On going problem with my computer, need help solving what is causing this.

AttackDamageCarry · May 22, 2014

Hey guys, I've read up a LOT on this forum about troubleshooting and just can't get my PC to work the way it used to run. I'll explain in detail what my issue is and try my best to best describe exactly what happens whenever I am having trouble.

So I built this PC about a few months ago with the help of some friends. My PC friends can't solve my issue but this is why I'm here to find more solutions than I've already attempted. Before I continue, I will list my PC specs.

CPU : AMD FX 6300 Six Core processor

Motherboard : Asus M5A97 R2.0

Power Supply : Thermaltake TR2 500W

Hard drive : Some generic $40 one I got off of Newegg, I'm sure this isn't the issue...as I get no blue screens or whatever.

Graphics : Radeon Sapphire Vapor-X 7770 HD / Asus Radeon R7-260X 2GB

Memory : 2 x 4gig G.Skill Ripjaw series

So my PC completely freezes and then goes to "No video output" shortly after it freezes. Initially, I thought the most sensible explanation was the graphics card. I went out to buy a new graphics card, booted up my PC and reinstalled everything....same thing happened. Now, one would consider the PSU to be the culprit at this point, but I have had no issues playing games for a few months up until now. Tech buddies tell me all the time that the 500W I'm using is sufficient enough considering the specs that I have. I am highly doubting that it is the power supply at this point, and I've also plugged in directly to a wall outlet to make sure I'm getting the best charge.

I am also quite sure that this isn't an overheating issue as well. I only play League of Legends (a really low-intensive game compared to what's out there right now) and have streamed the game a few times. I applied thermal paste when assembling the PC and I'm just now gonna go re-apply the paste hoping that it would maybe fix it.

So the next culprit would be the RAM. Did everything under the sun you could do with RAM, from memory tests to trying another friend's RAM then manually changing the voltage settings in my BIOS.

Next thing that I have checked was reseating my motherboard. It was the last thing I wanted to try out, but I definitely have no more mounts than necessary and the back of my motherboard is fine. Since my PC doesn't work and it's rare for CPU's to fail, this guy is always on the suspect list for me.

Things to note about the issue I'm having :

- It freezes whenever the hell it wants. Sometimes, it will refuse to load up the BIOS

- I can access my PC and use it for a bit, then the problem occurs again. Whenever it wants, however long it wants to be a pain in the ass.

- Usually happens whenever I try to stress test it, like playing games + listening to music. It will usually give out during this time.

- My fans never go to abnormal speeds. As I'm only playing a low-intensive game on this PC, I never really overheat this thing and I doubt that this is the issue. Although, I may need to buy a new CPU cooler if nothing else works out.

- Sometimes my PC will start up, then never get into BIOS or windows. It just drops signal and I am forced to power it off.

- When it's working, it works great. I just can't get it to stay that way.

- The best record I have had this thing to work was a whopping 2 days since it initially broke down. Now it just craps out on me regularly and I'm just expecting it at this point.

If anyone has any solutions for me to try, please tell me. I am also clean of viruses so I don't think anything got damaged internally. I am not necessary loaded with cash, either. Already bought an extra graphics card and the process is pretty draining. Free suggestions are highly welcomed, and the costly ones I would like to save for last when I have nothing else to do.

Gaming is pretty much my life, I would really like to have this fixed before I get chunked out of more cash. If anyone out there has something for me to test out, I'm all ears. Thanks in advance, friends - I'll be looking back here for solutions. Let me know if there's anything you need to know in detail that would assist you on solving the issue.

spooky2th · May 22, 2014

have you gone into bios, set it up plus the memory timings and speed?

Tradesman1 · May 22, 2014

Do you have or can you borrow a different PSU to test with? Might also want to ensure the BIOS and mobo drivers are up to date, might also give thought to the DRAM, what model #(s) and what settings are they at?

AttackDamageCarry · May 22, 2014

spooky2th :

I just switched the setting that made the Memory Frequency to 1600 MHz. That's all I did there, and I have done a CMOS reset...so let me know if there's anything else I should be doing there.

Tradesman1 :

I don't have another one, unfortunately. I may look into buying a new PSU soon, since I have seen many people fix their issue with a new PSU. In your opinion, isn't 500W enough for the things I have inside my PC? I was told that my PSU should be just fine for the build.

I was looking on the website for a BIOS update. It requires me to purchase a USB drive which I also need to do in the near future. I currently don't have one so if it isn't an extract file I am having trouble updating my motherboard for the time being.

This is the RAM I am currently using if your question at the end was directed towards that. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231426

spooky2th · May 22, 2014

Go into bios and set optimized defaults and then set the memory timings & speed.

spooky2th · May 22, 2014

Timings are: 9-9-9-24
speed is : 1600MHz

Probably will be recognized at 1333MHz then set up bios to get the advertised speeds.

Tradesman1 · May 22, 2014

A 500 should should suffice, problem I'm thinking is possible is many '500' PSUs are advertised at peak power, or 500 peak and many of those only supply 380-420 continuous watts which could be the cause of intermittent problems, if under load for an extended period or even just a brief call for more than it can handle could cause the problems you've described, that's pretty much stock DRAM, butwould still lean towards updating BIOS and making sure mobo drivers are up to date

AttackDamageCarry · May 23, 2014

spooky2th :

Thank you sir, I will try this adjustment out.

Tradesman1 :

I see what you're saying here. At this point...I'm suspecting the PSU may be probable cause here, as well. The thing that makes it questionable is that I just put this PC together a few months ago. Could a PSU really give out in that short of a time period?

Also, as for updating BIOS...is the USB flash drive the only way to do it? I will go back onto the website once I have my PC running again, maybe updating the drivers might help. I don't think there were drivers on the Asus website for it but I'll check again. Thanks for the suggestion.

Any more ideas from anyone and I'll be sure to test them out. I appreciate the help so far, gentlemen!

AttackDamageCarry · May 23, 2014

Sorry, I linked to the wrong RAM module that looked similar. This is my RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231426 and I edited it in the post where I linked earlier. Would this still prefer 9-9-9-24 settings, spooky?

Tradesman1 · May 23, 2014

I've seen PSUs die within days, others slowly die over the course of a few weeks or months - and the DRAM should be fine

AttackDamageCarry · May 23, 2014

Update : So I tried to boot up my PC just now to configure the BIOS, and now it won't even POST. Eventually, later on it will let me POST. I'll try to get in that BIOS and configure it whenever it allows me to. I think this is some valuable information as to what's causing the problem. It is most likely to be the motherboard itself or the PSU, but it's hard to tell.

Tradesman1 · May 23, 2014

Sounds like it, thus the suggestion to borrow a PSU, if same with another then prob the mobo, or at least can eliminate the PSU

spooky2th · May 23, 2014

AttackDamageCarry :

The timings are the same but speed is 1333MHz.

spooky2th · May 23, 2014

In BIOS, 3.4.1 Ai Overclock Tuner, select DOCP and memory speed & timings will probably be set up automatically. Don't forget to save the settings.

I would set the optimized defaults first before setting the memory.

AttackDamageCarry · May 23, 2014

Tradesman1 :

You're right. Maybe I should just drive out to the store and buy a PSU, and then refund it within 30 days if it isn't the fix. It's the only way I'd be able to buy a motherboard after that for the final fix if necessary and I would be able to completely rule out the PSU. Do you recommend any particular PSU for my specs?

spooky2th :

Alright, thank you. I will try that the next time my PC boots up and then update this thread.

Thanks for sticking with me, guys.

Tradesman1 · May 23, 2014

Not sure what brands might be available local, but look for one with at least 500 Watts and 19-20 AMPs on the 12 volt rail

spooky2th · May 23, 2014

You can boot directly into bios by tapping the "delete" key when boot up starts.

Noobsside · May 23, 2014

If it's not posting at all i personally would think something is slowly failing in your motherboard have you tried removing all parts you can that are not needed and boot with bare minimum to get it to post and see if it freezes then if it still does it rules out all you've taken out or unplugged and leaves very few things if it fails to pay stripped down I would say motherboard but if it gets past this stage and doesn't freeze I would say probably your psu is on it's way out

AttackDamageCarry · May 24, 2014

Tradesman1 :

Got it, thank you. Finally I got in contact with a friend who is local that has an extra PSU for me to troubleshoot with. I will post the results after Sunday when he said he was available.

spooky2th :

Alright, thanks bud. I tried your configuration and will give it a shot before the extra PSU comes in.

Noobsside :

Yes I've tried booting up with multiple parts missing, and I get the corresponding beep codes. Funny thing is, it does get past the POST/loading screen eventually. I just have to not use it consecutively right after it freezes up and it will allow me to do that. The PSU is looking a lot more suspect than I initially thought.

AttackDamageCarry · May 24, 2014

Update : Unfortunately, the memory settings didn't prevent the computer from dying. I will be trying out a friend's PSU on Sunday if things go well.

Tradesman1 · May 24, 2014

Let us know how it goes

AttackDamageCarry · May 24, 2014

Tradesman1 :

Will do. I'm just patiently waiting for my friend to be available (after tomorrow). At least it beats driving out 1 hour to the store, trying out parts, then having to go back to return them if it doesn't work lol. I'm having a STRONG feeling it may be the PSU right now. It seems very logical in the ways that my computer is blanking out.

I'm able to use this computer (I'm typing on it right now) for a fairly long period of time. Whenever I go into gaming + music, it is certain to crash over a period of time. This leads me to believe that my computer isn't getting enough power...as it usually has trouble to start back up right after it crashes (even struggles to load BIOS before going blank again).

While I'm here waiting, though...I do have another quick question. Someone suggested to switch the PSU switch (the voltage) in my case over for a quick test. I actually did that then found out from someone else that it could be harmful to my hardware. The sound on the back ports of my motherboard don't seem to work anymore after that. Do you think I may have damaged it trying another voltage on my PSU? (I only booted it up one time after switching it around, but I heard that is very harmful and I should never be doing that).

Tradesman1 · May 24, 2014

Sounds more and more like PSU, ,you say it struggles to start after crashing, that can be the the PSU getting to hot, then needing to cool a bit to start running again stably

AttackDamageCarry · May 26, 2014

I got my friend's PSU yesterday, a 600W...tried it out, and it ran GOOD for a day. That was the most it has run recently so far, HOWEVER...it died on me again today. My efforts feel exhausted, I don't know what can be causing the random crashes unless it's just the mobo. But I don't wanna pick at straws either, I wanna make sure of what this could be before buying new stuff....

I thought it was resolved once the PSU was holding up well. I have no idea what's causing it anymore...square one :/

Tradesman1 · May 26, 2014

With the 600, did your reset the BIOS to defaults, then set the DRAM up through XMP

On going problem with my computer, need help solving what is causing this.

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