Random Computer Freezes with no BSOD
I build a new computer about a month ago and have had an issue with the computer freezing often (only twice have I gotten a BSOD, the rest of the over 50 times the computer just freezes). By freezing, I mean that the fans on the computer still run like normal, but the screen is frozen and the mouse and keyboard do not respond (cannot get cap lock or num lock keys to change the corresponding keyboard lights). Holding down the power button on the case shuts the computer down and hitting the reset button on the case and the computer reboots (and offers the option to boot into safe mode). The freezes happen seemingly randomly. They can happen during surfing the web or just when the computer is idle and I'll come back and it's frozen. Sometimes I can only boot up and surf the net for 30 seconds before a freeze. Other times I can run for almost a week while running Photoshop Extended and games such as Metro 2033 in 1920x1080 with very high settings and AA enabled. My CPU is never stressed when the freezes happen and the tempuratures are always fine when the freezes happen (almost always less than 40-deg C). The freezes also happen in Safe Mode (both networking and non-networking). My motherboard BIOS and all drivers are fully up to date. I have read that these types of freezes are generally hardware related since I almost never get a BSOD, but the only hardware check I know how to do is the memory. I cannot even get through 1 pass of MemCheck86 without it freezing but I never get any error messages prior to the MemCheck86 freeze. The MemCheck86 test also freezes at seemingly random times.(I am running MemCheck off an .iso burned to a DVD). I have been running MemCheck86 with all 3 of my 2GB sticks installed and the freezes are not isolated to any section of the memory being tested. I have not done any tweaking or overclocking to the system and the memory manufacturer confirms that my memory is compatible with my motherboard. I have gotten two BSODs since I've build the computer, but I was not the one using the computer at the time, so I was unable to see the error message, but I can share the .dmp files if someone out there knows how to read them (I tried with the debug program but failed). I have read other similar posts, but there does not seem to be a situation that really matches mine exactly. There are a lot of similarities, but then there is usually one big detail that is different (their computers don't freeze in safe mode...mine does, etc) Hopefully someout out there can give some insight into what is wrong or at least the next troubleshooting tip. I'll see if I can figure out how to share the .dmp files. My computer's specs: Windows 7 64-bit Professional fully patched Core i7 950 with Noctua NH-D14 cooler Asus P6X58D-E motherboard NVidia GTX460 from EVGA 3x 2GB DDR3 PC3-10600 memory from Crucial 1000 GB Samsung Spinpoint Harddrive (7200 RPM) Lite-On DVD burner Corsair 650TX power supply plugged into a surge protector Edit: Here are the dump files: http://cid-430310895b45e399.office.live.com/embedicon.aspx/dump%20files/102610-23166-01.dmp and http://cid-430310895b45e399.office.live.com/embedicon.aspx/dump%20files/092110-19016-01.dmp
October 27th, 2010 10:32am

You have a fatal hardware issue: Bug Check 0x124: WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR - This bug check indicates that a fatal hardware error has occurred. Severity : Fatal (1) Length : 928 Creator : Microsoft Notify Type : Machine Check Exception Timestamp : 10/26/2010 15:40:21 Flags : 0x00000002 PreviousError =============================================================================== Section 0 : Processor Generic ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Descriptor @ fffffa8006f1b978 Section @ fffffa8006f1ba50 Offset : 344 Length : 192 Flags : 0x00000001 Primary Severity : Fatal Proc. Type : x86/x64 Instr. Set : x64 Error Type : Micro-Architectural Error Flags : 0x00 CPU Version : 0x00000000000106a5 Processor ID : 0x0000000000000000 =============================================================================== Section 1 : x86/x64 Processor Specific ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Descriptor @ fffffa8006f1b9c0 Section @ fffffa8006f1bb10 Offset : 536 Length : 128 Flags : 0x00000000 Severity : Fatal Local APIC Id : 0x0000000000000000 CPU Id : a5 06 01 00 00 08 10 00 - bd e3 98 00 ff fb eb bf 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Proc. Info 0 @ fffffa8006f1bb10 =============================================================================== Section 2 : x86/x64 MCA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Descriptor @ fffffa8006f1ba08 Section @ fffffa8006f1bb90 Offset : 664 Length : 264 Flags : 0x00000000 Severity : Fatal Error : Internal timer (Proc 0 Bank 5) You haven an internal timer issue. Update the BIOS, try to disable the TurboBoost function."A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" CLIP- Stellvertreter http://www.winvistaside.de/
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October 27th, 2010 11:25am

Thanks for the quick reply! The latest BIOS for my motherboard came out months prior to my purchase, and I have been running the latest version since initial boot. I will try disabling TurboBoost when I get a chance and report back. Does this mean I have a bad processor and need to get it replaced?
October 27th, 2010 12:16pm

I disabled TurboBoost in the Bios and started up the computer and the same freeze happened. Also an update: After I got the freeze I went back to the Bios to re-enable TurboBoost and the computer froze while I was inside the Bios before I could make any changes. It seems as though my processor is bad, but I've heard that's almost unheard of. Is there any other possible explanation? Are there any tests that I can run to show as proof if I try to return the processor under warranty to Intel?
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October 27th, 2010 3:37pm

It may also be your motherboard. What is the CPU temperature?"A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" CLIP- Stellvertreter http://www.winvistaside.de/
October 27th, 2010 6:55pm

Nothing over 40-deg C even with hyper-threading enabled
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October 27th, 2010 7:53pm

Do you have more than one memory module? If so, try running with just one. If that doesn't work, pull the memory module and run with another one. Also, if you have a fan on your video card, make sure it is spinning. Jerry
October 27th, 2010 8:42pm

Run a Stresstest tool like Prime95 and check your CPU for stability issues."A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" CLIP- Stellvertreter http://www.winvistaside.de/
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October 28th, 2010 7:47am

Thanks for the tips! I'll check my video card fan, try the one memory module at a time and I'll also try the Prime95 test when I get a chance later today. I'll report back what I find.
October 28th, 2010 8:01am

Maybe you should try to down-grade your bios. Also you should go to Best-Buy and Buy an open-box Motherboard compatible with you CPU, then see if the computer freezes. I understand is a lot of work but you want to find out the error. If the new motherboard has no problems then you should either keep it, and return the original or, get another motherboard. You can also buy some RAM to test it out. In these circumstances you can only try to see which is the faulty component. Sometime there is a bad implementation which cannot corrected. I hope yours is not the case. Good LUCK! Please do not forget to select the best answer if it helps you! The Ultimate computer newbie guide since the discovery of spoon feeding! The Computer Manual
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October 28th, 2010 9:23am

Thanks for everyone's input! I'm learning a lot through this process. Latest update: I checked the fan on my video card and it was running fine, so I started running MemCheck86 with only single memory sticks installed. One of the sticks consistently froze, while the other two were able to make it through multiple passes without error. So it appears that I have a bad memory stick, but I'm not convinced that the memory stick is my only problem given the above information in my dump file. I'll still run the Prime95 (in dual-channel memory mode) and report back any issues I find just for completeness of information in case others want to follow and learn from this thread.
October 28th, 2010 8:40pm

OK, ran the Prime95 Large FFTs test for 4 hours (I'll run a longer one tonight) and topped out at 53-deg C with no problems. Ambient temp of 24-deg C. It looks like that one stick of Ram was my problem. Thanks everyone for their help!
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November 1st, 2010 2:23pm

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