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Question

Computer suddenly aged rapidly?

May 8, 2018 12:00PM PDT

Hi.

I have this delicate issue where my computer has suddenly started acting like it's constantly running out of RAM/memory.
I have really tried to recognize a pattern to its behavior, but I really cannot find it.
Usually it happens when I use heavy programs, but not always.
It's hard to explain, let me give an example.
Let's say I launch a game through Steam… Dota 2 for example. This is rather RAM heavy obviously, so I guess it’s a good start.
Firstly, the game will launch and everything will work fine. Not long after, the game will freeze completely, as if my RAM capacity was breached.
A few seconds later, my entire PC will freeze. It will un-freeze after 3-6 minutes usually, but will go back to frozen right after.
What is funny however is that if I have Skype or Discord open in the background when it freezes, I can still hear and speak with people, as the program itself works all fine.
… Unless I start clicking around and hitting CTRL+ALT+DEL, then everything crashes completely.
Now, this can also happen whenever I just browse using Chrome.
Usually it starts with my internet connecting ending, and then my computer freezing up.
It can also happen whenever I play a 1080p movie using VLC.
Man… I don’t know why it has started acting like this…
And yes, that’s the thing, this only started happening a few months back, and I have literally no idea why. I even bought a brand new SSD and more RAM, but to no avail.
It sucks a lot that I just cannot pin point the problem…
It's impossible for me alone to do this, no matter how many hours I've tried figuring it out.
So please, if anything comes to mind, help me out here.
I would hate to spend $100 just for someone to look at it and go "Oh your CPU is busted" or something like that.

I will add a Speccy link here so you all can view my rig.
Thanks!!!

SPECCY: http://speccy.piriform.com/results/qQOwSyba3uqPaNyQKSMxRae

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
We had a recent back and forth over a similar machine.
May 8, 2018 1:20PM PDT

Turns out the GPU was just not up to the task of more than one display. As a test, cut back to one display, then reboot and test.

The machine looks OK in the speccy but lock ups are too common on this class PC (age, make of parts, etc.) After the test if it works OK you know it's GPU related. If not, time to do the usual work of canned air, and new heatsink compound all around. If that fails then you're probably into a new motherboard.

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One other thing. Mixed ram.
May 8, 2018 1:27PM PDT

Some machines do the oddest, hard to pinpoint hangs with mixed RAM. Try it with just the 2x4GB sticks.

Remember that almost always the memory tests pass. So far I've yet to find a memory tester that uncovers this issue. We have to move to all the same memory sticks. No mixing.

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Will try suggested RAM modification
May 8, 2018 2:41PM PDT

Alright, will try changing out the 2x2GB, and leave the 2x4GB sticks.

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I cannot say this didn't not solve it
May 10, 2018 5:19AM PDT

Behaving perfectly as of now!
Thank you my friend, you have my gratitude.
Removing the 2x2GB ram sticks and only leaving the 2x4GB sticks in made my entire system play and behave more stable.
I am not 100% sure this has fixed my problem, but I cannot find any reason to believe otherwise.

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Looks promising!
May 8, 2018 11:38PM PDT

You might have helped me with a solution here.
I did a few tests around midnight after pulling out the two lower RAM sticks, leaving only the 2x4GB's in.
My games launched and played without problem. This in itself was a feat, but to make sure I wasn't being fooled I deliberately made it more stressful on my computer.
I opened Chrome with several tabs, launched CS:GO again, browsed through Steam in-game, opened Spotify, opened Task Manager... It all seemed fine??
I am not 100% convinced yet as this could just my PC behaving very well at this exact moment.
Will run further tests later on.
Looks promising tho!!

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Unfortunately no positive results.
May 8, 2018 2:32PM PDT

I removed second GPU display, but to no help. Launched up a CS:GO, crashed on start up, hit CTRL+ALT+DEL, took about 5 minutes for it to pop up, force closed CS:GO, my browser died, internet connection lost.
Now, after 15 min waiting, I could finally post this reply to you.

Post was last edited on May 8, 2018 2:35 PM PDT

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Because It Happens When Intense Programs Are Running...
May 8, 2018 4:23PM PDT

Have you tried doing the routine cooling steps? It sounds like heat may be involved. Compressed air into the computer case around the processor, heatsink, power supply, and all vents and fans?

And if you have already taken the steps above, then because it's an old motherboard, there may be a problem with the thermal pasted between processor and heatsink. It frequently gets hard and cracked and simply doesn't do its job. Try replacing the old thermal paste with new.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Will give this a try
May 8, 2018 11:30PM PDT

If only I could be this lucky...
I will post back my result once I get to buy a compressed air can.

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Answer
PS. That motherboard is how old?
May 8, 2018 3:08PM PDT
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Answer
Programs set aside amounts of RAM for use
May 8, 2018 5:32PM PDT

typically referred to as "cache". Sometimes how much RAM is used is set to be flexible. For instance you can assign Firefox browser a limited amount of RAM or leave it to the system to decide. The latter doesn't always work well. If you can set a limited amount of RAM available to a programs's cache, then it will dump some reserved information for new incoming information. It can also keep that program from interfering with other reserved cache space held by other programs. That's why you can hear one program running OK in background while the one in use freezes. What that typically means is the program that freezes has some sort of memory leak, or the area of RAM it's using is failing.

To eliminate RAM as the cause, run memtest86 on the RAM to see if it's OK. If it checks out, then time to look at what in the program may be causing the problem. Be sure you have all the correct manufacturer driver files installed for the motherboard that's in it too, since Windows replacement drivers may not interact properly with your hardware.