Random freezing

[Penfold7]

My sons PC has recently started to freeze randomly, during playing games. The whole system just freezes, and only a reset can fetch it back.
Its a self built system, that’s been running OK for ages.
Specs..
AMD FX6300 CPU, AMD RX570 GPU, 16Gb RAM, Gigabyte GA970a ds3-p MOBO. 1Tb WD HDD 500W PSU. Windows 10 V2004
the system did have an AMD Athlon X3 CPU until christmas when it was changed out for the FX6300.

tried all kinds of things to cure this, updating graphics drivers to most recent versions etc. all to no avail. Games tend to freeze after around 10mins of gameplay
The games he is playing are on the Roblox platform, but not all games freeze up. There is no warning about this. Occ does this with Minecraft as well.

I did think it was an overheating issue, and as the case was rather small, I upgraded the case, and also bought a coolermaster evo cooler for the CPU, as it was tending to run a little hot at around 65 to 70degrees. Now tops out at 35-40degrees under load. GPU sits at around 65 degrees.

Oddly enough tonight, I got him to play a game he had installed on the system, and he had no issues. The game was cranked up to its max resolution of 1080P.
He can also watch 1080p videos full screen on you tube with no issues.

I am more than a little stumped as to the cause of this, and I am fast running out of ideas. I am more suspecting software rather than hardware, but if anyone has any ideas I would be grateful.

I thought I would run some stress tests on the components. CPU seemed OK. Ran FurMark for the GPU and also no freezes during either benchmarking or Stress testing at 100% of GPU power. Ran an HDD test and oddly enough got a Caution on the SMART test using CrystalDisk Info, and HDD tester. Am I looking at an impending HDD failure??. Also I have just been told that when he is playing games that dont crash, he gets random 3 beeps through his headphones (wired). Are these MOBO beeps. The system appears to POST correctly, and as far as I am aware the UEFI is up to date. Could this be a memory issue??

[Penfold7]

Just to update, I have attached a screenshot of the Crystal disk info.
PSU is an Aerocool integrator 500W 80Plus

[Rustys]

From the Crystal disk info that you have posted the HDD is starting to fail and needs to be replaced.

Any personal document, picture, and ETC will have to be backuped to an external drive before the HDD become corrupt and it is lost.

[Penfold7]

Thanks for the reply. It has started doing some odd things, likel chrome not opeing up, but being active in task manager etc.
Its still off that its only certain games it freezes on and others fine, and also games installed on the HDD are fine, but certain games needing an internet connection freeze. Could a failing HDD do this??
I have a spare laptop 1Tb HDD that I can use as a temp measure, but I assume these days SSDs are better value..
Will swapout HDDs and reinstall windows from scratch this weekend and see what happens. Will do a memory test as well, as the 3 beeps seem odd, but its been reported by a teenager :sneaky::sneaky:

[veeg]

Will pend your thread for a week.

[Rustys]

Yes get a SSD to replace the HDD.

You could run a Check Disk on the HDD which may and or may not reveal any issues at this time.

Open an Admin Command Prompt and type

chkdsk /r
answer Y to the run on next boot.
Reboot and let it run may take it a while it will be searching for bad sectors on the drive.

Here is one way that you can pull the log to view it.

Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog
Type powershell.exe
Then press Enter.

In PowerShell, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter.
get-winevent -FilterHashTable @{logname=“Application”; id=“1001”}| ?{$_.providername –match “wininit”} | fl timecreated, message | out-file Desktop\CHKDSKResults.txt

The CHKDSKResults.txt file will be created on your desktop,

COPY and PASTE the contents from the CHKDSKResults.txt file into a post.

16Gb RAM

How many sticks?

If you only have the one stick means that can only work in single channel which is 50% of the performance that it is capable of when paired with a matching stick. Which can also cause the system to bottleneck

Its a self built system, that’s been running OK for ages.

What is ages?

he gets random 3 beeps through his headphones (wired). Are these MOBO beeps.

Usually happen during post not during game and not in the headset and would be heard from the motherboard speaker.

for the memory test there I usually use running several times (hours) once or twice may not catch it.

https://www.memtest86.com/

Aerocool integrator 500W 80Plus

As far as the PSU is something that @phillpower2 can explain better. I have never heard of this brand and from what some other have stated would look into replacing.

If you are going to be using a system as a gaming system go Gold.

https://support.lumion.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003476773-Which-power-supply-do-you-need-

[Rustys]

What was the outcome of the other things that were suggested on the other forums that you posted this question on?

[Penfold7]

Thanks for the replies, appreciate your time.
There are 4 4gb sticks of ram.
I ran a chkdsk yesterday, but from within windows. Didn’t find anything, but will run again tonight with the /R switch.
Other people suggested reinstalling windows, which is pointless on a failing drive. I will order up an ssd depending upon chkdsk, and reinstall on the hdd I have spare in the interim . Yes just said there’s no sound now on the system. Something clearly amiss… I’ll look at the PSU link.

[Penfold7]

Well amd site recommended min 450w for an rx570. I’ve got a 500w Bronze rated one. Suspect a new one needed as well…

[Rustys]

Keep us informed on how things are progressing.

[Penfold7]

Took the system 6hrs last night to run chkdsk /r… It then did another hour shutting down saying configuring Windows… Ran out of time to post logs… Will do when I get home from work.

[Rustys]

Not a problem post them when you get the chance to.

from what you stated I think there is a possibility that the drive had started to pass on.

Strongly suggest that if there are personal documents, pictures, ETC… get them backed-up ASAP.

[Penfold7]

Attached is the txt file created.

[Rustys]

4 KB in bad sectors.

That a start of a failing HDD. Granted it could just be this amount for a while then again the drive could continue to get more of them.

Strongly suggest that if there are personal documents, pictures, ETC… get them backed-up ASAP.

Before the HDD can not be read.

suggest with the new HDD you preform a clean install.

[Penfold7]

Thanks… Backing up the data now. I’ve checked the 2.5in hdd in a caddy with my laptop and checks out fine with Crystal hdd check. He’s tried a game installed on hdd, call of duty, and this freezes.., but halo didn’t… Only 1 game he plays on Roblox dosnt freeze, no idea why… Anyhow, will replace drives tomorrow, just creating install media for 10pro 21H1. Will keep you updated…