HELP!

Ok, I didn't know which forum category to post this under, since I have no clue where my problem is anymore.

For months now, I have been experiencing a problem with my custom PC randomly freezing completely, needing a reboot. First the sound has a stroke or jitters if you will, and then the screen stops moving. No mouse movement, no ctrl+alt+del, nothing works, all I can do is reboot. I explained to several ends of this forum and others, that my freezing happens in random order, once or twice a day, no consistent task being done before it happens. (Sometimes I'm surfing the web, sometimes games, sometimes movies, sometimes completely idle). I have had this PC for over a year before the freezing started, and everything worked well.

Around April 2010 s Corsair P256 SSD, and that's when the freezing happened. Eventually the PC no longer started in windows, and when I tried to re-install windows, my SSD was no longer operational (could not install the system partition on it). I got it replaced by Corsair, and then I installed the new one, everything was fine for a month.

A month later I had my first freeze in a long time. Same thing happened, sound strokes, then screen stood still. It kept happening, and I got really frustrated with my SSD, so I bought a HDD and replaced it with that. But the freezing kept happening. I started to question some of my favorite tech forums, and they all claimed it was a PSU issue. So 300$ later, I replaced my Ultra x3 with a Corsair HX1000 and the freezing keeps happening.

Someone in those forums mentioned the RAM and recommended I do a memtest86 on them, but I haven't yet. I used the windows memory check tool and nothing showed up.

I'm hoping it's the RAM because it's cheaper to replace.

However, I'm wondering. Is it possible that this freezing is caused by GPUs, CPUs, or my motherboard?

Current System Specs:

Thermaltake Spedo Advance (Computer Tower)
Corsair HX-1000 (1000watt PSU)
AMD PhenomII 955 BE 3.2ghz Quad
Ultra Chilltec CPU cooler
Asus M4N82 Deluxe motherboard (980a SLI chipset)
Corsair XMS2 x4 800mhz DDR2 RAM (total of 8gigs)
XFX GTX280 x2 (SLI) Graphics -- Sharp Aquos 52" 1080p HDTV
Auzentech Prelude 7.1 X-Fi Soundcard -- Yamaha HTR-6160 7.2 channel receiver
Corsair P256 SSD
Seagate 500g HDD
WD Caviar Black 1TB HDD

Define in detail {Corsair XMS2 x4 800mhz DDR2 RAM (total of 8gigs)}; please post CPUz for each DIMM {part-number}** see blow.

Meanwhile, run MSCONFIG -> select Diagnostic and 'try' to break the PC. Next, SATA corruption -> change the SATA port {Port x->y} for the SSD.

What BIOS changes have you made??

**CPUz DDR info - http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Virus - yes - especially if "peek-a-boo" sites...CTDs.

I've come to a point where my patience is running extremely thin and this is very dangerous. Shortly after typing this thread with you guys, my Razer Mamba wireless mouse started having cursor issues, then I turned it off and on again to reset it, but now it's dead. A ***king 140$ mouse and it dies after I turn it off, I had it for a month.

Anyways, I appreciate the advice, and yes I will test the RAM. But I am absolutely shocked to find out that my troubles could be far from over. I certainly hopes it's the RAM cus 4000$+ of computer parts and this is all I have to show for it.

Sorry: my OS is Windows 7 64 bits

@ O1die: my board is an M4N82 from Asus, it was expensive, and reviewers gave it some very nice scores. My chipset is cooled by copper pipes, it all looks like a very nice build.

I haven't updated the BIOS

I re-installed Windows about a million times and used several storage drives in the process, I seriously doubt it's a virus. Unless it's a virus that comes with Avast Home 5.0 which is always the first thing I install on the PC.

I understand your frustration but don't give up.

Check the Razor mouse on another PC.

Update the BIOS and chipset drivers on the ASUS M4N82 Deluxe system.

M4N82 Deluxe BIOS 2301 (2010/08/02)

NVIDIA nForce MCP72/78 Chipset Package Driver V15.37 for Windows 32/64bit 7.(WHQL) 2009/07/23 update. This driver seems a bit old, I would search for a newer version.

Realtek Audio Driver V6.0.1.5859 for Windows 7 32bit/7 64bit (2009/07/08 update) This driver seems a bit old so I would look for a newer version on the Realtek website and try that one. If you are already using the newest Realteck driver, switch back to the version Asus recommends.

As for a virus, if you have a hidden partition, and the rootkit or trojan is stored there, re-installing won't solve the problem, you need to destroy all partitions, format the entire drive and then re-install Windows.

I also noticed a M4N82 Deluxe Memory Qualified Vendor List so you might want to check that list just in case.

That might be the problem, don't use the drivers installed from the Windows 7 DVD.

Download and install the Windows 7 audio drivers from ASUS for your motherboard. I also recommend that you update the BIOS to 2301 if you have not done so yet.

Which video card drivers are you using? From XFX or directly from nvidia? Which version?

I've stated what to do & where to start...soon as I see you do them I'll add some more...

Nothing in anti-virus scans either...

I'd like to find out more about that SATA corruption. Does it happen often? Will changing the mobo for a new one take care of it, or can the corruption affect the drives themselves? I have all my accessible SATA ports taken, the other 2 that are free are blocked by my GPUs' big fat ass. I have 4 SATA ports taken by 3 storage drives and my BD-ROM.

I haven't tried to break the CPU as Jaquith put it, maybe I'll try that.

Can this problem appear out of nowhere if I don't update my bios? Will I need to re-install anything, like windows, if I update the bios? I haven't updated the bios since I got the mobo.

Here are pics requested:




Sorry about the size, you may need to zoom in with your browser, for some reason, photobucket saves them at half the original res.

^ Try ALT + PrtScn or crop; I cannot read.