Strange fault...

Kavalree · 10 Mar 2021 at 10:02

Hoping you guys can help diagnose my issues, I've asked around at work, but we're all stumped!

First, I'll list my spec:

3600XT
MSI X570 Tomahawk
Gigabyte Windforce OC 2080S (Bios flashed to Gigabyte Gaming OC)
32GB Corsair Vengeance Pro 3600 (2x 16GB)
Corsair RM1000 PSU
That new Alpenfohn 360 AiO
2x Adata XPG SX8200 1TB M.2 drives.
240GB SSD
4TB HDD (Using the SSD to cache, using AMD StoreMI)

So, I've been using PC fine for ages, but recently it's developed an odd issue, it randomly "freezes". And, the only way to get back to normal is to turn it off and on again. But it doesn't freeze freeze, I can still move the mouse and right-click on the desktop, but it comes up ghosted until I hover the mouse over the menu. No icons work, windows key doesn't work, everything is unresponsive but doesn't allow me to close, can't open task manager either. BUT if I have Discord going, I can still hear them, but they can't hear me (USB mic) and if I was watching Netflix or something on YouTube, I can go to the screen it was on, and click a few times and I get the audio but everything else is still frozen. I cannot replicate the issues though, it's random and very infrequent.

Things I've done:
68hrs AIDA64 - All OK
37hrs Furmark - All OK
26hrs Kombustor - All OK
4 passes of Memtest86 - All OK.
Flashed Bios back to stock on the GPU, it still happens.
Reverted all OC's back to stock along with XMP off.
Tried XMP 1 and XMP 2.

It is a rather bizarre issue, and I'm stumped... I also have a 5600X sitting at work waiting for me today...

mickyflinn · 10 Mar 2021 at 10:09

All drivers up to date and firmware on the adata ?

I would keep task manager open all the time to see if theres a process causing the issue

Kavalree · 10 Mar 2021 at 10:21

All drivers are upto date, I've done sfc /SCANNOW and there is nothing there, it's fine.

I did run benches on the M.2's with Crystal Disk Mark and used HDTune to check them too.

It's annoying and bizarre, but I shall give the firmware a try too!

mickyflinn · 10 Mar 2021 at 10:29

Anti-Chav said:
All drivers are upto date, I've done sfc /SCANNOW and there is nothing there, it's fine.

I did run benches on the M.2's with Crystal Disk Mark and used HDTune to check them too.

It's annoying and bizarre, but I shall give the firmware a try too!

Were there any updates before the freezes occured ?

Have you checked windows event viewer/ log ?

Donnie Fisher · 10 Mar 2021 at 19:31

It reminds me of similar issues I had which turned out to be motherboard bios. You say you’ve reverted back, but did you fully reset all settings of the bios to start from scratch or did it keep existing settings?

Angelwolf · 10 Mar 2021 at 21:34

Does the issue also happen in Linux? You can use a 'live boot' to test.

If that works fine, it's possible Windows has failed somewhere. Whilst you might be able to fix that, it might just be easier to reinstall

Benass · 10 Mar 2021 at 21:49

I would consider new bios following by new windows install.
if its hardware related then it would be very hard coz the way it happens.
I do electronic repairs As a hobby, so every case is a joy for me.

pp111 · 11 Mar 2021 at 09:31

I had this problem once a few weeks back, and that we have both developed this issue recently, it makes me think that it may well be a windows update that is causing the issue. I have three PC's and I can't actually remember which one it was on. So far it has only done it once.

Kavalree · 13 Mar 2021 at 23:06

I found the culprit! After much testing, installing, uninstalling, installing etc etc... iCue conflicting with Mystic Light... I don't know how, or why... But I can't replicate the freeze anymore. It seems to not happen? Was indeed incredibly strange!

Thanks guys!

[HB]Rugrat · 14 Mar 2021 at 22:42

My wife has a very similar spec machine and this problem has plagued her for months - I must admit I hadn't thought about conflicting RGB software, I'll give it a try

jaybee · 14 Mar 2021 at 22:56

My son's PC is RGB'd and runs the Corsair icue with a commander pro and the lightning node core thing. Also had the mystic light on a b450 tomahawk. I've found strange behaviours as well between the two but never a full lock up. They do seem to be buggy.

[HB]Rugrat · 15 Mar 2021 at 12:54

[HB]Rugrat said:
My wife has a very similar spec machine and this problem has plagued her for months - I must admit I hadn't thought about conflicting RGB software, I'll give it a try

I uninstalled the RGB software at 8am this morning and so far no crashes at all - which is probably the longest we've gone without issue... looks like it might be down to this. Thanks for keeping us updated on your problem, you've fixed mine as well!