Computer freezes randomly - sound continues playing

Nalenthios · 18 Jul 2015

Hi. Recently I've been having a pretty big problem with my PC; seemingly at completely random times everything will freeze except the sound (but including the cursor) and nothing helps except for a hard reboot. Sometimes it happens while I'm playing games, but sometimes it happens while it's just idling. I'm using HW Monitor to make sure my temperatures are alright, and it doesn't seem to be related to that.
I've run the diagnostics tool in the sticky thread on this forum and included it with this post. I hope somebody can help!

Boozad · 18 Jul 2015

As you've not experienced any BSODs there are no dump files to analyse. I'll request this be moved to the General Discussion section to receive better exposure.

Having said that, can you post a screenshot of your temperature readings please. Event Log is showing numerous throttle states which could explain the hard locks.

Code:

Event[27610]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2015-07-18T08:57:01.328
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Jakob-PC
  Description: 
Processor 0 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
10 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

Event[27611]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2015-07-18T08:57:01.328
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Jakob-PC
  Description: 
Processor 2 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
10 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

Event[27612]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2015-07-18T08:57:01.328
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Jakob-PC
  Description: 
Processor 4 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
10 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

Event[27613]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2015-07-18T08:57:01.328
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Jakob-PC
  Description: 
Processor 6 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
10 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

Event[27614]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2015-07-18T08:57:01.328
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Jakob-PC
  Description: 
Processor 3 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
10 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

Event[27615]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2015-07-18T08:57:01.328
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Jakob-PC
  Description: 
Processor 7 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
10 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

Event[27616]:
  Log Name: System
  Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Processor-Power
  Date: 2015-07-18T08:57:01.328
  Event ID: 26
  Task: N/A
  Level: Information
  Opcode: Info
  Keyword: N/A
  User: S-1-5-18
  User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
  Computer: Jakob-PC
  Description: 
Processor 5 in group 0 exposes the following:

1 idle state(s)
10 performance state(s)
8 throttle state(s)

Can you also verify when you installed Bullguard and that you're not running Defender too? Is Agnitum Firewall part of Bullguard?

Nalenthios · 18 Jul 2015

Bullguard was the first program I installed after installing Windows, but I recently reinstalled it a couple of days ago. I don't know what Agnitum Firewall is, but I found out that I was actually running both Windows Defender and Windows Firewall alongside Bullguard... embarrassing. I've disabled them now; if this fixes the problem I'm going to feel like an idiot!

I've attached a screenshot of my temperatures with Chrome open and music playing. My GPU can reach up to 85 degrees C when running some games, but it's usually below that. CPU is always below 80.

Thanks for your help! :)

Boozad · 18 Jul 2015

OK let's see if disabling Defender helps any.

Your CPU shouldn't be getting anywhere near 80°C really, that's way too high for a CPU. Mine sits at around 30°C with just my browser open and a few other programs. Do you know what type of CPU cooler you have? It may be that the thermal paste could do with changing. Alternatively you can raise the speed of your CPU fans, looking at your screenshot it says your CPU fan is running at 945RPM which is quite low. Nearer 2000RPM would be better and would probably make a noticeable difference.

I'm presuming Agnitum is part of Bullguard, I'll have to look into that.

Nalenthios · 18 Jul 2015

How do I raise the speed of the fans? I've had issues with too high temperatures in the past, so now I clean the computer regularly and I applied new thermal paste only a few months ago so that hopefully isn't the problem.
My CPU cooler is this one: link

edit: While I had temperature problems in the past I don't think that's causing the issues this time around because the freezes tend to happen at random times, sometimes while playing games but also sometimes when I don't have any programs open other than Chrome, and my temps are around the 50's.

Boozad · 18 Jul 2015

Can you fill in your system specs as linked in my signature so I can see your hardware, there may be fan controlling software specific for your motherboard.

Nalenthios · 18 Jul 2015

Done :)

Boozad · 18 Jul 2015

Right, the only Gigabyte utility I can find that gives you fan control is System Information Viewer (SIV) and you really don't want that as it's been proven to cause BSODs. I'll ask some hardware experts to drop in and advise you you on fan control, it may be SpeedFan is what you need. I use ASUS AI Suite so can't advise on it unfortunately.

Nalenthios · 18 Jul 2015

Ok. Thanks again for the help!

Nalenthios · 21 Jul 2015

My PC hasn't crashed since disabling Windows Firewall and Defender, so I guess I have to admit that that must have been the issue! Thanks a bunch for your help. Marking this as solved. :)