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Question

computer freezes and crashes randomly.

Apr 22, 2018 6:28AM PDT

Hi, i recently upgraded my cpu, motherboard and ram and my computer has been crashing since. The crashes can happen with any task, even at idle sometimes. It occasionally shuts down suddently, or freezes (deadlock, no response from keyboard num led, no mouse control, e.t.c.) and eventually shuts down. I don't think it's related to software, at least not windows because once it froze while in the Bios settings. It is not related to heat, temperatures are normal. I tested the ram with memtest86 and the memory tester from windows, tested the cpu with the intel cpu test software. I changed the SATA cable, for one that looks crappy, i needed a longer one, could it nake the pc crash? The graphics card is pluged in a pcie riser, that may be the cause, but it worked fine beforehand. I also have the lastest drivers for it. I personally think it is related to the motherboard, but i could be wrong. The power supply is 300w, and my pc consumes at max 275w which is not much headroom but what i had before consumed more, and it never crashed.
The new ram, mobo and cpu were all used. The cpu and mobo came from an Optiplex 7010. Are there any other possible causes? Could it be software related
Even if it froze in BIOS?


CPU: Intel - Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core
Motherboard : Q77 chipset GXM1W
Memory: VisionTek - 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: Team - L5 LITE 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1050 2GB SC GAMING Video Card
Power Supply: Athena Power - 300W ATX Power

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: freeze
Apr 22, 2018 6:41AM PDT

If it freezes in the BIOS it's the motherboard (or the CPU or the RAM) or the PSU. But if it only happened once I wonder if it is significant. But if the PSU is old, replacing it (buy one a little bit more powerful) wouldn't be a bad idea.
If it happens in Windows it could very well be you forgot to do a clean reinstall, but use the same installed OS as with the old motherboard. That's certainly wrong. You didn't tell.

Post was last edited on April 22, 2018 7:09 AM PDT

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re
Apr 22, 2018 7:01AM PDT

Yep i'm guilty of the latter, i didn't had the chance to do a proper clean install because i'm not at home right now, but it's on the list. The psu is under a year old, haven't been using it that much either, and i never experienced crashes with it before the upgrade. Then again it is a cheap psu. I will try to confirm the crash in the bios, i'll notify if it did it again.