Computer randomly freezing.-Help needed PLEASE.

spiruel · 20 Feb 2011 at 19:53

Update: Why can my computer run with integrated graphics, but when I put an graphics card into the computer, it crashes?

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~Eventlog.zip mega upload link here.

~~I'm new to overclockers forums, and I am a complete noob at computers. I am posting here due to my computer problems.

Around the 1st of February, my computer monitor begun to flash black on and off. After reconnecting the monitor cables, and restarting my computer etc- I thought the computer was fixed.
But then it got worse. A few days afterwards, my computer screen flashed to black, and then the screen switched on again to show a frozen screen. Even my teamspeak voicechat sound had been cut off.
The only way to turn off the computer was to hold down the power button.

I had recently installed new graphics drivers, so I rolled them back- and the problem fixed itself for *2 weeks*.

And then, taa da. Now, randomly- from computer startup, to switching the computer on for a few hours to even on my Asus boot screen- the computer freezes randomly. Completely unpredictable.

I asked my friends for help, who examined my 'event logs' for me. I believe the 'kernel power' critical errors I get is when I turn off my computer by holding down the power button. However, they said the 'AMD northbridge' warning was a problem.

I searched the internet in desperation, and I have a found a few threads saying that my Ram needs more voltage. I have put the ram voltage from 1.5v-1.65vapprox in my 'BIOS settings?'.
I have also found this windows update, which I have not installed. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2265716/en-us

Is it ram? Is it motherboard hardware damage? Is it overheating? Is it northbridge? Is it virus? Is is malfunction?

I apologise in advance for my lack of computer knowledge, and I will be remaking this thread when I have more time, if you need more info just ask.

Thankyou for any possible advice you can provide, and I appreciate all replies.

TL;DR version:

I have had my computer since May 2010.
My computer is custom built.
The problem started about 1st Feb.

paradisiac · 20 Feb 2011 at 19:55

run memtest for 12hours + to check ram
run prime95 with some form of temp monitoring app to check cpu
run 3dmark to test graphics card

if all those pass without errors then fresh install of windows to eliminate software.

spiruel · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:00

paradisiac said:
run memtest for 12hours + to check ram
run prime95 with some form of temp monitoring app to check cpu
run 3dmark to test graphics card

if all those pass without errors then fresh install of windows to eliminate software.

I wouldnt be allowed to run memtest for that long, but my friend has read this forum, and is getting me these programs. I am going to try all of them- running memtest for about 2 hours.
I will have to go soon, but hopefully I will be able to post the results of the tests tomorrow.

paradisiac · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:03

2 hours is not enough, depending on the amount of ram you have, that will bareley do 1 or 2 cycles, which being random, wouldnt be an accurate test.

anuraj · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:05

Listen to parasidiac he must know his stuff.
Last time I had a mem problem it was caught in 5 minutes by memtest but maybe I was just lucky

paradisiac · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:07

anuraj said:
Last time I had a mem problem it was caught in 5 minutes by memtest but maybe I was just luck

agreed, some people get lucky and it shows an error quickly. i ran memtest for 12hours and it wasnt until about the 5th cycle that an error popped up

anuraj · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:08

That's pretty unlucky

paradisiac · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:11

yeh, not sure if i was just unlucky, but still, i aim to run all tests overnight at minimum. if any overclocking is done, then i like to also keep it running whilst im at work to be sure.
of 2hours is your tops then fair enough, but if you have 8GB then you might not even complete a cycle.

spiruel · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:13

I just used prime95, with hw monitor to monitor temperatures. My processors temperatures soared to 63C, so I had to exit the test pronto.

paradisiac · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:13

spiruel said:
I just used prime95, with hw monitor to monitor temperatures. My processors temperatures soared to 63degreescentigrade, so I had to exist the test pronto.

what is your cpu? 63 degs might be normal.

spiruel · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:14

~Im going to ask my parents if Im allowed to run memtest for 12+ hours. I am now using my brothers memtest disc now- so brb.

anuraj · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:15

Are you not from the UK.
I don't think anyone here writes centigrade. I think we just say 63C

paradisiac · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:15

anuraj said:
Are you not from the UK.
I don't think anyone here writes centigrade. I think we just say 63C

i think he is young, so let him off

need a proper spec to be sure of everything though.

anuraj · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:16

I'm 12 mate.

spiruel · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:41

I am from Uk, but I was incredibly rushed writing that post. I have edited the message now for clarity.

@paradisiac, My cpu is an Amd Phenom Quad Core.

Time to run memtest. ^.^

paradisiac · 20 Feb 2011 at 20:43

need the exact model of cpu if pos

spiruel · 20 Feb 2011 at 22:06

Memtest=No errors.

Don't know cpu exact info, Ill get tomorrow as I have to come off asap now.

Tyvm for all help so far!

DavieJG · 20 Feb 2011 at 22:52

do you have a good branded psu?

an iffy PSU can manifest itself as random lockups

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 09:47

did you get a chance to check which cpu you have?

how many cycles of memtest completed in your 2hour stint?

have you had chance to run 3d mark at all?

has anything been changed in bios, ie any overclocking or voltage bumps?

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 09:54

~My computer froze three time when attempting to switch it on today. It froze on the desktop, then when firefox began to load up, and then on the 'starting windows 7' screen. All 3 different reboots.

paradisiac said:
did you get a chance to check which cpu you have?

how many cycles of memtest completed in your 2hour stint?

have you had chance to run 3d mark at all?

has anything been changed in bios, ie any overclocking or voltage bumps?

Cpu- AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 955 processor (4 CPUs), -3.2GHz
Memtest- I think I got 1 and a half cycles, but im unsure- I closed it when it said it had completed with no errors.

I will run 3d mark now, once I get it onto my computer.

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@DavieJG From memory I believe the psu I was going to get, was out of stock- so my father bought something different.

Could anyone please have a look at my event logs? (Dl link first post). It keeps reporting AMD northbridge 'corrected hardware' warnings.