out some components to see if I can find what's responsible, but I wanted to ask you guys if there's a good way of testing each component or a hierarchy of what I should test first.

Specs:

CPU: Core i5 3570
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H
RAM: Corsair XMS3 1600MHz 8GB (2x4GB)
SSD: OCZ Agility 3 60GB
HDD: WD Enterprise 1TB
GPU: Asus HD7870 DC2 2GB
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430
PSU: Storm Silent 700W
OS: W7 HP x64

Thanks
 
Does the screen go black at all? Just wondering as i am having a similar issue and its only since installing latest ATI Drivers and my new hd 7850.

I believe my problem is down to the ATI drivers.

In terms of running on board gfx, have you tried uninstalling the ATI drivers on the system and then doing this? See if that sorts the problem out?
 
No it just completely freezes on whatever is on screen and the sound buzzes like it's looping a millisecond of playback.

I thought it would use the Intel drivers when running on integrated.
 
Scanned with MS security essentials and nothing came up. It's a brand new build so a virus is unlikely. Uninstalled software whenever it crashed whilst using that software, but seems to be random. Leads me to think it's a hardware issue.
 
Try uninstalling ATI Drivers and trying the intel onboard on its own.

I Think this may be an amd thing as i had similar issue. (Im still having a similar issue but a 2nd different issue if that makes any sense :P)
 
As I suspected, it had nothing to do with the AMD drivers and looks like it's the processor that's locking it up. Going to RMA it after New Years.
 
Hello,
No BSOD means that the OS doesn't have time to do a core dump when a stop error occurs. The kernel just freezes.
What is the CPU temperature after a freeze? Is the cooler installed right?
Swap the PSU - regardless of the brand, it might have a hidden flaw, might not put out right amount of Volts.
Run Memtest86+ - http://www.memtest.org/
Watch for signs the HDD is not overheating or making noise as if it's in power up - power down loop.
Just as mikeb2817 suggested, remove the drivers for the PEG, reinstall on-board drivers.
If all else fails, try reinstalling the OS, and then adding more devices step by step.
 
OS reinstall was my first step after swapping out the RAM for some know good DIMMs and removing the graphics card. Was still freezing after those steps so I tried putting my 2700K in the system and so far haven't had any issues. Waiting on some better thermal paste before I run Prime95 and Memtest86, but it looks to me like it's a DOA CPU. I'll be back here if it crashes again. Thanks for the suggestions so far.
 
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