Random crashing.. why? :(

spectral · Feb 28, 2014

So it's week.. three since I built my computer (first one) Happy with the outcome, smooth and fast.

BUT.. one thing im kind of worried about is why im crashing randomly (when playing tera)
When I am, I could play just fine without any issues. It does not crash often.
Now I don't know if this has something to do with the game or what not, but after playing for about 2 hours, the game crashes. This also happened yesterday. My computer freezes (in game) and Im not able to get to task manager, move my cursor, or press anything at all. I really hope its not my GPU or CPU or anything like that

Im pretty sure its not because their overheating as the temps are lower than average.

CPU (AMD FX-6300) - 40 celcius
GPU (ASUS GTX 760) - 29 celcius.

What might explain this?

JUST NOW: got a warning on screen saying my CHA_FAN 2 is only at 52 RPM???

bgunner · Feb 28, 2014

What motherboard and Ram do you have?

also start stress testing the components to rule out a hard ware issue. stress test programs : Intel Burn Test (works with AMD), Prime95, Memtest86+, OCCT (for the GPU test Only).

Bad_Kitty13 · Feb 28, 2014

i would update to new drivers from nvidias website if you havent already then reseat card in pcie slot(take it out put it back in). make sure it is all th way in and flush.

Ponyface · Feb 28, 2014

thats not good... sounds like a hardware incompatibility. what exactly happens when it crashes? does it just freeze with a sound loop? do you have to do a hard reset? as Bgunner mentioned, you need to isolate the culprit, and it takes a bit of work... it could be a driver / bios problem, or faulty hardware...

spectral · Feb 28, 2014

bgunner :

I really hope its not a hardware issue

My motherboard is an Asus 970a r2.0
My ram is a Patriot Viper 2x4 8GB.

spectral · Feb 28, 2014

Bad_Kitty13 :

Thank you I will try that.

spectral · Feb 28, 2014

Ponyface :

EXACTLY as mentioned..

when im playing ingame.. in freezes with a sound loop, then Id have to do a hard reset.

I have a feeling, that it might be a driver problem. One thing I forgot to mention was...

When im playing ingame, and for example Ive just entered into town, players (characters) are shown for the first few seconds as black (like a shadow) they then turn into their correct appearances after.

This info right here I reckon is a big hint as to where the problem lies? What do you guys think .. I will go check right now for possible new drivers

The last time I updated my GPU driver.. was when I built it (about three weeks ago)
Now I don't know much how often you should update your drivers.. but ill download the latest one right now

spectral · Feb 28, 2014

My pc specs as follows:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($94.79 @ Amazon)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($249.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Chaser A31 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: BenQ GL2450HM 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($139.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $959.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-28 21:05 EST-0500)

Now before gathering all these parts and putting them together.. Ive done a whole lot of research before doing so.
I am pretty sure hardware incompatibility is not the root of it. So my best guess.. and the feeling I have is probably a driver issue?

bgunner · Feb 28, 2014

your fan warning is coming from asus's AI suite: monitor - sensor program and notoriously wrong. It has tried to tell me my cpu was -132c. turn that part of the program off as it will just freak you out for no reason.

make sure you have the most recent driver and then stress the GPU using OCCT's GPU test with error detection on and see if it errors.
Drivers can cause this but i see this more times with hardware issues. Either bad parts or bad BIOS setting for the parts. stress test the hardware and make sure it is not a hardware issue. If hardware is doing this it will find the part causing the issue and allow you to either fix the issue or replace the part.

spectral · Feb 28, 2014

bgunner :

Just downloaded OCCT. Could you share how exactly BIOS settings for my parts should be configured, and how to do it?

edit: running OCCT now with latest NVidia driver that I just dled.. looking smooth so far, no errors popping up, constant 60 fps.

CPU - 30 degrees celcius
Mainboard - 25 degrees celcius
...
fans running as normal.

Hm... so is it just the driver that was the problem? Like I said when playing Tera, players were shown for the first few seconds as just black, then revert to their rightful appearances a few secs later. Could that have been it?

Oh anddd, when playing any other games.. no problems what so ever.

bgunner · Feb 28, 2014

Use OCCT just for the GPU test as the CPU test is unreliable. The settings in the bios will depend on if there is a hardware problem or not and what part is causing the issue.

to test the CPU run Prime95 for 5 hours and Intel Burn Test set to maximum ram ans for 40 runs.
to test the Ram run Memtest86+ from a disk/flash drive at boot and run it for 11 passes. - this will take hours to complete.

if any of these error you may have found the culprit. But you will need to test them all to be sure.

spectral · Feb 28, 2014

Ran OCCT for my GPU for about 30 mins.. no errors.

bgunner · Feb 28, 2014

as long as in OCCT's GPU test settings you marked the box for error detection I would move on to the CPU tests.

spectral · Feb 28, 2014

bgunner :

ok will do. but 5 hours is it really a requirement?

bgunner · Feb 28, 2014

yes it is, as this program is slow but very effective. For full stability the program should be run for 24 hours to find the 24/7 stability. 5 hours is the minimum. Run ITB first it should take about 2 hours or so to complete. Stress testing takes time. The time you put in is the peace of mind you get out of it. Knowing the parts are 100% stable is priceless when diagnosing problems. It's the difference in knowing where to look for the problem.

bgunner · Feb 28, 2014

OH don't use the PC when running ITB just let it be and watch the temps. Prime95 you can use it but I prefer not to.

spectral · Feb 28, 2014

bgunner :

Well said and I agree whole heartedly. This being my first pc ive built personally, I am happy with the performance and of course I really want to ensure its gonna be well taken care of.

I do remember, that it froze when I was just browsing the net randomly (about last week) It forced me to do a reset.Does not happen often and very rarely (actually just once) I was thinking then this might be the same problem that's causing me to crash when playing.

As of right now im running the Intel Burn Test as advised.
Thanks for helping me I will let you know of the results!

Bad_Kitty13 · Feb 28, 2014

did you ever update (or check to see if you needed to) your bios on your mb to run the vishera i have read that some 970 chipsets need a update to run the vishera cpus

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A97_R20/#support_CPU

you need to be on version 1006...i think your mb came with version 0208 please verify what version you are running

bgunner · Feb 28, 2014

CPU-Z will tell you what bios version you are running. with out having to enter the BIOS.

Ponyface · Mar 1, 2014

hopefully its a driver issue.. have you let windows do all its updates? try running it with just one stick of ram, and try to recreate the problem. if it crashes try the other one. if you cant get it to crash with one in, pop in the other one too and try again.

spectral · Mar 1, 2014

Bad_Kitty13 :

BIOS Version: 2006, according to CPU-Z

spectral · Mar 1, 2014

Bad_Kitty13 :

So ive downloaded the file, and I remember I downloaded the same one before..
Now I remember what happened now..After downloading, the file was in a .CAP format.
What exactly do I do with a .CAP file.

Ponyface · Mar 1, 2014

maybe do your sound drivers too

bgunner · Mar 1, 2014

If you look in your bios there should be a EZ-flash program you can use. you do have to unzip the file and place it in C: drive. Not in a file just C: drive. the program will read it and allow you to flash the bios that way OR you can download the bios installer from the ASUS web site and install it through windows. I prefer the EZ-Flash way through the bios myself.

WARNING!!! If you mess up flashing the Bios it can render the motherboard unusable! The EZ flash is for the most part fool proof. Just follow the directions. Do NOT restart the system unless it tells you to.

Bad_Kitty13 · Mar 1, 2014

spectral :

Bad_Kitty13 :

So ive downloaded the file, and I remember I downloaded the same one before..
Now I remember what happened now..After downloading, the file was in a .CAP format.
What exactly do I do with a .CAP file.

listen to bgunner with the ezflash method, should finally fix your problem though

Random crashing.. why? :(

Honorable

Judicious

Admirable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Judicious

Honorable

Judicious

Honorable

Judicious

Honorable

Judicious

Judicious

Honorable

Admirable

Judicious

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Judicious

Admirable

Share this page