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Question

Random computer freezing

Nov 15, 2018 1:41PM PST

Hello everyone,



I am going to provide just a bit of background for this first.

I had originally built this PC back in early 2016 and everything has going fine until July of this year when things would just randomly freeze. After a few days of trial and error I discovered I could get my PC stable If i remove one RAM stick and just keep one in DIMM2. Anytime I would add in a second RAM module It would freeze within 30mins or If I had RAM in any other slot. I tested both sticks separately with memtest64 in slots 2 and 3, multiple times all with passes.

After three weeks of trying different fixes with no resolution I caved and just bought a new MOBO (one currently listed below) this fixed the issue until 10/19 when the same freezes began occurring (first with a BSOD, then just random freezing after), same thing one RAM module in DIMM2 and it runs stable for days but adding in another one results in a freeze. I have since reinstalled windows onto a brand new SSD, I have retested the RAM (pass) cleaned out everything including the PSU and all DIMM slots, updated BIOs and all MOBO drivers,and removed and reinstalled all components to no avail. All systems and components including MOBO are running at default and temperatures are always fine. This issue has been plaguing me with no end in sight for now I appreciate any suggestions.



http://speccy.piriform.com/results/3oH4VXf62XryWh5nClokghC



Additional Specs:



RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) (Currently using just one stick due to issue above and both are brand new).
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K (running stock)
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FTW3 (running stock)
PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 750W Fully Modular
MOBO: Z270 GAMING M7 (previously used the M5 back in July when this problem started)
SSD: Samsung 860 EVO 500GB
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro Series
Heatsink: MasterAir Pro 4 CPU

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
That speccy link didn't work.
Nov 15, 2018 2:11PM PST

Can you edit or supply a working link?

Be sure your BIOS is up to date and try XMP and then not XMP RAM timing.

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BIOS
Nov 15, 2018 4:23PM PST

Hello thank you so much for the reply,

Speccy seems to be acting weird at the moment if there is any system information you would like I'd be happy to provide.

the BIOS is current as well as any other MOBO or GPU drivers. I enabled XMP through BIOS while running with two sticks in slots 2+4 and it froze within a minute, removed the stick from slot 4 and it appears to be stable now.

My system just freaks out If I'm running two memory sticks at once or if there's anything in slots 1,3 or 4 unless I'm running memtest86 which it will let me in any slot

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The Web Speccy is what I use
Nov 15, 2018 4:27PM PST

To get into the motherboard, BIOS, RAM and a lot more. It sure sounds like a memory issue but it's one of the odd ones for sure. The only real test is to try it with another make RAM. Try Crucial.com's next.

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Answer
even new RAM sticks can go bad.
Nov 15, 2018 2:12PM PST

sounds like you need a new stick of RAM. Make sure it's same as the matched kit you installed. Maybe just order a second kit, and have a spare RAM for future.

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RAM
Nov 15, 2018 4:27PM PST

Thank you for the reply,

I have already gone through 3 sticks of RAM in the last 2 months in an effort to fix this issue, all of which have gone through hours of testing with no errors. I just can't really justify spending more money on that when what I have seems to be good. So far my MOBO, RAM, and SSD are all brand new, this same issue started with my old MOBO, 3 months ago and was fixed with my new one up until recently. Is there anything else you can think of?

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clean contacts on the RAM
Nov 15, 2018 4:30PM PST

and in BIOS set for single or dual channel as required for proper DIMM placement, and lower the speed used on the RAM.

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Just relaxing the memory timing.
Nov 15, 2018 4:34PM PST
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RAM
Nov 15, 2018 5:01PM PST
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QVL
Nov 15, 2018 5:06PM PST
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I can understand the confusion.
Nov 16, 2018 9:58AM PST

I'm an electronics designer and worked in the embedded field where 7 and more year lifespans were required. This meant we often had to run processors at half speed so that in 10 years the machines would work even as capacitors decreased in capacity. Even at 2 years a PC can see the aging effect. Especially in overclocked or barely working setups.

I see your motherboard comes up as problematic in this area so I not easily convinced it's not just another board issue.

As to lower, you go slower until it works.

Bottomline: Get to the motherboard maker's site where maker and users get together and you find others that have tackled this board head on. Here I deal with all boards so I only know what I would do in the shop. I'd pop in the Crucial.com sticks after taking the RAM timings to the lowest they go as well as maybe bumping up the VRAM a notch or two.

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RAM
Nov 16, 2018 1:49PM PST

I'm sorry I don't fully understand your post.

What is problematic about the MOBO as its brand new?

I will try to lower the speed with both sticks installed and see what happens?

Are you suggesting I buy more RAM? I have tested these two sticks for probably a combined 20 hours with not a single error.

Post was last edited on November 16, 2018 2:02 PM PST

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A couple confusers for many.
Nov 16, 2018 2:33PM PST

1. Memory tests have for decades passed and when Windows runs, BSOD or lockups. A memory test only catches problems when they are severe. The hardest situation in a repair counter is the owner telling us they proved the RAM was good with memory tests. All that proved is it worked with the memory test apps. REALLY UPSETTING to those new to this.

2. No. If you already tried new matched sticks that are on the QVL or from Crucial using their chooser to get the sticks for the machine, BIOS is current and still locking up, BSODs then it's time to do a clean install with stock BIOS default settings and re-test. If a clean install fails during install, there is a hardware issue.

3. PROBLEMATIC. I shared a search above with many complaints about that board. Something is up so I'm writing you need to take it up with MSI.
LINKS again: https://www.google.com/search?q=Z270+GAMING+M7+locks+up+with+2+sticks+of+ram
https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=266788.0

4 Just to cover an odd case that pops up now and then. Once in a while an PC owner will bring in a cranky PC and we find the OS to be a crack pirate job. I don't see any sign of that here. This leads me back to PC hardware issues.

5. NO SPECCY LINK YET. You may be leaving clues out of sight. It's a great tool and this forum has found many causes over the years with this report.

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Install/Speccy
Nov 16, 2018 3:46PM PST

Thanks again for the reply,

I am on my third clean install of windows 10, I installed once on my old HDD and then onto my old SSD and now my windows is installed onto a brand new SSD (this was in case my drives were perhaps the issue).

I am trying my hardest to get speccy to work, I am going to publish snapshot and it keeps giving me and error saying "Error connecting to publishing server" I can't find anything on google relating to that, could this be an issue with speccy?

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Are you downloading Speccy and running it?
Nov 16, 2018 3:51PM PST
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Speccy
Nov 16, 2018 4:10PM PST

Hello,

Yes I have speccy downloaded, I am following your instructions, when I hit publish snapshot it gives me the "Error connecting to publishing server".

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OK.
Nov 16, 2018 4:21PM PST

Not sure what's happening but I Just downloaded Speccy on a different laptop, and getting the same error.
Problems with Speccy's server?
Dafydd.

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Looks like it's down right now.
Nov 16, 2018 4:22PM PST

Maybe save it and share it on some sharing site?

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Answer
Ram
Nov 16, 2018 2:52AM PST

If you install 2 sticks does memtest run?

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Ram
Nov 16, 2018 1:44PM PST

I just ran memtest with 2 sticks (one in slot 2 and 4, standard for my MOBO) and it got one pass with no errors but then froze at 50 minutes.

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Memtest
Nov 16, 2018 2:05PM PST

If memtest won't run then you have something amuck.
Just for yucks remove the gpu and plug the monitor into the mobo.
Rerun memtest with 2 sticks of ram....slots 2 + 4.

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Explaining a little.
Nov 16, 2018 2:34PM PST

The GPU can cause very hard to track down errors like this.

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Memtest
Nov 16, 2018 3:39PM PST

Removed GPU and ran the test with both sticks, passed until it crashed at around 1 hour and minutes. I booted up and went into my desktop (still with both sticks) and it crashed within 30 seconds into a blue screen (unexpected kernel trap I believe?)

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When we pull the GPU
Nov 16, 2018 3:49PM PST

That usually rules out the PSU as it's a much lighter load. All signs point to yet another of this board having problems (see google link above), RAM, BIOS out of date, incompatible RAM etc.

By incompatible it can confuse new techs as "it worked before." RAM is not a binary system. It can work and signals get noisy, a delay changes and blammo. It's problematic.

I will share it's been a CPU issue all of once in decades. The usual is motherboard and or the RAM sticks. When you find many complaints about the board like I did with a google, we advise changing to another make board. Something like you see on the list at PCMR (link follows.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/PCMasterRace/wiki/builds

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Keep making it smaller
Nov 16, 2018 10:30PM PST

Unplug the disk.

Run memtest again with 2 sticks installed.....slots 2 + 4.

What other things besides a cpu/hsf.... 2 sticks of ram are connected to this mobo?

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Disk
Nov 17, 2018 4:15PM PST

I removed my SSD and memtest ran for 3.5 hours no crash! This is the longest its ever gone with two memory sticks in.

Nothing else connected to MOBO besides CPU and heatsink and ram.

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Memtest
Nov 17, 2018 6:18PM PST

Let memtest run for 8+ hrs.
If no freeze connect the disk and retest.

Without a speccy the forum is kind of blind...aka...winging it.

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Memtest
Nov 18, 2018 3:24PM PST

I ran two more tests today without the disk plugged in with both memory sticks installed. On the first test it crashed after 50 minutes with 54 errors showing. The second test crashed after 40 minutes with 2 errors showing. This is the first time iv ever seen errors show for these two sticks, when I test them individually the appear to be fine.

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As to memtest.
Nov 18, 2018 3:28PM PST

Any error is a failure but about why both sticks fail, that we have to consider how one stick would be single channel mode and two sticks dual channel mode. This points back to issues with the motherboard and those memory sticks.

Since the BIOS is current and I have to guess the BIOS settings are stock you have a good reason to file a ticket with the motherboard maker.

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very odd
Nov 18, 2018 5:26PM PST

almost seems like one of the DIMM slots has a problem. Look into it well,make sure there's not a small piece of trash in it. Use a magnifying glass, check the suspect DIMM slots out, since obviously it's not the one you keep using to check single sticks of RAM into.

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Just curious
Nov 19, 2018 1:17AM PST

Which way are you counting the ram slots?
Slot 1 is closest to the cpu.

What bios version are you running?

Does the bios show what ram speed your running?