Random freezes and lockups in my new bulid

Jah000 · Mar 5, 2015

From the very first days i am facing with random lockups and freezes. I did not take any part for diagnosing because it was very random. Later on i figured out that when i plugged my modem it happens frequently. I suspected it was motherboards fault and submitted for warranty claim. After 9 days i was told that I am getting a new board. When i collected the motherboard and assembled the system i am still facing the same problem.

When do i get freezes and lockups
- Its just random. Even if i don't connect my modem, when surfing internet, watching video, doing assignments on ms word and even when i don't do anything.

Things i have done so far -
1. Installed a cooler master hyper 212 evo (as technical staff in suggested that my normal head sink's one pin was broken when i took for warranty)
2. Tired with different RAM's, even borrowed a RAM from a friend.
3. Tested with a different hard disk.
4. Checked with a different power supply unit.
5. Used 2 GPU's and even tired with the on-board display output.
6. Installed my processor to a friends motherboard. (It worked fine)
7. Took out my NIC.
8. Installed different operating systems. (windows 7 and windows 8.1)
Note: No luck yet from the things i have done so far. And the modem works just fine on any other system i plugged.

I still have one year warranty and now i am forced to buy a new motherboard as they says its a new one from the company and the serial number (which is a sticker) on motherboard is different from the serial number in the receipt. That's true serial number is different, but i cant believe that i got a new motherboard as i saw a scratch in bridge of the motherboard and the problem is still there.

I am pretty much sure fault is in the motherboard. If anyone thinks otherwise please let me know what i can do at this point.

It would be great if anyone can tell me what happens when i submit for warranty claim. And do gigabyte provide new motherboard, if so do they some in original box sealed packing?

Thanks for any help.

terry4536 · Mar 5, 2015

When you installed the motherboard did you use the latest BIOS version or did you just use the motherboard installation disc?

terry4536 · Mar 5, 2015

It could also be a driver issue. Please list your component list.

Jah000 · Mar 5, 2015

terry4536 :

Yes i installed from the motherboard CD which came with the box. Checked the drivers from device manager and all seems fine. Its been 1 year now, i have been using the system with the issue.
Motherboard: Gigabyte G1 Sniper B5
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4570 CPU @ 3.20Hz 3.20GHz
Memory: 8GB Kit (4x2) - DDR3 - 1600 - G-Skill
Hard Disk: 1 TB WD
GPU: (as i mentioned i have checked with 2 GPU's and on-board output too)
PSU: Sliver Stone 500W

terry4536 · Mar 5, 2015

Go to the Gigabyte web page for your motherboard, and update to the latest BIOS version. The drivers on the installation discs are almost always outdated.

I would also go to the GeForce or AMD site and update to the latest driver for your graphics card as well.

terry4536 · Mar 5, 2015

What is the graphics card?

Jah000 · Mar 5, 2015

terry4536 :

I check with the gigabyte site, their latest version is F8 and i have the same BIOS version.

Im using an old card which i had in the previous system. Nvidia GeForce GTX 275 Galaxy OC Card with triple fan. I cant install the latest drivers for this as if i update the drivers i get a black screen. So my drivers version is 331.82 although the latest is 341.44 i guess.

terry4536 · Mar 5, 2015

The age of the graphics card / driver is a likely cause of the problem. The compatibility of driver with a modern motherboard is not going to be great Graphics cards drivers can be a real headache. What was the other graphics card that you tried?

It may be time to look into a new graphics card. You have already done much of the trouble shooting steps.

Jah000 · Mar 5, 2015

terry4536 :

The other graphics card also was an older card. Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 if i remember correct, now i have given that card to a friend. But i could install the latest drivers for it although i face the same problem.

One more thing, then why do i face the same problem without a graphics card too? This motherboard has a HDMI port which i used to connect into my monitor. System have Intel HD graphics, but i face the same problem with this too.

terry4536 · Mar 5, 2015

Alright then let's back up then. The power supply should be adequate for those graphics cards. I would check the stability of the out put voltages of the power supply. It could be that both power supplies were suspect.

How are the system temperatures? Poor cooling could cause these sort of problems.

The most likely common item now is the motherboard itself. To diagnose that, you can try breadboarding the motherboard.

Jah000 · Mar 5, 2015

terry4536 :

Actually my power supply is very old and from the previous system. At the time of build i didnt buy a PSU because i felt it would do the job. PSU and GPU are the only ones which i didnt buy. But i borrowed and tested with a PSU of 500W which was bought recently, like about a few months back. I did tried with the new PSU when i got the motherboard after warranty claim, because my PSU was from the old system.

How can i check the out put voltage of power supply? Would i need a voltmeter for that? And can you suggest me a software which i can used to read the temps of the system. I dont know how to do breadboading and its 7 in the morning, atleast i would not attempt it at this time.
OR
Would it be the same as breadboaing, if i fix a new processor, ram and hard disk in this motherboard?

buy any chance could it be the processor ?

Update: I have a cooler master cm storm enforcer case. I have fixed cooler master hyper 212 evo head sink. And i have also fix an extra fan on top of the case which i scavenged from the old system.

terry4536 · Mar 5, 2015

You can monitor the voltages with a utility like Hardware Manager. You may also be able to use you motherboard monitoring utility. Look for variation in the voltage as well as the actual voltage. For example, the +12V measurement should be close to 12 volts. The same applies to 3.3V & 5V.

The acceptability limits for a power supply is + or - 5% of the reported value (12 volts) 11.4 to 12.6 volts. I think in practical terms they should be closer to 12 volts myself. A good power supply can hold the voltage to within a few hundredths of a volt.

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

You can use a power supply tester or simply take it to a PC repair shop and have them check the power supply.

Bread boarding a motherboard is essentially testing the motherboard with as few as possible other contributing sources of error.

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2176482/breadboarding-stripping-basics-troubleshooting.html

It is unlikely to be the processor. CPU problems tend to be more all or nothing.

Jah000 · Mar 6, 2015

terry4536 :

CPU VCORE--------------(0.708V)
VIN1----------------------(2.028V)
+3.3V--------------------(1.992V)
+5V----------------------(3.427V)
+12V--------------------(3.168V)
-12V---------------------(-6.960V)
-5V-----------------------(-5.376V)
+5V VCCH---------------(2.822V)
VBAT----------------------(1.548V)

terry4536 · Mar 6, 2015

If those are your actual PSU voltages, then your power supply is in bad shape. Your listed+12V is less than the +5V.

A good power supply should have a +12 V voltage within a few hundredths of 12 volts. The same goes for +3.3V and +5V.

Jah000 · Mar 6, 2015

terry4536 :

I used cupid HWMoniter to get those values. I wanna know if my problem will be solved with replacing psu. At the moment I have a budget to replace a psu or motherboard. I dont wanna submit my motherboard for warranty claim again without buying a new motherboard even if it is broken. Because i need a quick fix for this problem as im already behind my assignment schedule. What would be your suggestion?
Thanks for your help. Really appreciate it.

terry4536 · Mar 6, 2015

If you want to confirm that the power supply is bad, take the individual power supply to a PC repair shop and have them test it. Call around to some shops, it shouldn't take much time to test it at all.

I would recommend a good 650 watt Sasonic XFX, Antec , or EVGA power supply. That should power most graphics cards in case you want to upgrade that later.

Jah000 · Mar 6, 2015

terry4536 :

I did take my psu to a shop today and after testing they said it is fine. So I when home and brought all my whole pc to them. After testing they said they are not sure and most probably it is the motherboard. Any more suggestions?

terry4536 · Mar 6, 2015

There is something wrong here. A +12V of 3.168 volts isn't fine. The acceptability criteria is 11.4 to 12.6 volts. Either the reported voltages are inaccurate or the PC Repair Shop didn't know what they were doing. (The +3.3V and +5V voltages also failed.)

You can diagnose a motherboard through breadboarding. You would need a case speaker. But you said that you had replaced the motherboard without fixing the problem.
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2176482/breadboarding-stripping-basics-troubleshooting.html

Given the age of the power supply, replacing it is still my suggestion at this point.

Note this is what my system voltages are.

Jah000 · Mar 7, 2015

I did some reading too on it and agree that the voltage values have a problem. But they even checked with their psu, I double checked with a 600W psu too. I agree that I need to change my psu as its very old and the values are not in the acceptable range. I'll hopefully buy a psu soon. Although I dont think changing my psu will solve the problem I am having. I have again submitted my motherboard for warranty claim. Now they dont know when they can give me a replacement so i have already bought a new motherboard.

MOBO: MSI H87-G43 GAMING.
I hope this one works fine. Will update after fixing this board.

FALC0N · Mar 7, 2015

Those values you gave simply are not correct. They were too low to allow the system to boot. Whatever you were using to monitor the voltages wasn't working.

May I ask how many systems you have built previously, this one included?

terry4536 · Mar 7, 2015

It is possible that the voltages are fluctuating. That would explain the random freezes. Have there been times when the system would not boot?

I think it is just a failing power supply, but try the motherboard system monitoring utility (PC HEALTH CENTER) and Hardware Monitor again.

terry4536 · Mar 7, 2015

You may also try to borrow a PC. Or there may be a Library or public PC that you can use in the interim to catch up on your assignments.

If you purchase a power supply and it doesn't correct the problem, you may be able to return the power supply. Just verify the return policy before the purchase. Online stores like Amazon & Newegg have good return policies. They may require it to be a store credit if the power supply isn't defective though.

Jah000 · Mar 7, 2015

FALC0N :

I have never had any issues with booting. Maybe the software, but now that i have changed the motherboard and when i run the same software (HWMonitor) all the voltages seems to be fine.

AVCC-------------------(3.392 V)
3VCC-------------------(3.392 V)
CPU VCORE---------(0.120 V)
VCCIN------------------(1.760 V)
DRAM------------------(1.344 V)
+12V--------------------(12.320 V)
+5V----------------------(5.160 V)

At least more than 10. But not all for me, most of them are for friends.

Moreover now i dont get the same problem which i faced, now i can disconnect and connect my modem without getting stuck. Previously it wont allow be to unplug and plug twice without freezing the system. Im still wondering what might have been the problem.

Jah000 · Mar 7, 2015

terry4536 :

No problem with booting. Just random freezes and it just shutdown after sometime. Now that i have changed the motherboard everything seems to be working fine. And now voltages seems to be fine. Any idea what caused it, even after when i got the board from warranty claim which they said was a new board with a new serial.?

terry4536 · Mar 7, 2015

I'm glad that you seem to have got it working again.

Now that i have changed the motherboard everything seems to be working fine. And now voltages seems to be fine. Any idea what caused it, even after when i got the board from warranty claim which they said was a new board with a new serial.?

It could be as simple as a BIOS / driver incompatibility issue. Who knows?

Good luck with the new motherboard.

Random freezes and lockups in my new bulid

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