Trying to fix my computer

[Conroyale]

I posted a question about a PSU earlier and this is a follow-up to that post: https://pchelpforum.net/t/help-findi...21/#post-91880

Unfortunately, it didn’t end up working and the problem persisted, so I returned the new PSU and reinstalled my old one.

I recently ran some tests for my Western Digital HDD and both the short and extended tests passed.

I ran memtest86 for my RAM and they passed those tests.

I’ve done Furmark tests on my GPU and it got through them just fine.

Now I want to try to switch out the CPU and the MB, which I’ve heard is best to replace both together. I wanted to get some opinions on what to get and a bit of a walkthrough on how to replace them. At this point if replacing these don’t work, I either need to get a new computer or check all my connections and cords to see if there is any damage I missed when looking at it previously.

Here’s my current speccy if this helps: http://speccy.piriform.com/results/4...6tmHKmbOF4L5Yf

[Bruce]

also add what your main use of the PC is now and potential future use as this will determine the type of CPU and mobo.

[Evan_Omo]

Hi,

If your computer is freezing up then what you need is a solid state drive. Hard drives are super slow compared with SSD’s and there should be no reason not to use one as your primary storage device.

Does the computer do a hard freeze where it freezes completely or does it eventually unfreeze itself? Does it freeze if you are on the desktop or does it freeze if you launch certain programs?

[Conroyale]

To Bruce: I use it as a gaming PC. I play games from all levels of graphical levels, Half Life to Witcher 3 Wild Hunt. I eventually want to be able to use CAD or other engineering softwares.

To Evan Omo: It is always a hard freeze. More recently, as in the last few months, I have been getting a blue screen. Something that has happened only a handful of times is an automatic restart. My screen goes black as if I just hit the reset button. I am on my third HDD with this computer. My first one was one I brought over from a previous PC that a friend built for me. That one lasted two and a half years with only the same automatic restarting problem in the last few months. After the transfer, things didn’t start freezing until I plugged in the second monitor to the GPU, I was using the HDMI and DVI at the same time, where the screens would go blank but if I was watching a video, it would continue playing the sound. After a few months of that, the freezing started.

There are certain programs that I’ve found that make it freeze more often, specifically Tabletop Simulator and Age of Empire Definitive Edition. With the latter, it happens within ten minutes of me starting the game. Sometimes it freezes while I watch Youtube videos, and others it’s idle. Either on the desktop or the login screen. It has frequently happened overnight for me.

[Bruce]

as to your upgrade, with the mobo and CPU swap, you’re probably looking at a RAM swap as well. (hell, maybe even graphics card)
all depends on the architecture of the mobo.
you are currently playing games at a demanding level and soon CAD as well, so you’d be after hardware above the average standard, maybe not high-end, but it will all be budget driven.
and since you are replacing the mobo, get one with a NVMe slot so you can have a m.2 SSD.

I won’t give specific examples of hardware as it’s too personal, what I suggest may not fit in with your personal preferences or experiences.

[Conroyale]

This is true even if I already have an above average graphics card and RAM?

[Bruce]

your only requirement is that they are compatible with the new mobo.
I mentioned them both only for that reason.
and the Speccy report didn’t say what sort of RAM you had, only that you had 2 sticks totaling 16GB.

[Conroyale]

Okay, I wasn’t sure if it had that listed in the speccy.

I guess the main question I’m asking is how likely would replacing my CPU and MB be in fixing my computer of the problems it’s having?

[Bruce]

certainly can’t give a guarantee but you will be knocking off a couple of suspects from the list.
add to that a Windows reinstall, either because it’ll be an opportune time (even if you don’t get a SSD) or simple to cross off OS file corruption and you’re well on your way to eliminating the main causes of your original freezing issue.

after all that change, if it still happens, that really only leaves the RAM and graphics card.

[Conroyale]

Okay, I certainly hope it’s not the GPU.

Would there be a type of MB architecture that you’d recommend for gaming? Or somewhere I could find good guides on the different types of architecture available?

[Bruce]

sadly not my area.
I don’t play games on my PC, well… none that need a dedicated graphics card lets say.
I would have thought any mobo with the word ‘gaming’ in it would be what you are after.

your first hurdle is to decide Intel or AMD.
then would be the size of the mobo - ATX, micro ATX or mini ATX.
then it’s all about the number of slots/ports on the mobo - USB, SATA, NVMe, memory and graphics.
and of course there’s the case to think about - will the mobo fit? do I want liquid cooling? how many fans?

and do you think about emerging technologies - USB4, USB-C.

[Conroyale]

I’ll have to do some research on the subject.

Thanks for answering some basic questions for me. I won’t be able to get the components in time to reply to this thread in a timely manner, so you can close down the discussion.

[jmarket]

Will close as requested, should you require further assistance with this in the future please pm a staff member who can reopen it for you.