[razor268]

Hello everyone,
I have a northbridge overheating problem (probably) with my pc.
I'll start from scratch. I'm not overclocking anything. Used this build with Asus MB for about 5 years without a problem. Build is following:

Motherboard: Asus M4A785TD-M EVO / MSI 970A G43
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 945 3,00GHz (95W version)
Graphics: XFX Radeon HD 5770 (HD-577A-ZHFC)
RAM: A-Data XPG Gaming Series DDR3 1333MHz 4GB (2 x 2GB) AX3U1333GB2G8-AG currently at 1,5V with 9-9-9-24 timings (sticker on modules says 1,65-1,85V, 8-8-8-24)
HDD: WD Caviar Black 750GB (WDC WD7501AALS-00E8B0, 7200RPM, 32MB Cache, SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5")
PSU: FSP Group Blue Storm Bronze 500W
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Antivirus: Eset Smart Security (using it since I got this pc)

I'll be talking now what is happening when I use the Asus motherboard.
So in the last two months my pc is freezing and randomly shutting down. Freezes act as following: they are pretty random, but they mostly happen when I run something that needs resources e.g. watching stream, playing games, but sometimes also when pc is idle on desktop. At start of the freezes, whole pc (including sound, screen, mouse) freezes in like 1 second intervals (1sec frozen, 0,5sec normal) and as time increases they go faster e.g. 0,5s; 0,25s till the pc freezes completely (I can easily replicate those freezes for example while playing CS:GO), in that point I have to hold power button to turn pc off, or press reset. If I boot again after this happens, almost everytime the pc will freeze or shutdown in like 2minutes.
And about the shutdowns, in fact they do happen "instead" of freezing. Also very randomly. Simply when the NB temps (probably) get too high, pc shutdowns. Sometimes it's a BSOD (got some dumps, mostly 0x124 stops, but some others too, can upload if needed). When this happens I have to turn off pc the same way as with freezing. Pc hangs "before" bios, doesn't boot or anything. Screen is black as well (no signal sent).

Now about what I think the problem is. At first I started to watch temps using HW Monitor, all temps were and currently are in normal limits, CPU doesn't go above 60°C, GPU max around 65°C, two motherboard readings, 1st max 55°C, 2nd max 45-50°C, HDD max 42°C.
But all the time the temps were fine, so when my pc froze/shutdown, I tried to touch CPU and GPU heatsinks which are warm. BUT heatsink of NorthBridge chipset and RAM's (they got heatsinks) are very hot, everytime I do this, I can't hold my fingers on it for more than 3 seconds. The NB heatsink tends to be even hotter than RAM.
I already replaced thermal paste (I'm using Arctic MX-2, replaced on CPU and GPU as well) on NB heatsink, the old one was already dried out, so I tough it will help, but nothing changed.

And now about the MSI motherboard, because everything suggests that this is a hardware problem, I ordered a new MB (decided trying out MB now, because before problems described above, I also experienced big number of random shutdowns and bluescreens, mostly 0x124 again and also sometimes bios was telling me that new CPU got inserted, which obviously wasn't), I got it yesterday, so I uninstalled drivers of the Asus MB and some other things, that have to do something with Asus. I replaced the MB, setup up bios, installed MSI drivers and stuff and after like 3rd or 4th reboot, pc started crashing again (no freezes yet, this mb probably acts differently, will update if I get any). I did not even managed to play any game as the shutdowns happen so fast, they happen on desktop or in browser. But the main thing is that heatsink of NB chipset is hot as [bleep] again when pc crashes, here I can keep finger on it like max 1 second. MB readings from HW Monitor are fine. I'm writing this with case's side panel off and desk fan blowing on it (I have the panel taken off for about those 2 months of problems).

List of things I tried to solve this: Updating Windows and BIOS(I had latest version of BIOS even before problems), GPU and chipset drivers, reseating all components and cables (like 5 or more times, sometime it helped for like 1 day, then problems got back again), changing MB battery, stress testing CPU(Prime95) and GPU(Furmark) no crashes during both, ran tests like CHKDSK (no bad sectors), SFC (nothing repaired), MDSCHED (windows memory test, passed), memtest86 (like 3 or 4 times with 9 and more passes in last 6 months), running quick and extended tests using WD's HDD diagnostic program (checking HDD's SMART info, everything is ok except UltraDMA CRC Error Count which value is at 3, did not rise in last week, I don't know if it was there before, none of the programs I checked SMART with, didn't show any problem like red cross at this error, health status is good or ok in some programs), changing PSU's (I measured both with digital multimeter, all values are in the 5/10% ranges, I can post them if needed), running pc with just one RAM stick (switched them many times, dimm slots they were in also, also tried diffent slots with both sticks) and last but not least clean install of Windows.

I really appreciate any comments that could help.
I am sorry for my terrible English.
Thanks for helping and reading.

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Hello razor268  ,

 

I appreciate you for all your techniques you done so far.

 

This issue of 0x124 is generally a hardware related issue as you said. But we are not sure which hard ware causing this.

 

This problem happen in new MB also? As it may caused by false positive of OS, but you said already you did a clean install of windows.

 

First, You should open the case (safely) remove your hard disk, CD-ROM connected to the motherboard, Remove your RAM switch on the pc (be careful with this) let your pc run itself, don't do anything, see what happen, did you hear beeps? if so leave it as it is for half an hour and check the temp. 

Post back what happen now!

[Dashing star]

Hello razor268  ,

 

I appreciate you for all your techniques you done so far.

 

This issue of 0x124 is generally a hardware related issue as you said. But we are not sure which hard ware causing this.

 

This problem happen in new MB also? As it may caused by false positive of OS, but you said already you did a clean install of windows.

 

First, You should open the case (safely) remove your hard disk, CD-ROM connected to the motherboard, Remove your RAM switch on the pc (be careful with this) let your pc run itself, don't do anything, see what happen, did you hear beeps? if so leave it as it is for half an hour and check the temp. 

Post back what happen now!

[razor268]

Hello Dashing Star,

thanks for answer.

Yes it happens with the new board too, few crashes already. No freezes yet, going to test it more today.

And I did clean install of Win before buying or even changing the new mb, did it on the old one. Doing that helped me for like 3 days (not sure if I was cleaning and reseating components too before reinstall, this may cause it to work for some time too).

What do you mean by "remove your RAM switch on the pc" ?

[Dashing star]

Remove the RAM from Motherboard and switch on the pc, Did you hear beeps?

 

Did you have all drivers installed?

 

Did you use your old processor that used on previous MB?

[razor268]

Oh ye, now I get it, sorry.

I tried running pc without ram on the Asus mobo, no beeps as it doesn't have a speaker on it, just connector for it.

All drivers installed.

Yes, still the same processor, AMD Phenom II X4 945.

Edited by razor268, 22 August 2015 - 01:01 PM.

[phillpower2]

razor268,

 

You have post on and are receiving assistance on other forums regarding the present computer issue/s, this is not recommended as it can lead to confusion as to what and who`s guidance you are following which can spell disaster, this can result in a blame game as to who`s fault the disaster was, decide on which forum you wish to continue and as a courtesy let the other forums know that you no longer require assistance.

 

FWIW: I concur with what has been advised by R.Proffitt at one of your other threads and I would suggest that the PSU is checked out, it may however be too late for your other hardware as it may already be damaged;

 

PSU: FSP Group Blue Storm Bronze 500W

 

 

How old is the above PSU.

 

changing PSU's (I measured both with digital multimeter, all values are in the 5/10% ranges,

 

 

As a PSU puts out various voltages +3.3V, +5V and +12V it may appear that the PSU is working correctly but it is not, any significant drop of any output can prevent the system from booting up, the other scenario is a significant increase in the output which can be worse as it can fry one or more major components such as the MB, CPU, Ram, add on video card etc, you cannot conclusively test a PSU with a multimeter as the computer and PSU are not under load, you need equipment as explained in my canned text below;

 

I do not wish to alarm you but the attached video is the one that I use as an example to show the sort of equipment that is required to conclusively test a PSU, I am not aware of any Staples outlet that has such equipment in store.

 

What the equipment does is simulate a computer under load and so the PSU behaves as it would when it is powering your PC, multi-meters and the basic testing devices that you can purchase from some merchants only test the basic voltage output from the PSU rails and so cannot be relied on as 100% conclusive.

 

 

 

[phillpower2]

Not heard back from you razor268, do you still require assistance here, is the issue now resolved, an update would be appreciated.

[razor268]

Sorry for not saying a word for longer period of time, I had a lot of work to do and I was off to another country too. So I am sorry for that.

 

Anyways, problems still persist. But some things have changed.

To answer your question: PSU will be soon 6 years old, more about what happened with it is inside the following text.

 

Firstly, when I was testing the MSI motherboard all was looking pretty good, but on 5th or 6th day having it in pc crashed and after that I couldn't turn on the pc. The thing that happened when I pressed the power on button was that power led on case (which indicates turned on pc) flashed for like 0,1sec and after it hdd led on case switched on (it was shining like the power led would=continuously on). And also fans were running. But the thing is that pc wasn't booting at all and the hdd was idle (no sounds of loading anything). No video signal. Also since this crash the PSU's fan is running on full speed.

 

So I tough that finally the culprit showed off. I changed PSU for the other one I have and pc was working again (I was using the 500W FSP at the time of crash, replaced for the other 400W). I also measured the failing PSU, all values were within the 5/10% ranges. Also strange is that the bad PSU booted with the ASUS mobo (anyways I tried that just once, didn't wan't to risk).

 

I returned the MSI mobo and ordered new PSU (EVGA 500W). After putting back the ASUS mobo and the new PSU everything seemed to work just fine roughly till last weekend.

I am now experiencing very frequent pc freezing. It starts with few seconds long freezes where screen freezes on one picture and audio stops playing. I can also see the freezing coming because about 1 or 2 minutes BEFORE and during it to the audio there is added strange crackling noise which can be heared while some music is playing or when someone talks on teamspeak (it is not a continuous crackling but only "shows" when some sound is played, also it is equally loud as the other sounds).

 

The freezes happen very randomly, for example while browsing internet (not so often) or while playing a games (csgo, wot) almost everytime. After like 1-2 minutes of playing I get 2 or 3 short freezes and after it pc freezes completely. Sometimes the pc somehow recovers from the complete freeze (I'm pressing several keyboard shortcuts trying make it work like alt+tab, ctrl+alt+del, alt+f4) but after it pc still keeps freezing in short intervals so it's unsuable and I'm restarting pc right away. Sometimes the pc can also run several hours without problems described above.

 

Temps are still fine, no dumps are being created and in event log theres nothing usefull.
Thanks for any advice again.

 

Also is it possible to change the thread title to "PC freezing and shutting down - frequent freezing with sound crackling" or something like that.

Edited by razor268, 17 September 2015 - 01:56 PM.

[razor268]

Bump.