How can I pinpoint which piece of hardware is making my PC crash?

Jakel717 · Jan 29, 2015

Within the last two weeks my computer has begun showing lots of BSoD and the screen has been freezing. Its only 4 months old which is pretty annoying so I'm trying to determine what piece of hardware is causing the issue. Its not software because I did a fresh install of windows, so how can I test each part individually and fine what's causing the issue so I can get it replaced?

vrumor · Jan 29, 2015

You might want to list all your components, thats usually the best way of receiving help. Sometimes its pretty easy based on what you own to judge what the issue is, but have no idea unless you list your specs. PSU included.

Jakel717 · Jan 29, 2015

vrumor :

Yeah no worries. All parts are compatible though, because it had been working perfectly up until about 2 weeks ago.

AMD FX 8350 - CPU
Sapphire R9 Radeon 280x - Graphics card
G. Skill Ripjaws X 8GB (2 x 4gb) - RAM
Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 - Motherboard
XFX XTR Series 650W 80+ Gold Modular - PSU
Samsung 840 EVO 120GB - SSD
Western Digital 1TB Blue - HDD

vrumor · Jan 29, 2015

XFX is a pretty good PSU maker, did you run memtest86 to test out your RAM? Also might be a good idea to try another PSU, cant hurt.

Jakel717 · Jan 29, 2015

vrumor :

Yep I did run memtest86, should have mentioned that actually. I ran it twice (both modules separately), one came up completely fine and the other had an error. So at the moment I no longer have the module in that didn't pass the test because I thought that that could be what is causing the crashes/BSoD, but they are still occurring even though that RAM stick isn't in.

mamasan2000 · Jan 29, 2015

First clue would be what the BSOD reports. Second would be going to Event Viewer (Control panel-> Admin tools-> Event viewer.) Or typing eventvwr.msc in Start-> Run.
In there, navigate to Windows logs, System. Right-hand side, click Create custom view, tick Critical. Then OK (name it whatever) and sift through all the critical errors. Check timestamp and try to remember which of those happened at same time as BSOD.

Jakel717 · Jan 29, 2015

mamasan2000 :

Okay I'll try that next time I log on. At the moment I can't even get my PC to show up on my monitor. Everything starts up and I can hear the fans/see the light etc but the monitor acts as if nothing is connected. This makes me think that it could possibly be the GPU, but I ran a GPU stress test a few days ago before the screen started freezing, and it handled it fine with no errors..

mamasan2000 · Jan 29, 2015

Which GPU stress test? Furmark can kill your GPU.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1360263/can-furmark-kill-your-gpu-actually-yes

Jakel717 · Jan 30, 2015

mamasan2000 :

Well shit. I read on multiple sites that it was a good one to use. And now that I think of it, it has only been freezing from around the time that I used that. Dammit.

tiny voices · Jan 30, 2015

Furmark is probably fine. That is an isolated issue and unlikely to happen.

Jakel717 · Jan 30, 2015

Okay well from what I can tell I have 2, possibly 3 faulty parts.. My RAM failed the memtest86 thing, and my screen keeps freezing and doesnt connect to the monitor so I'm guessing the graphics card is also faulty. Plus, now whenever I try to get into the motherboard BIOS the mouse comes up on the screen with a big clock in the top left corner, and as I move the mouse little squares of the BIOS begin to show.. So yeah RAM, GPU and possibly motherboard. Does anyone know if it's possible to RMA 3 items haha?

tiny voices · Jan 30, 2015

IF the RAM failed, this DEFINITELY sounds RAM related. Screen freezing is often a RAM issue.

Jakel717 · Jan 30, 2015

tiny voices :

But I tested the modules separately and only one of them failed, so I took it out. I thought taking the faulty one out and keeping the good one in would stop the problem.

tiny voices · Jan 30, 2015

It still freezes with only the good stick in?

Jakel717 · Jan 30, 2015

tiny voices :

Yeah.. That's why I'm thinking maybe its the graphics card causing the freezing, and the RAM causing the other BSoD's.

Jakel717 · Jan 30, 2015

When it freezes, the screen basically turns into a picture. I can see everything that I was doing, the computer is still turned on, but the screen stops moving.

tiny voices · Jan 30, 2015

I have never seen a bad GPU cause freezing. Bad GPUs cause green/pink lines across the screen generally.

I guess you can just start RMAing stuff though.

Jakel717 · Jan 30, 2015

tiny voices :

Ahhhh well I don't know what else to do.

At the moment I can't even re install windows because the screen either freezes as I am getting to the install stage, or I can't get into the BIOS to boot from my USB because this happens

http://imgur.com/9JCv1nQ

tiny voices · Jan 30, 2015

That looks like GPU is bad.

Jakel717 · Jan 30, 2015

Yeah that's what I'm thinking.. I have no way to test it because my mobo doesn't have onboard graphics either. So faulty RAM and GPU so far.

tiny voices · Jan 30, 2015

I would RMA both ASAP.

Jakel717 · Jan 30, 2015

Yeah I will. But my original problem still exists, which was happening before all of these screen freezes. After I took the faulty RAM out I was still getting a few blue screens. So is there a possibility that maybe its the motherboard?

tiny voices · Jan 30, 2015

I would first get the new GPU and RAM , then go from there. Too many possibilities right now. Need to eliminate things.

Jakel717 · Mar 16, 2015

Thanks heaps for your help a little over a month ago. RMA'd the RAM and have just got the replacement, put it in and everything is working perfectly again.

How can I pinpoint which piece of hardware is making my PC crash?

Reputable

Judicious

Reputable

Judicious

Reputable

Distinguished

Reputable

Distinguished

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Share this page