My PC is constantly locking up - no idea which part of it is causing this?

the_director

the_director

the_director

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MY PC keeps locking up - not BSOD (although this did happen a lot before the freezes) so I don't get any helpful clues as to what is wrong with it.

Can happen within minutes of being switched on, can be hours afterwards, can be for no reason, can be because I try and open a document or new program. Cursor grinds to a halt in about 2 seconds and then PC is completely locked, requiring a switch-off.

My system specs are as follows:

i7 3770K (Stock)
2 x Saphhire Toxic 280X (Stock)
256gb Corsair performance Pro SSD (Boot drive)
Gigabyte UD5 Z77 MB
8GB Samsung Green (stock)
Windows 7 Pro

I do have issues with the graphics cards in normal Windows use - the odd block on screen flickering etc - which seems to be an issue with a lot of 280X cards.

I've checked all Windows updates, all drivers (although Catalyst is not currently even loading within windows - just getting an error message each time) and I'm on the verge of breaking PC down for parts (or heaving the whole thing out of the window).

Does anyone have any ideas?
 
Could be the RAM, have you done a MEMTEST? - http://www.memtest86.com/
Do you hear any activity from the HDD when the lockups occur?
Also maybe try just 1 GPU and see if it happens.

Would try a removal of CCC and reinstall the latest, if not a fresh install might remedy the issues, normally the quickest and simplest route!
 
Did a memory test a few days back, it was fine. Will have to try removing CCC and reinstalling it is guess. Could do with a clean install... Maybe Windows 10.
 
Hard drive?

Try changing cable, changing sata port if you have a seacondary controller, finally a different hard drive.

There is software to check for read errors but I'm not sure what is best.
 
Cheers for the suggestions. I removed one GPU. Still locked up. Removed both GPUS and now using graphics through CPU and MB and so far, so good.

Really I think I need to update the BIOS on the GPUS, but I'm so sick of having to mess around with them I think I am going to sell on the 2 Toxic cards and buy a single, decent GPU.

Or I might switch to a different 280X as my brother has a couple I could try.

Who knows, PC might still lock up again anyway!
 
I doubt its the gpu bios,cards are probably fine

I would be looking at motherboard bios and memory more tbh
 
Well, removing both GPUs seems to have solved the problem. Not locking up at the moment. First time for days that I haven't been switching it on and off again every 20 minutes.

I think it is something to do with how the 280X goes into power saving mode when you're just in Windows not using the GPU much.

Memory was tested and OK, and MB has run other cards fine. I will put a different card in to test at some point.

Might get a 290/X or may go NV.
 
have you checked the windows error log to see what the OS is reporting as errors?
check the event viewer -> windows logs -> system

there should be something in there that shows errors, it would log any driver or hardware lockups or a power off etc. might help pinpoint the issue properly.

also a few years ago had a similar problem that turned out to be the new drivers were no good and had to roll back to older drivers (went back about 3 versions to make sure) and that sorted it. only upgraded again after the next set of drivers were released.

good luck!
 
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