New build freezing/stuttering during Games

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, Cases & Mods New build freezing/stuttering during Games

I just built a new computer and I've been experiencing buzzing from my speakers and my video freezes for a few seconds while I'm watching videos or gaming.

Another strange thing is that my wi-fi will also disconnect momentarily.

I just switched the GPU out with a new one and the issue is still present.

I read that it could be my power supply (650W OCZ). Do you guys have any suggestions?

Build
CPU: Intel i5 2500k
RAM: 16GB (4x4GB) G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series
GPU: Nvidia Galaxy GeForce GTX 560 2 GB
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD4 Motherboard
HDD: 1 TB Seagate Barracuda
PSU: OCZ ZS Series 650W
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64 bit

I think I've already ruled out the GPU, so what could it be?

Message edited by jc_l on 01-21-2012 at 10:38:27 AM

Reply to jc_l

The OCZ ZS series can be problematic, especially if you bought one on a good sale. Vendors often do this to get rid of questionable or bad batch products.

The most likely scenario is that either the PSU is supplying improper voltage, or "dirty" voltage meaning electrical noise. To check improper voltage, you would really need a volt meter. Dirty voltage is a bit harder to test unless you have an Oscope lying around. It would help if you had a spare PSU to throw in there even for a minute or two.

I am not very familiar with Galaxy cards, as I have seen very few mentioned. Since you changed it out, it can probably be discounted unless you exchanged one bad one for another. For future reference, EVGA, MSI and XFX are good brands of Geforce cards.

------------------------------ The power supply is the most important component in any computer. Without a good quality one, you usually wind up with a really expensive door stop.
Reply to tlmck

Would improper voltage cause my computer to freeze as well? When I'm gaming my computer will eventually start having freezing fits accompanied with a stutter/buzz from my speakers. It will freeze for 1-2 seconds, be normal for 1-2 seconds, freeze again etc.

One thing that was strange for me that I haven't been able to find online is that my wireless will also stop. Whats the likelihood of it being PSU or mother board?

Message edited by jc_l on 01-21-2012 at 10:48:18 AM

Reply to jc_l

Bad voltage can cause all of the above. Your wireless gets it's power from the motherboard, which in turn gets it's power from the PSU.

Aside from that, given your set of components and their relative quality records, the best possible suspects would be the PSU and the graphics card. Not to say the others could not be bad, it is just less likely.

One good way to check such stuff is to Google you components name and part number followed by the word "problems" or "issues".

------------------------------ The power supply is the most important component in any computer. Without a good quality one, you usually wind up with a really expensive door stop.
Reply to tlmck

Have you bothered to test your ram?

Reply to davcon

I ran windows memory diagnostic and it said there wasn't an issue.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to jc_l

jc_l wrote :

I ran windows memory diagnostic and it said there wasn't an issue.

I mean a real ram test.
http://www.memtest.org/
Test one stick at a time.

Reply to davcon

ram was my first guess too. lots of ram/not enough voltage ? try running less ram. do the ram test mentioned above. possible sound driver issue/onboard plus sound driver from nvidia. did you try disconnecting the speakers for a test to see if it crashed ? did you look in the control panel/sound for anything /

Reply to swifty_morgan

I did memtest on all 4 sticks and it came back clean, but I haven't had time to run it 1 stick at a time yet.

when you say disconnecting speakers do you mean disabling it via control panel? what am i looking for in control panel/sound? everything looks normal to me.

edit: running memtest86 1 stick at a time right now. i have the speakers plugged into the motherboard, how do i make sure the nvidia and mobo sound drivers aren't conflicting?

and thank you guys for all the advice, this is my first time building a computer and i'm still learning a bunch of new things.

Message edited by jc_l on 01-22-2012 at 10:38:38 PM

Reply to jc_l

Download and use that latest Nvidia driver version for your gpu.
Never use the included disc from vendor = outdated.
Always install gpu drivers in Admin.

Reply to davcon

I've done all of the above and still had issues. I tried rolling back drivers too but it still persists.

The sounds coming from my speaker is like an audio stutter that loops whatever sound is coming out so it sounds like a buzz. I've found a bunch of other threads of ppl with the same issue, but none have been that helpful. (google "computer stutter and buzz"

here is a screenshot of CPUID HWmonitor:
http://i.imgur.com/zWqFf.jpg

Reply to jc_l

uninstall the nvidia drivers. reboot and reinstall. do a custom install and only install physics and graphics drivers. omit the sound drivers.

perhaps the electronics in the subwoofer or speakers is going bad. Maybe you need to do an update for the speakers ( drivers ), ?

Reply to swifty_morgan

The buzz you hear might be some sort of interference between the PSU and mobo. I've heard of some people who have kinda fixed it by installing a sound card.

As for the freezing and stuttering, there might be something wrong with the mobo, which is something tlmck alluded to earlier. I helped someone recently who had a similar problem that went away once he replaced the mobo and PSU. Not sure if that is exactly the case here but it is something to consider.

------------------------------ If all the animals along the equator were capable of flattery, then Thanksgiving and Hallowe'en... would fall... on the same day.
Reply to hpdeskjet

try a wall outlet in another room.

Reply to swifty_morgan

Seeing as you have a nice gaming rig do yourself a favor and don't play on Wi-Fi, Play on a wired ethernet connection. It's a lot faster and it will decrease your ping.

Reply to ErikTheAndroid

I am HAVING THE same Issue

Setup

i7 2600
16 gig ram
Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3
ASUS 560GTX

before anyone says ok here we go both having issues with same card ive changed it and used ATI and issue was still there i have clean formatted , ive done mem test ive dont everything you can possibly suggest, ive even done crazy things like change my WIRELESS MODEM and thats when the problem stooped.. buttt NOWW when my brother used the microwave from start to end of him using it the problem came and worst than ever after all this ive come to conclusion that it must be the electricity?? can someone please let me know what they think..

*EDIT**

MY Power supply is 700watts cooler master Extreme power plus.. whatever that "marketing mimic" means..

MY STUTTER to be exactly 100% on is basically.. music/media/gaming stutter as in one second a song will be like YEAAHH AND THAN GJUHUGJUHGJHGG same with gaming and when sound skipps(stutters) so does the image and lately my computer will just freeze with pink lines.. when im on youtube.. and again ive done everything possibly im not Clueless i study Computer science final year and worked as a technician this problem is soo annoying and seems like no1 has an answer to it