Computer freezing randomly for half a second!

[Speluncus]

Well, the driver didn't work. Did I install the right driver?


Or do you want me to get all of them? A bit confused..

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes Hauk that is the right one and I am thinking maybe go onto update the SATA and chipset stuff.

Now I have been scratching around re the kernel 41 error an it seems to be linked with a temporary loss of power. I know we have done the PSU but I am also thinking maybe the problem lies within the device and after it has been running for a bit because there is circuitry in the PSU that does a self test and if everything as in the voltage is ok then there is a signal sent to pin 8 (grey cable on the 24 pin plug) that is known a the Power_Good signal if that is out of whack for any reason it will shut the machine down. see this
Voltage Rails - Power Supply 101: A Reference Of Specifications go to the Power_Good section and it will tell you what the operating voltage has to be high or low of those volts will cause a shut down. But if you are going to use a meter to measure make sure it is a digital one not the analogue as I think I previously described injects volts and it is typically 9v so in a 5v rail - not good.

It could be something as simple as just one bad capacitor in the unit.

 

[Speluncus]

So I guess I should consider getting a new PSU then?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No wait and just try the PSU out with this

Using HW Info PSU

Download HW Info and pick the right bit version - HWiNFO, HWiNFO32/64 -Download -(copy and paste thissite into the search bar) If you do not need the running information in thesmaller right hand panel close it. In the left hand window click on the + forthe individual device groupings and they will open out to the variouscomponents.

Go on opening out further until you get to the device itself. click on it andit will highlight. In the right hand window there will be a very detaileddescription of that device as in brand, speeds model number etc etc These arevery detailed and are just what is needed for searching for drivers etc.

To get the PSU volts you need to select the Sensor buttoncircled in yellow in the pic

See my pic for an example - in this I have shown my power but it is a laptopand a desktop will show more details if you scroll down that listing. (see pic it is an Asus board and yours if different may have a different name for that section)
or this
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/301799-psu-test-dc-output-voltage.html but use a digital meter not the old analogue type it injects typically 9v into a circuit to test it and would do no good in a 3.3v or 5v rail.

 

[Speluncus]

I don't think I have any meters to check the DC Output. :S
I'll see what I can do, but not sure if I'll be able to!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

There is a part pic of one on the tutorial and they are really very cheap these days I can pick an adequate one up for about $10 - some places even cheaper.

Pic of meter attached

 

[Speluncus]

I haven't been able to get one of those tools yet. But something I just realized while playing a game is that my GPU got really hot! It made the monitors go black for a second when it hit 81 degrees C, and the fans were suddenly making loads of noise, probably going full throttle.
Since the monitors went black, it reminded me of that rare crash I've had a few times, as mentioned in #1.
Does the GPU have anything to do with the freezes?

Edit; Under no stress, surfing the web, it is around 40 degrees C.

Edit 2; Thank you!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hauk it sounds very much like the GPU is not quite right with the temps like that. Now I know the others can advise you better really how to check that card with some stress tests. I know of them but not enough about them.
I might throw this back to more help before going any further.

Now on editing all you need to do is go to the Edit on the return post and it will go back and let you change text etc and then click on save and it will repost the original with your added stuff

 

[essenbe]

Hauk, do you use a utility to monitor temps? Obviously you do to know the temp your GPU was during gaming. Which one do you use? Most have the capability to use a custom fan profile to keep the catd from getting that hot. Use a pretty aggressive profile if you do it, I do. Once a card gets very hot, it's difficult to cool it doen, but if you use the fan profile to keep it from getting that hot, it will work much better. I set mine to run 40% until 40C, after that I have the fan go up 1% for every 1C the temp increases. I will have it at 100% around 70-75C. Just a suggestion. does your utility have that capability? If not, try MSI Afterburner, MSI Afterburner

 

[Speluncus]

Sounds like a plan Essenbe, I'll check it out.
While I was playing the fans suddenly decided to go full throttle and became really loud, I thought it was obvious that SOMETHING was happening, so I jumped on Speccy to check the temps. Then I downloaded a program called SpeedFan which allowed me to manually control fans and whatnot, but I guess MSI Afterburner is better

 

[essenbe]

Afterburner is widely used and many GPU utilities are based on it. Afterburner is basically an overclocking tool, but has some excellent monitoring tools incorporated into it, complete with on screen displays of most anything you could want as well as capability to set customized fan profiles and such. I would strongly suggest you not move the overclocking sliders on the front page though. Go into the settings for on screen display and fans and set up a profile where it shows what you want on screen during a game and set a custom fan profile to help keep the heat down. It could also be helpful to add a couple of good intake fans to your case if possible, to bring in more cool air. After all, it's the air inside the case that your graphics card is using to cool itself. The cooler that air is, the better off all your components will be.

 

[HarriePateman]

Hello guys,

Speluncus can you run Furmark for essenbe please.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100356-video-card-stress-test-furmark.html

   Information

4. Click "Settings", and select "Log GPU temperature". Press OK when done.

   Warning

Watch for artifacts on the screen, and keep an eye on the temperature log. If you see artifacts, or the temperature levels out, stop the test.

 

[essenbe]

Let's see how well we can control temps before running Furmark. Temps seem to be the issue at this point. Furmark will send them through the roof. Once we get temps down, then run Furmark is what I think I would do.

 

[HarriePateman]

Good point, Im begin to ambitious at the moment.

 

[Speluncus]

I made a custom fan-profile using MSI Afterburner and will continue playing games or whatever to see if the temps are under control. I did play earlier today though, after getting 81 degrees, and still find it weird that it would go THAT high.

I'd love to get some new fans, or maybe even water cool it. I think I'll have to get a new case before I'll do any of that though, and that wont happen in a while since I'm a poor student at the moment..

 

[essenbe]

You can clean the dust from the inside with a can of compressed air (don't use an air compressor) and make sure the wiring is tied out of the way so it does not obstruct air flow. That can help a lot. Zip ties are your friend. But, seriously, 80C should not make it BSOD. Most cards can take that temp. It isn't desirable, but they can take it normally.

 

[Speluncus]

I'm not sure if it was a BSOD, but definitively a crash of sorts. Since it did make me have to hard-reset it using the power-button. Not sure if I mentioned it, but when it reached 81C my monitors went black, exactly as when it "BSOD'ed".

I've just played for an hour, and it did reach 70 degrees at some point, although it normally sat at 66 to 68. I don't really know much about temps and so on, so you decide if it's acceptable or not!

My current PSU is a standard one, so there's a TON of cables, I think I might get a PSU and a case as soon as I can, although that can be up to a month, easily..

 

[essenbe]

70 is acceptable, depending on what game you're playing. You can always take the side panel off the computer and blow a house fan directly in it.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hauk essenbe and Harry have some good material there to work and I agree the ambient temp is also very important ie if the room is at 78C it is going to hard to get it much lower than that.
Personally I have a thing about case fans and install as many as I can and the bigger the better.
An example is my Ivy Bridge has 4x200mm 4x140mm

 

[Speluncus]

It's usually pretty cold in my room, sadly..
Is it a good idea to try Furmark now and see what happens, or is it anything else I should do?