HELP* PC would crash ramdonly

[Lelouch Vi Britannia]

I found out my pc would restart itself without any warnings or bsod, then the screen would say my pc was shutdown unexpectedly.
i was only doing normal browsing and watching youtube videos. it also happened one time when i was playing a game.
after the windows restart, i checked on the event viewer to see what caused the restart but couldn't find the reason for it.
I'm wondering if my cpu is permanently damaged and causing the restart because few weeks ago i found out my cooler was falling off and it wasn't completely touching the cpu, so then i reapplied thermal paste on the cpu.
initially it would crash when running prime on blend/in place large FFTs within 1 min, but today all three modes can run more than 15 mins with no problems.
and max temperature is about 70C 73C 70C 66C. distance to TJ Max was about 40 each.
I ran a RAM test a while ago to make sure it wasn't the RAMs, and did another hard drive test to my crucial m4 ssd to make sure it isnt the hard drive either.
my question would be is it my cpu that's causing the system to shutdown randomly or perhaps it is other components like motherboard?
my cpu also passed the IPTD test.
please help!


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- IPDT64 - rev 1.24.0.0 ---


--- Start Time: 02/26/2013 00:51:57---


--- Skipping Config ---


--- Reading CPU Manufacturer ---

Expected --> GenuineIntel
Detected --> GenuineIntel
Found --- Genuine Intel Processor ---

--- Temperature Test ---

Temperature Test Passed!!!


Temperature = 73 degrees C below maximum.


--- Reading Brand String ---

Detected Brand String:
Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz

Brand String Test Passed!!!


--- Reading CPU Frequency ---

Expected CPU Frequency is --> 3.40


Detected CPU Frequency is --> 3.39996

CPU Frequency Test Passed!!!


--- FSB NOT Supported on this Processor ---


--- Running Base Clock test ---


Detected Base Clock --> 99
Base Clock test Pass ---

--- Running Floating Point test ---


Million Floating Points per Second, MFLOPS --> 446.4
Floating Point Test Pass ---

--- Running Prime Number Generation Test ---


Operation Per Second--> 3.3229e+006
Prime Number Generation Test Pass ---

--- Reading Cache Size ---

- Detected L1 Data Cache Size --> 4 x 32
- Detected L1 Inst Cache Size --> 4 x 32

- Detected L2 Cache Size --> 1024
- Detected L3 Cache Size --> 6144


Cache Size Test Passed!!!


--- Determining MMX - SSE capabilities ---


--- CPU FEATURES DETECTION FOR ---
--- MMX SSE ---
MMX - MMX Supported --> Yes
SSE - SSE Supported --> Yes
SSE2 - SSE2 Supported --> Yes
SSE3 - SSE3 Supported --> Yes
SSSE3 - SSSE3 Supported --> Yes
SSE4.1 - SSE4.1 Supported --> Yes
SSE4.2 - SSE4.2 Supported --> Yes
--- MMX SSE - capabilities check complete ---

MMX Test Result --- PASS
SSE Test Result --- PASS
SSE2 Test Result --- PASS
SSE3 Test Result --- PASS
SSSE3 Test Result --- PASS
SSE4.1 Test Result --- PASS
SSE4.2 Test Result --- PASS
MMX SSE Testing Passed !!

--- Determining AVX AES PCLMULQDQ capabilities ---


--- CPU FEATURES DETECTION FOR ---
--- AVX/AES/PCLMULQDQ ---
AVX - Advanced Vector Extensions Supported --> Yes
AVX OS Support - AVX Operating System Supported --> Yes
AES - Advanced Encryption Standard Supported --> Yes
PCLMULQDQ - Polys Carry-Less Multiply Supported --> Yes
--- AVX AES PCLMULQDQ capabilities check complete ---

AVX Compare Test Result --- PASS
AES Test Result --- PASS
PCLMULQDQ Test Result --- PASS
AVX AES PCLMULQDQ Testing Passed !!

--- Reading Memory Size ---


Detected Memory Size is --> 8.00GB


--- Integrated Memory Controller Stress Test ---


--- Integrated Memory Controller Stress Test Pass!!! ---


Integrated Memory Controller Test Pass!!!


Chipset : Intel(R) Z77 Express Chipset
Chipset Stepping : C1

2 device connected to PCI Express Port 0
1 : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480
2 : High Definition Audio Controller

No device connected to PCI Express Port 1

1 device connected to PCI Express Port 4
1 : Asmedia 106x SATA Controller

1 device connected to PCI Express Port 5
1 : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet

1 device connected to PCI Express Port 6
1 : PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge

1 device connected to PCI Express Port 8
1 : ASMedia XHCI Controller

3 device connected to SATA Controller 1
1 : Hitachi HDT721064SLA360 ATA Device
2 : WDC WD5000AAKX-001CA0 ATA Device
3 : ATAPI iHAS124 B ATA Device

5USB devices detected
1 : USB Composite Device
2 : USB Composite Device
3 : USB Input Device
4 : USB Composite Device
5 : Cyborg R.A.T.7 Mouse (USB)

2 device connected to Intel High Definition Audio Controller
1 : Intel(R) Display Audio
2 : Realtek High Definition Audio

--- Platform Controller Hub Test Completed!!! ---


..
..Query 1..
..
--- Querying for Intel(R) Integrated Graphics Device (IGD) ---
..Did not detect Intel(R) Integrated Graphics Device (IGD).
..This could be that the test platform is using a discrete graphics card.
..To test IGD, verify that there is an onboard video connector,
..shutdown the test platform, remove the graphics card, and
..move video cable from graphics card to onboard video connector
..Skipping Intel(R) Integrated Graphics Device Presence Test..
..

--- CPU Load ---


--- Load Level = 8


CPU Load Passed!!!


--- Temperature Test ---

Temperature Test Passed!!!


Temperature = 49 degrees C below maximum.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



CPU: i5 3570K at 3.40GHz
OS: win7 ult.64-bit. sp1
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper N520
Mobo: Asrock Z77 Extreme 4
RAM: G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866
GPU: EVGA GTX 480
PSU: OCZ 700W

 

[smorizio]

make sure your running the newest 2.8 bios for all the bios patches.

 

[Lelouch Vi Britannia]

make sure your running the newest 2.8 bios for all the bios patches.

are you saying it is my bios version that's causing this? or is this just another procedure just to make sure it is not the mobo?

 

[satyamdubey]

yes maybe a BIOS update would help but I am a little inclined towards something shorting/grounding which maybe causing the restarts.

N520 is a hefty cooler. can you ensure that it is not putting too much pressure on your mobo. Your mobo does not seem a little bent. and have you installed all the standoff's or left out one or two.

The other possibility would be the psu itself not maintaining the rated current on the 12V rail.

So a Short or a psu are my primary gusses here. for shorting, ensure all wires and plugs are properly inserted in thei sockets. That includes your case fans as well.
Make sure your pcie connectors are plugged in snug too.

Remove the GPU, and run the system off the IGP for a while and see if you still get reboots.

Try this. it may seem a lot to do but this way we'll get to rule out some of the possible reasons.

good luck
-satyam

 

[Lelouch Vi Britannia]

yes maybe a BIOS update would help but I am a little inclined towards something shorting/grounding which maybe causing the restarts.

N520 is a hefty cooler. can you ensure that it is not putting too much pressure on your mobo. Your mobo does not seem a little bent. and have you installed all the standoff's or left out one or two.

The other possibility would be the psu itself not maintaining the rated current on the 12V rail.

So a Short or a psu are my primary gusses here. for shorting, ensure all wires and plugs are properly inserted in thei sockets. That includes your case fans as well.
Make sure your pcie connectors are plugged in snug too.

Remove the GPU, and run the system off the IGP for a while and see if you still get reboots.

Try this. it may seem a lot to do but this way we'll get to rule out some of the possible reasons.

good luck
-satyam

i have checked my cooler and i have installed all the standoffs. my mobo does not seem to bend at all.
all my wires and plugs are properly inserted in the sockets
i tried to remove the GPU and it actually reboot faster when running prime using "in-place large FFTs"
it took about 5 mins to restart when my GPU was being installed, but when i removed it, it is about 30 seconds
what should i do now?

 

[satyamdubey]

and what about Smo's suggestion about BIOS update? also, are you using xmp profile?

 

[Lelouch Vi Britannia]

i did not update my bios since im scared i would do something wrong and my mobo will die=(
i dont think im using xmp profile since i dont actually know what that is...
unless the system enables it automatically?

 

[Lelouch Vi Britannia]

and what about Smo's suggestion about BIOS update? also, are you using xmp profile?

so i updated my bios. but it will still crash within a minute using prime95.
any other suggestions?

 

[satyamdubey]

any spare psu to swap out the existing OCZ? check with a replacment PSU

 

[Lelouch Vi Britannia]

any spare psu to swap out the existing OCZ? check with a replacment PSU

I will try to do that sometimes this week.
and i felt like my crash just got worse after the bio update....?

 

[satyamdubey]

^Highly improbable. BIOS updates that go bad almost always bric the mobo. This pull the manufacturer into the loss incurring RMA process. This ensures that each BIOS released by the manufacturer is thoroughly tested and stabilized.

 

[Lelouch Vi Britannia]

^Highly improbable. BIOS updates that go bad almost always bric the mobo. This pull the manufacturer into the loss incurring RMA process. This ensures that each BIOS released by the manufacturer is thoroughly tested and stabilized.

I tried to run another memory test after the bios update yesterday. And it crashed during the first five minute. But now I'm running it again and no crash occurs. So I have no idea what is it. Perhaps it is the psu that's causing this? So if I replace the psu and no crash when running prime. I would assume it is a faulty psu?

 

[satyamdubey]

Yepp. your psu might not be maintaining the right V-rail out put current or voltages (you should also see if moving to a different wall outlet helps). We need to eliminate the possibility of a faulty psu.

 

[Lelouch Vi Britannia]

Yepp. your psu might not be maintaining the right V-rail out put current or voltages (you should also see if moving to a different wall outlet helps). We need to eliminate the possibility of a faulty psu.

Right After I said the ram test is running fine. It freeze during the test and I was forced to restart the computer . I will post a pic of the freeze screen.

and when im in bio checking the cpu fan setting screen. it will freeze when i change the speed. and it happens more than once.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
march 12.update

so i begin to doubt it is the rams that were causing the issue...even though i havent swap the psu yet...
this is the ram that im using
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231461

i have been getting bsod (memory dump; the bsod is so fast that it ends within 2 seconds...) & freeze right after i enter windows.
and sometimes it even restart at the windows logo(before entering windows) / after i made changes to my bios

so i swap out the ram using a kingston 4gb ddr3 1600 ram and there is no crash at all which ever torture test i choose to run.
can i safely assume that it is the rams that's causing the ramdon restart?
the thing i dont get is how can i ever passed the first ram test.
for all the tests i ran today. it all passed.. and i ran more than once.
i even run the rams on separate computer to see which one is faulty but no luck.

 

[smorizio]

to rule out a power or gpu issue try running the new/old ram with the onboard gpu. with the older ram check to see if it been tested or qal on your mb. look at the spd info with cpu-z some 1866 ram needs 1.6v or more at 1866 speed. also to get to that speed you have to turn on xmp profile and make sure the mb setting the ram timing up right. also in the bios make sure your running at standard speed and not overclocked. some mb in performance mode changes the ram to bus timming and can cause issues.

 

[Lelouch Vi Britannia]

to rule out a power or gpu issue try running the new/old ram with the onboard gpu. with the older ram check to see if it been tested or qal on your mb. look at the spd info with cpu-z some 1866 ram needs 1.6v or more at 1866 speed. also to get to that speed you have to turn on xmp profile and make sure the mb setting the ram timing up right. also in the bios make sure your running at standard speed and not overclocked. some mb in performance mode changes the ram to bus timming and can cause issues.

i was running the test & prime95 without using the gpu, so i dont think it is the gpu.
about the ram, can u kindly tell me if this is the correct setup?
i did not change anything besides the "command rate(CR)" from 27 to 24.
i dont know anything about overclocking.. so i need help with this.

 

[Lelouch Vi Britannia]

03/16/13 update.
i tried PSU swap and it didnt work. the problem still exist and it will just reboot itself without any bsod.
all my drivers are up to date and i had reinstalled os to make sure it is not a software issue.
so now it would either be the mobo or rams.

my question would be how do i know which one is faulty?
im thinking there might be something in my bio setting that might have problems with my rams?
or is it just pure a faulty mobo.
please help!

ps. i have tested all my ram slot with both of my rams on memtest and it seems to pass all the tests...
the problem seems to be worse when i have 2 rams installed in dual channel.( it would restart without bsod right as i enter windows)
these rams seems to be okay when in single channel but fails horribly when in dual channel.
however one ram did restart as i enter windows.....