PC keeps crashing and am unsure if software or hardware

DeropDerpGoat · 29 Jun 2013

Before I start, I'm generally new to PC components and software, and am still learning. So please don't shoot me down if I screw up please!

So, I own a chaser Mk-I with a gigabyte motherboard, Nvidia GeForce gtx 670, Processor is Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3570K CPU @ 3.40GHz, 3801 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s) and 8 gigs of ram. (Not sure if I needa post more)

Whats happening is, my computer runs fine for a few hours, then my graphics card stops responding, but all seems fine. 5 mins later the audio and video have stutters which last up to 4 seconds, then a brief stutter of audio and video, then freezes and repeats that process. Any help would be wonderful!

Faladu · 29 Jun 2013

Welcome to sevenforums!

Fill in your system specs in your profile, everything, you can run msinfo32.exe from the search box to get a lot of the details, or cpu-z from cpuid.com, or speccy from piriform.com, all free.

Have you been overclocking to your knowledge?

Recall anything at all that was added or changed right before this started?

What troubleshooting have you done?

**Pauly** · 29 Jun 2013

Check temperatures of your machine at idle and under usde to make sure you are not overheating, when a machine approaches its max temp cpu & gfx will throttle back to limit temp sometimes causing issues like this

Also check you have updated gfx drivers

DeropDerpGoat · 29 Jun 2013

Ive updated my drivers. I have speedfan installed and thats showing no sign of overheating. I havent been overclocking to my knowledge, what happens when you do? So I know what happens, just to be sure. Ive had this for a while. It may be overclocking.

lehnerus2000 · 29 Jun 2013

Does the problem happen if you run W7 in Safe Mode?
Are there any alerts in your Device Manager?

Also, check that all of your components (e.g. RAM & Graphics card) and cables (data & power) are correctly seated in their respective sockets.

Remember to turn the power off at the mains socket and to take anti-static precautions.

Last week, the SATA cable came loose on my OS drive.
I can't remember ever coming across a more useless connector system.
This caused a "Critical Error" warning to pop-up on my screen and then my PC shut down.

bobafetthotmail · 29 Jun 2013

Hmm, to rule out the drivers, follow this tutorial. IF there are drivers that do weird thing this will force the PC to BSOD and in the BSOD dumps we will find what is the offending driver. If you experience a BSOD (bluescreen and the computer restarts or waits you to shut it down), reboot in safe mode and turn off driver verifier (option two of the tutorial), then reboot in normal mode and you follow this tutorial to extract the logs and dumps you will upload here for us to have a look at them.

Also, another prime reason might be a crappy PSU. Can you post the name and specs of your PSU (Amps at various Voltages, should be in a table).