CPU unstable and crashing

GeorgeM123 · 28 Oct 2012 at 21:18

I've got my new build up and running, everything went reasonable okay, thanks to everyone on the forum who helped (I forgot to take picture though).

Today was my first day of proper gaming though. I was playing Shogun 2, a pretty demanding game, after about 2 hours the game crashed, i tried it again, it froze and crashed again. I did abit of digging and downloaded CPU-z to check speeds, my core speed is jumping from 1.6Ghz to 3.8Ghz in seconds, completely idle mode (i'm guessing this is unstable?).
Now it's my first build i'm not that knowledgeable however i'm learning but i'm guessing the speeds shouldn't be ranging like that and games shouldn't be crashing?

From what i've read to make it stable again I should put more voltage through my CPU, but i wouldn't know how much plus I haven't overclocked so I'm assuming I shouldn't need to.

Has anyone experienced the same or could offer any advice to me on whats going on, it would be greatly appreciated, Thanks

Philip Perfect · 28 Oct 2012 at 21:30

The speed changes you are seeing in CPU-Z are likely to be speedstep/cool'n'quiet - a power saving feature and perfectly normal.

Could you post your spec? Is the PC currently overclocked in any way? I'm sure this will help us to offer suggestions.

RJC · 28 Oct 2012 at 21:34

The multiplier changing will be Intel Speed step, my thread below might help:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17972811

One thing to check is your memory speed and voltage in the BIOS.

Gav_881 · 28 Oct 2012 at 21:35

If you have not overclocked then you dont need to be adding Vcore, as for the bouncing frequency this is normal for the ivy chips, it helps to keep them cool by going to idle whenever it can.

Crashing in games is a big no no though, the first thing i would do is run prime 95 for a few hours to test rig stability, watch the temps if they go high it could indicate poor heat sync mounting.

If it passes the prime testing check your GPU drivers are up to date and reinstall the game.

Good luck

GeorgeM123 · 28 Oct 2012 at 21:40

Philip Perfect said:
The speed changes you are seeing in CPU-Z are likely to be speedstep/cool'n'quiet - a power saving feature and perfectly normal.

Could you post your spec? Is the PC currently overclocked in any way? I'm sure this will help us to offer suggestions.

No overclocking at all.
msi twin frozr 7850
i5 3570k
kingston 8gb 1600 ram
gigabyte z77-d3h
120 gb intel 330
500gb seagate
antec high current gamer 520w

GeorgeM123 · 28 Oct 2012 at 21:40

RJC said:
The multiplier changing will be Intel Speed step, my thread below might help:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17972811

One thing to check is your memory speed and voltage in the BIOS.

I'll give it a read thanks. Still doesn't explain the crashing

GeorgeM123 · 28 Oct 2012 at 21:44

Gav_881 said:
If you have not overclocked then you dont need to be adding Vcore, as for the bouncing frequency this is normal for the ivy chips, it helps to keep them cool by going to idle whenever it can.

Crashing in games is a big no no though, the first thing i would do is run prime 95 for a few hours to test rig stability, watch the temps if they go high it could indicate poor heat sync mounting.

If it passes the prime testing check your GPU drivers are up to date and reinstall the game.

Good luck[/QUOTEA]
All drivers are up-to-date. It got to a point were everytime I got into a game it crashed, as it's brand new I got abit worried and didn't expect it too crash all the time. I'll just run that program and see what happens

GeorgeM123 · 28 Oct 2012 at 21:46

Another thing RJC, why would it then go higher than the 3.4Ghz if i've not overclocked it and why would it go that high in complete idle, not running anything, you would assume it would stay low wouldn't you?

Gav_881 · 28 Oct 2012 at 21:51

Frequency: 3.40 GHz (Turbo Mode 3.80GHz) turbo mode mate, most overclocks just change this.

As for the 1.6Ghz thats what mine idles at, guessing its just the happy speed chosen by intel

GeorgeM123 · 28 Oct 2012 at 21:53

Gav_881 said:
Frequency: 3.40 GHz (Turbo Mode 3.80GHz) turbo mode mate, most overclocks just change this.

As for the 1.6Ghz thats what mine idles at, guessing its just the happy speed chosen by intel

So yours will go as high as 3.8 idle?

Bacon? · 28 Oct 2012 at 22:57

Anyone else noticed the motherboard and GPU

There has been a lot of issues with graphics card and that board. Have you used Gigabytes @BIOS feature to get the latest BIOS?

honosuseri · 29 Oct 2012 at 03:09

Bacon? said:
Anyone else noticed the motherboard and GPU
There has been a lot of issues with graphics card and that board. Have you used Gigabytes @BIOs feature to get the latest BIOS?

Only "noobs" update the BIOS in the OS

Just because the mobo has a dual BIOS doesn't mean you should take risks.

GeorgeM123 · 29 Oct 2012 at 17:08

Bacon? said:
Anyone else noticed the motherboard and GPU
There has been a lot of issues with graphics card and that board. Have you used Gigabytes @BIOs feature to get the latest BIOS?

Nope thats the problem, all drivers are up-to-date. I got a free download of sleeping dogs so I tried that and that is crashing also, i've got a few print screens of CPU-z if that would be any help?

GeorgeM123 · 29 Oct 2012 at 17:10

honosuseri said:
Only "noobs" update the BIOS in the OS Just because the mobo has a dual BIOS doesn't mean you should take risks.

I am a noob. How would the a non-noob update his motherbored, guessing through a flash drive?