Complete system freeze
Complete system freeze
This problem has persisted since I purchased a new GPU two years ago. While playing games or rendering videos, the entire system would freeze and the sound would become a repetitive buzzing noise. Manually rebooting the PC didn’t resolve the issue—it just wouldn’t restart. Occasionally it would disappear, but last month it began during video editing in Adobe Premiere Pro. Initially, I suspected the graphics card was faulty, so I replaced it with a new one, yet the problem continued. I considered RAM instability, but it had always been unreliable. The only solution was applying a BIOS update two days prior, which stabilized the system temporarily. Recently, after installing a new CPU cooler, the freezing resumed. Memory tests found no errors, and checks on the SSD and Event Viewer showed no issues except for unexpected restarts. AMD Radeon reported needing to reset settings due to a system failure after crashes. I monitor temperatures closely, ensuring neither CPU nor GPU exceeds 60°C. I’m still unsure about the root cause. The only option left is a Windows 10 refresh.
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PSU: Seasonic FOCUS Plus Series 750W
What's the age of your PSU in this setup?
Except that the system unexpectedly restarted.
Share a story about overheating or if your PSU is malfunctioning and can't handle the current specs. Try to find a trustworthy PSU from a friend or neighbor to see if it works without issues.
Motherboard: ASUS Prime X470 Pro
What is the BIOS version for your motherboard?
Details about your case, cooler, and fan orientation? How many fans are there and their direction inside the case?
I purchased the PSU in 2019. I don’t have anyone I can borrow a reliable PSU from. Could it be the PSU itself? I understand the 7800 XT is a strong card, but the recommendations for a PSU for this model suggest using around 750 Watts unless you overclock, which I haven’t done.
I looked into the voltage readings in HWINFO: the +12V is just below 12V (average 11.887 V), +5V averages at 4,937, and +3V is at 3.318. I should note that my PC doesn’t restart normally—it just freezes, and if I let it sit nothing happens. I have to force a restart while holding the power button. I also set my RAM to lower speeds, but that didn’t solve the problem.
My BIOS is the latest version (6201). The CPU cooler I bought is the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240. My case has the artic on the front, tubes at the bottom, two fans on top, and one in the back. The case model is Cougar MX330-X.
It all began with my GPU two years ago, yet I recently purchased a new one, which should have resolved the problem. However, coil whine appears to originate from my PSU. Initially, I believed the noise came from my new CPU cooler, but it seems to come from the power supply unit. After opening the case on the right side, I noticed a faint buzzing when applying stress to the system. Coil whine is typical, yet the system freezing—something unusual—suggests the PSU might be the issue. It’s likely the fan is failing, especially when using the FOCUS PLUS Fan Control Button, which shuts off under light loads. The loud noise disappears then. Given the instability of my motherboard, I’m considering a replacement.
PSU problems tend to cause shutdowns rather than freezing the system.
If it isn't my PSU, I'll focus on the motherboard next. I've already secured my eye on an MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus.
when using processors from that series and model, going past 2933 can lead to random freezes. I had a Ryzen 5 2600 that stubbornly stuck at 3200mhz. I kept the RAM timings the same but lowered it to 2933mhz to check if it resolved the problem. Rather than buying a new PSU, consider using a PSU tester. Make sure only the -5v light is on; if others are off, the PSU is likely faulty. Also, try booting with BIOS set to default and save changes to eliminate overclocks or unusual settings.
I've tested with speeds as low as 2400mhz, but it kept happening. The unusual part is I adjusted the speed to 3000 and it stabilized temporarily. All my bios configurations remain at their defaults.