Computer randomly freezing.-Help needed PLEASE.

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 09:59

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

you are getting very hot temps there, maybe reseating and repasting cpu and heatsink is the answer

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:02

I'm going to a lan party tomorrow, I think im getting some help sorting that then.

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:04

ok, what are you bios temps when idle?

have you taken the side off the case to see if the fan could do with a dust out.

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:04

I have a lack of knowledge regarding computers, but can the cpu overheating cause this problem? The problem occurs randomly, from switching on to leaving it while I go for dinner. It freezes when the cpu is potentially under strain, and even when it is just idling.

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:05

Hw monitor is 32C idling atm, with just Teamspeak, Firefox and Msn doing nothing on it.

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:05

spiruel said:
I have a lack of knowledge regarding computers, but can the cpu overheating cause this problem? The problem occurs randomly, from switching on to leaving it while I go for dinner. It freezes when the cpu is potentially under strain, and even when it is just idling.

yes if it is over heating you will get freezing and lockups.
it would be my first port of call, check the fan is clean and dust free, repaste it and then see how it goes from there.

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:06

I fear the worst if I take the side of my computer, so Ill ask for help with that tomorrow. The big fan on the side of my case never worked- so I use the 2 little fans at the back of the case for cooling. I will try and fix the big case fan tomorrow.

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:07

spiruel said:
Hw monitor is 32C idling atm, with just Teamspeak, Firefox and Msn doing nothing on it.

32 is pretty good idle, leave it idle for 5-10 mins (or using as little as you can get away with) and see if temps rise, if they stay around that then try running a few apps, and go from there.
is it running at full speed at the moment or gone into power saving speeds (pretty sure AMD have their own version of speedstep)?

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:08

spiruel said:
I fear the worst if I take the side of my computer, so Ill ask for help with that tomorrow. The big fan on the side of my case never worked- so I use the 2 little fans at the back of the case for cooling. I will try and fix the big case fan tomorrow.

taking the side off will do no harm, it might be a simple dust off the fan job to keep you going until someone can repaste it for you. also too many fans can also cause heat issues, especially if they are not pointing the right way as it can lock all the hot air in the case.

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:09

paradisiac said:
yes if it is over heating you will get freezing and lockups.
it would be my first port of call, check the fan is clean and dust free, repaste it and then see how it goes from there.

Ok, thanks for that. I will do that tomorrow as early as possible. However, I don't understand how the cpu can overheat when the computer is switching on, or if the computer has been doing nothing for about half an hour on the screensaver.
-Remember, when my computer freezes, the monitor can sometimes flash black then freeze. No noise comes from my computer when it freezes, not even the fan speed.

Can someone please look at my event logs? It makes sense for something regarding the issue to be logged in there.

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:11

spiruel said:
Ok, thanks for that. I will do that tomorrow as early as possible. However, I don't understand how the cpu can overheat when the computer is switching on, or if the computer has been doing nothing for about half an hour on the screensaver.
-Remember, when my computer freezes, the monitor can sometimes flash black then freeze. No noise comes from my computer when it freezes, not even the fan speed.

Can someone please look at my event logs? It makes sense for something regarding the issue to be logged in there.

if the thermal paste/pad has burnt off then proper contact between the cpu and heatsink will not be made, so the heat cannot be dispersed properly, so you can overheat at any time.

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:12

When my brother built my computer for me, I think he put the fans in the wrong way. However my computer has lasted a year without any overheating problems, and my room is relatively cold anyway.
I am fixing all computer fans tomorrow, and will try and dust the fans now with my brothers help.

-Downloading 3dmark, and my friends have agreed to repaste my fan/s tomorrow.

Many thanks for your help so far, paradisiac. ;D

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:15

what version of windows are you using? im 99% sure its not software related, though but just to check.

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:17

I am using Window 7 Home Premium 64bit (6.1, Build 7600)

I don't think its my OS, as it can crash before Windows even begins to start.

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:21

i have had a quick scan of your log and they seem to be windows services mainly, which is normally 1 of 3 things :
1. windows corruption
2. virus
3. hardware instability

numbers 1 and 2 i would say are unlikely as the errors seems random, so i would still put it down to either cpu, ram or gfx issues. the ram you said passed memtest without errors, how many cycles did it do? the cpu you stated got to 63c (1c over its max temp recommendation) how long was prime95 running? and gfx will be tested with 3dmark, which version do you have?

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:26

I was only running prime95 for a few minutes, before people on teamspeak told me to quit it.

I am downloading the latest *free* version of 3dmark from 3dmark.com website.

I am completely unsure how many cycles my computer ran through on memtest, but my brother says approx 1 1/2. I just closed memtest once it said it had completed, because It was late and I had to shut down quickly.

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:28

ok, well if it did 1 cycle then in theory you can eliminate ram, although im always happier with an over night scan.
the fact prime95 overheated your machine soo quickly does cause a bit of concern, but, it is what prime95 was designed to do, so i would say its 100% cpu related. have you been monitoring temps whilst using the pc today? is it sitting in the low 30s or does it go up to 50-60c when programs are running?

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:32

It is sitting in the low 30's at the moment, as all I am doing is internet browsing.

I'm going to test out 3d mark now, and then run a few games and monitor temperatures.

paradisiac · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:34

3d mark should be a good test as it does cpu aswell as gfx.
does HWmonitor record the max temps as 3dmark will be full screen so you wont be able to see what temps its hitting (unless you have a dual monitor setup)

spiruel · 21 Feb 2011 at 10:35

By the way- is Amd Northbridge warning anything to worry about? I am still on warranty for my computer parts till May (I hope), but I am solely depending on others to help me with this. I hate turning my machine off with the power button, and its very worrying for a person like me that doesn't know a thing about hardware.