Happened again with XMP off, CPU core set to auto and 1.31V, this time the crackling noise didn't happen though, probably due to the CPU Vcore being put back to auto.
I have noticed that the lock up seems to happen in roughly the same spot of the level/map for COD each time
I have had a google and came across threads where people have had the same problem and they always seem to say it is something to do with either:
- RAM being faulty etc. (can't see it being this as it was working fine before the GPU change)
- voltages for CPU and RAM (have tried changing that stuff over the last 2 days or so and it still happens)
- temps (not the problem, everything is running nice and low)
- hard drive (done a health check etc. with HD tune pro on the drive that the games are running on and no problems are brought up)
- PSU, not enough power being supplied etc. (no idea how I can test this as I don't have a good spare PSU and my brother etc. wouldn't be wanting to lend me his or put my GPU in his PC etc.)
- software/drivers (did a fresh install of windows so can't see how it could be due to that either, unless it is just a problem with the ATI drivers and my sort of setup......)
Unfortunately no definite answer to what is causing this problem.
Apart from the above, what else could it be?
Again I just can't understand why it seems to be happening for those 2 games only so far (out of the 5 or so that I have tried), especially black ops II and why it happens completely at random

I will install Max payne 3 tomorrow on the same drive and see if it happens for that.