Q9300 Freezing Issue

[demented_demon]

Hi,

I need some help with my desktop, it likes to freeze up every few hours while gaming or just idling as in nothing responds and a hard reset is required for it to work again. I suspect it's my CPU though my PC technically inclined friends say it's the GPU.

My system specs are:

• Q9300 Intel - Stock (Was overclocked to 2.8 clocked it back down to stock when this happened)
• 4 GB 1066mhz DDR2 Patriot Ram
• EVGA 750i Mobo
• 3x 640 GB Samsung in RAID 5
• 1x 640 GB Samsung
• 620watt HX Corsair PSU
• Zalman 9700NT CPU cooler
• Nvidia 260 Graphics Card

Also I'm running on 32bit Vista Business

Can anyone help me with this problem?

[Kursah]

Have you checked the Performance and Reliability and Event Viewer for any errors that may lead to a lockup?

You state it freezes no matter what you're doing? Is the "few hours" consistent or random? Have you ever seen a Blue Screen?

When you had overclocked, what did you use to verify stability? Have you tried Orthos(CPU using small FFTs)? OCCT? Memtest (RAM)? Furmark (VGA)? If not, even at stock I will point you to attaining those programs (google ).

I've seen this issue before, it turned out to be my RAM, but mine was more erratic, sometimes it was a BSOD, somtimes it was a lockup, and it could be randome, while starting windows, after a few hours, during a game, during idle, etc.

Also, you should be running 4GB of ram, I dunno if Vista x32 biz can utilize it, I know x64 can (might still be able to get the x64 from MS for cheap since you already have a copy...don't remember the rules behind that tho...). I've found x64 to be more reliable, stable and even seems to perform a tad better.

If it's your CPU, you'll be able to get errors using a stability test, if it does fail, there is an issue. Have you checked your temps? If so, what program? Everest? RealTemp? CoreTemp? GPU-z? If not, they all do a good job for the most part, and will only be so accurate, but it's better than not knowing at all..could lead you to something here.

I'd say get some stability programs, watch the temps as you're testing, report back if anything fails. I have a hunch it could be memory. Is the memory running at rated speed/timings/voltage?

Hopefully we can getcha sorted sooner than later man! Welcome to TPU!

[95Viper]

Did you try setting bios back to the default normal or safe option, then seeing if it has the same problem. Also, are you overclocking anything else in your system?
Might help someone more insight.

[demented_demon]

Doubt it's my memory, I'm running it below the 'stock' of 1066, it's running at 800 MHz just to be safe, I was running the memory at stock at the recommended timings, so there shouldn't be any problem with the memory.

Also the temps rarely breach 70*c when I'm running the CPU on 100% Load, I ran OCCT previously before this issue happened, and it was rock solid. But now every time I run OCCT on it, it just freezes about 35-45 minutes into testing only the CPU on the Custom (Infinite) setting. And it's consistently crashing, when i use a testing tool.

I've used CoreTemp, RealTemp to verify my temps and they ain't too high around 35-40 idle and about 60-70 when pushed really hard.

The BIOS setting's were reset to default and it still happens.

[RadeonX2]

try to downclock your GTX260 by 50MHz increment core/shader/mem then stress test using either ATI tool or FurMark and see if it lock ups.

[demented_demon]

I doubt it's my GTX260, I tried another graphics card on my System, 8800GT it still crashes, but the 8800GT runs perfectly on my other box. But i'll try underclocking and seeing if it's the problem.

Heres what happens when i attempt to run OOCT on my box, It freezes at 15 minutes, sometimes it lasts longer and freezes at 35-45 minutes.

[Live OR Die]

it will be your memory faulty stick or not compatible running all 4 sticks on that board try running 2 sticks see if you get the same problem, i had the same problem running 4x1 of OCZ ram

[RadeonX2]

is your memory a 4x1GB or 2x2GB? might be a mobo compatibility issue

[demented_demon]

2x2GB Kit, 5-5-5-15, 2.1 volts Patriot Memory.

I'll try removing one stick and see how it runs, tomorrow morning. I'll run memtest overnight with the two sticks of ram to see how it goes.

[demented_demon]

I ran Memtest x86 overnight and it went through 10 passes without any errors, can anyone enlighten me on whether this is still probably a ram issue or a cpu issue, also i've noticed in my BIOS when it boots up it identifies my cpu as having "HyperThreading enabled" I thought intel core 2 processors don't have hyperthreading

[Live OR Die]

yes core 2 do have HyperThreading, i still say try taking a stick out, memtest work fine for me tell i left it over 24 hours lol

[twicksisted]

EDITED... sorry its been a long morning :P***********



What PSU are you using? you havent got that listed and you have a pretty power hungry system.

Originally Posted by demented_demon

Hi,

I need some help with my desktop, it likes to freeze up every few hours while gaming or just idling as in nothing responds and a hard reset is required for it to work again. I suspect it's my CPU though my PC technically inclined friends say it's the GPU.

My system specs are:

• Q9300 Intel - Stock (Was overclocked to 2.8 clocked it back down to stock when this happened)
• 4 GB 1066mhz DDR2 Patriot Ram
• EVGA 750i Mobo
• 3x 640 GB Samsung in RAID 5
• 1x 640 GB Samsung
• 620watt HX Corsair PSU
• Zalman 9700NT CPU cooler
• Nvidia 260 Graphics Card

Also I'm running on 32bit Vista Business

Can anyone help me with this problem?

[The_Real_DeaL31]

70c is a little high don't u think, i cant see it being ram, if u know your way around the bios set everything to manual, also do u have the lastest bios for your mobo

[JrRacinFan]

@twicksisted

620watt HX Corsair PSU.

[Live OR Die]

Originally Posted by demented_demon

I doubt it's my GTX260, I tried another graphics card on my System, 8800GT it still crashes, but the 8800GT runs perfectly on my other box. But i'll try underclocking and seeing if it's the problem.

Heres what happens when i attempt to run OOCT on my box, It freezes at 15 minutes, sometimes it lasts longer and freezes at 35-45 minutes.

and download the new coretemp tj max on a 45nm is 100 not 95, your temps should be better with that cooler for stock, it shouldnt get over 65c try remounting it with new thermal compound.

[demented_demon]

It stays around 60 ish degree's OCCT likes to report my CPU temps 10 degrees higher than it usually is, I remember over clocking that thing to 3 GHz or so, and I had to set the voltage higher to about 1.30 volts or so, don't remember (is this a dangerous voltage or is it safely within the 'acceptable' volts?), but I also had to reset the BIOS to default as I installed my GTX260 to replace my 8800GT, also running the system with 1 stick stressing it out with OCCT overnight, I'm expecting it to freeze up again.

K will download in the morning, it's about 1:04 am at the moment, I haven't messed around with this pc that's having the problems for about a month, thats probably why i'm using old softwares :/

[Live OR Die]

1.3v is fine any thing over the 1.4v mark could kill your cpu with air cooling,i run mine on 1.3v 24/7

[demented_demon]

Ah thanks, I'm seriously guessing it's my CPU, i think I got a bad one, I could swap out a friends Intel CPU and see if it does anything different, but that's gonna have to wait a month :/

EDIT: Wow new record, the pc just crashed in 8 minutes on stock 2.5 GHz freq and stock 2.25 bios default voltages. This time I only had one of the two sticks of ram in

Screenshot below.

[johnspack]

Have you tried the other stick by itself yet?

[infrared]

Another posibility, it could be one of your hard drives causing the problem. Check all the wires and connectors going to them, and check the SMART data with Everest. (Storeage > SMART).

edit: Welcome to TPU BTW

[btarunr]

Please do not troll or incite unnecessary arguments. Thank You.

[The_Real_DeaL31]

sorry for the rude post before that, the thing that gets me, when people buy all this hi quality hardware, when they don't even have a clue how to use them properly, i mean if u want stuff that works at stock go buy some generic parts, look i understand people want to learn, but they have to listen to other peoples opinion's to help them solve there problems

[btarunr]

Therefore, online forums

A filthy rich guy buys Lamborghini wheels, but is it necessary for him to know everything about it (if he wants to fix something himself)? Repair and troubleshooting? Think about it. When you get onto a thread, contribute constructively to it. back2topic

[Polaris573]

Originally Posted by The_Real_DeaL31

sorry for the rude post before that, the thing that gets me, when people buy all this hi quality hardware, when they don't even have a clue how to use them properly, i mean if u want stuff that works at stock go buy some generic parts, look i understand people want to learn, but they have to listen to other peoples opinion's to help them solve there problems

Knowledge of computer hardware is not a form of instinct or innate knowledge. It has to be learned somehow and someway. If you cannot tolerate people who are going through the learning process and are here not to help people, but instead to troll then I assure you this is not the place for you.

This discussion is over. Please get this thread back on topic, any further off topic posts by any member will be deleted and the poster given an infraction. If anyone feels the need to further discuss this situation do not post in this thread, instead send btarunr or myself a PM. Thank you.

[demented_demon]

Keep in mind this pc did work at stock and did run perfectly for a while, it only started getting unstable once I did some minor overclocking, I was only trying to find out why my computer is freezing all the time, I appreciate all the help your trying to give. I'm going now to try and get my CPU RMA'ed and see how that goes.

Thanks.