New Build Freezing during Gameplay

[DasCondor]

Hey so I just put together my first home-build computer and I've been having a lot of freezing problems.
The computer runs fine during web browsing and general operation, but when ever I launch a game it freezes with in 1-3 min. I don't get a BSOD or any noticeable error in the crash log, everything just hangs and I have to restart by holding the the power button down. My specs are:

CPU: AMD FX-4170 black edition Zambezi 4.2GHz
GPU: ASUS HD7770-2GD5 Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 2GB 128-bit GDDR5
MOBO: MSI 990FXA-GD80V2
RAM: G.SKILL Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 timing: 9-9-9-24
PSU: Rosewill Green Series RG630-S12 630W with +3.3V@24A, +5V@24A, +12V@50A, -12V@0.5A, +5Vsb@2.5A
HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue RFHWD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM
Optical: none installed.

I'm fairly sure its not a RAM or PSU issue, I had another PSU and RAM set, but the PSU didn't have enough wattage on the 12V rail, so I RMAed it. Also the ram was low voltage, 1.3V and my mobo said it only supported 1.5v so I RMAed it as well (i'm not sure if this was a problem but i thought better safe than sorry).

I am not overclocking at all, and everything is set to default in the BIOS.
I have made sure I have the latest BIOS version, as well as the GPU DRIVERS and all the chipset drivers from my mobo's manufacture's website.

I also ran a few GPU and CPU stress tests, and I couldn't reproduce the crash.
The hard drive also checks out with an integrity test.

My temps are all well within limits, around mid-low 40c

The crashes that I am seeing now are exactly the same as I was seeing before I RMAed my old PSU and and RAM so that leads me to suspect either graphics card, cpu, mobo, or hd.

Thanks for the help!

 

[DANWIN]

not your cpu because nothing has caused it to break could be your mobo but a simple cmos reset can change that. the one that can be at fault here could be your graphic card check your warranty if you can return it for a new one and then test the new one out on your rig mate

 

[hilltopmonk]

what game is it btw? or is it any game?

 

[DasCondor]

I've tested Driver San francisco, Assassins creed brotherhood and vindictus. Although vindictus was before I RMAed my old PSU.

 

[DasCondor]

not your cpu because nothing has caused it to break could be your mobo but a simple cmos reset can change that. the one that can be at fault here could be your graphic card check your warranty if you can return it for a new one and then test the new one out on your rig mate

Is there any way I can test my GPU, oher than sending it back?

 

[Hawkeye22]

You can try stressing your GPU with 3dMark11. (free version)

http://www.3dmark.com/3dmark11/

 

[DasCondor]

You can try stressing your GPU with 3dMark11. (free version)

http://www.3dmark.com/3dmark11/

I tired this but it failed during the combined CPU GPU test. But I didn't get the same freeze that i've been seeing, it just stopped the stress test and went back to the desktop

 

[DasCondor]

ok so I did a CMOS reset, and that didn't help. This is really driving me crazy, any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[DANWIN]

you should really return it over the years i have learned if it broke you should check the warranty

 

[DasCondor]

you should really return it over the years i have learned if it broke you should check the warranty

I'm almost there, do you really think its broken? I was hoping it was just software stuff.

 

[DANWIN]

yeah if it's not your mobo or cpu it's gotta be your gpu

 

[DasCondor]

yeah if it's not your mobo or cpu it's gotta be your gpu

Is there anyway I could determine which of these it is? I'm fairly sure its got to be one of these three.

Also I ran some more testing programs, The system is totally stable under FuMark. I ran it for 20 min, no problems under 100% GPU load, the GPU got a little hot, but not that bad around 50-60c if i remember.

Also I did a complete reinstall of windows 7, and a another CMOS reset, still nothing.

Another weird thing is under the event viewer, nothing shows up for the freeze up. I get an error because I have to do a hard restart, but before that there are no errors.

 

[DANWIN]

if you did all that then the problem has to be with your gpu i'm sorry mate

 

[DasCondor]

I'm actually leaning towards mobo now. I was able to use my friends card in my system, and I got the same thing. Also my mobo has a row of led lights along the top, which ususally come on when booting, but they recently stopped coming on when I boot. Then when I was testing my ram again, it wouldn't post and I got three beeps from the debug speaker. I was going to ask over in the motherboards section what this could mean. According to the user manual it means:
DXEIPL was not found
or
DXE Core Firmware Volume was not found

but googleing doesnt turn up much about what these mean, so I am scratching my head.