How to investigate a PC that's recently started crashing

[deFiniLoGy]

Start doing AIDA64, MEMtest and Furmark and see which part of your PC is crashing

 

[IMissMyDCast]

OK, I tried to run Memtest a few times - with different configurations of the 2 memory modules (i.e. - module x in slot 1, module y in slot 1, module x in slot 2, module y in slot 2). Every time the memtest failed during the first pass (of 4 passes) through it's tests.

So I started t get worried at this point - I went into the BIOS, wondering whether the memory speed was being overclocked and was causing problems (as someone had earlier suggested). I happened to notice that the BIOS screen was displaying the CPU temp - and it was rising to 90+C!

I did notice that there was a lot of dust build up in the heat sink fins, so I went and bought some compressed air and spent some time today blowing all the crud out. Have just ran the Memtest again and it went through all passes...

So, I am now thinking it must be an overheating issue - due to crud build up!

Also, wondering why none of the tools I tried were giving me the correct / actual temperature that the BIOS was giving me!! I think somewhere I read that AIDA64 has some sort of stress test which I will run to see if I can get the machine to shutdown - and if that works, I'll treat this as problem solved.

 

[Evian]

Hi guys, I don't want to hijack this guys topic but I downloaded Aida64 done a stress test on CPU etc, that was fine, Then I moved to the GPU stress testing and my PC started to lockup etc slowing my mouse down, Then programs started to turn white and back to normal? until I restarted my PC whats that all about?

Edit, I've got a Corsair Air 540 with 8 fans including a fan controller, A Gigabyte GTX 780 rev2, Doubt it's a heat problem, does the program tell you the heat? all I could see was 100% I assume that was the tester maxing it out.

 

[jpod]

Hi, great name by the way.

First off - surprised no one suggested reseating everything, guess you tried the memory in a few times - try everything else - reseat it all. Try another PSU cable too and make sure that is seated, perhaps another wall socket.

There is a fantastic system test section on here by an Admiral I might add, well worth a look:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18281472

Usually it is mb, psu or memory

Ideally you need a known good PSU (or power tester) and known good memory).

CPU's rarely fail.

If your motherboard is ancient check your CMOS battery voltage.

This is good, at least I like it:
http://www.resplendence.com/whocrashed

Err I am a rookie so use my advice with extreme caution

 

[Flying_Hellfish]

Also, wondering why none of the tools I tried were giving me the correct / actual temperature that the BIOS was giving me!! I think somewhere I read that AIDA64 has some sort of stress test which I will run to see if I can get the machine to shutdown - and if that works, I'll treat this as problem solved.

Depends on the system and BIOS config but it's possible that in BIOS the chip runs at the highest spec voltage (and therefore highest temp). When in Windows, speedstep kicks in which would show lower temps obviously.

Either way 90o is way too hot and any modern system would go into preservation mode and switch off if temps went much higher than this.

 

[Threepwood]

I did notice that there was a lot of dust build up in the heat sink fins, so I went and bought some compressed air and spent some time today blowing all the crud out. Have just ran the Memtest again and it went through all passes...

So, I am now thinking it must be an overheating issue - due to crud build up!

Also, wondering why none of the tools I tried were giving me the correct / actual temperature that the BIOS was giving me!! I think somewhere I read that AIDA64 has some sort of stress test which I will run to see if I can get the machine to shutdown - and if that works, I'll treat this as problem solved.

Open the case and check for dust clogging the cpu heatsink, just by eye.


Download another hardware monitoring program, did I read that your cpu is incompatible with core temp? Try 'CPUID HWMonitor' instead.