Help needed with ongoing PC freezes
Help needed with ongoing PC freezes
Initially, my PC began experiencing random freezing episodes a few months ago. At first, these happened every few days and were fixed by restarting the computer. Recently, the issue has worsened significantly; the system would freeze within 5 to 10 minutes after turning on. The main sign was the mouse freezing, though sometimes the audio would cut out entirely when active, and other times it would produce a constant loud buzz. Over the past week, the machine became almost unusable, so I stopped using it for further troubleshooting.
I have limited experience with error logs and interpreting them. The freezing events often triggered a DPC Watchdog Violation error, resulting in a black screen, or caused the screen to freeze entirely, requiring a restart.
I've tried several fixes:
- Ran Memtest86 on RAM – no problems detected.
- Swapped in an SSD and performed a clean Windows 11 installation – the install succeeded but the freezing issue returned and remains unresolved.
- Checked for errors after a fresh setup; no recorded logs, though the PC crashed six times in the last half hour during the installation.
I’m considering reseating the CPU and applying new thermal paste. There’s also a concern about the power supply unit (PSU). My current PSU is an entry-level model, which might need upgrading given its age and performance under load.
Here are my system details:
- Motherboard: MSI B550-A PRO (BIOS updated)
- CPU: Ryzen 9 5900X
- Graphics: GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM: 32GB DDR4 (4 x 8GB modules)
- SSD: Crucial E100 1TB (installed with Windows 11 Clean install; only GPU drivers remain)
- Power Supply: InWin A65E 650W
- Peripherals: ESI Maya44 EX soundcard, one case fan with LED lighting
- Case fans: Four units with LED lights; fan speeds were white initially, changed to yellow about a year ago.
- Usage: Primarily for photo editing and occasional video editing via Zoom/Teams. No gaming or heavy workloads.
I’m unsure where to look for error logs since I haven’t recorded any after the recent install. I’ll consider checking the PSU and fan settings next. Thanks in advance!
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
MSI B550-A PRO motherboard (with most recent stable BIOS flashed)
For the sake of relevance, please state the BIOS version.
Ryzen 9 5900X CPU
How are you cooling the processor? Make and model of your case? Ambient room air temps?
32GB DDR4 RAM (4 x 8GB modules)
Got a link to these sticks of ram or to the ram kit?
You state reinstalling the OS, where did you source the installer for the OS? Did you recreate the bootable USB installer to rule out a corrupt installer? Did you install the OS in offline mode? Making sure all drives were disconnected except for the one you wished to install the OS onto? Manually installing all drivers with the latest versions in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator, while in offline mode?
InWin A65E 650W PSU
How old is the PSU in your build? 3 Years?
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Also have a suspicion related to the power supply - the PC is a Cyberpower build which has run well in the 3 years I've owned, but the PSU is an entry level item so an upgrade may be in order.
PSU Tier List rev. 17.0g - Cultists Network
PSU Tier List will help you to choose the best PSU out of hundreds of models on the market. From budget to the highest end Power Supplies.
cultists.network
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...pZ...=931697732
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https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/co..._psu_help/
Unit is Tier-E, replace immediately.
To add, the RTX 3000 series was known to have high transient load spikes. Due to this, users were advised to overprovision on their wattage when purchasing a PSU to pair with said GPU, aside from looking into a reliably built unit. You should look at a 750W reliably built unit, for your above listed specs. Though for the sake of this thread, before you go buy something, it's best that you source(borrow, not buy) a reliably built PSU that has 750W of power at the entire system's disposal and see if the issue is alleviated. If it's resolved, that's when you place a purchase for said reliably built unit and return the PSU to your friend/neighbor.
P.S: If you arrive at the junction where you do need a new PSU, please include where you're located, what your budget is for your PSU purchase and your preferred site for purchase. The community can chime in with worthwhile suggestions.
The BIOS version is 7C56vAK, released on 24 September 2025. A later beta version exists but hasn't been installed yet; details can be found here: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B550-A-PRO/support. The system uses liquid cooling and is an MSI model, though the exact model isn’t confirmed. The case type is Corsair 4000D, with room temperatures ranging from 21 to 23°C. RAM information is available upon request. The unit was supplied with four 8GB modules, and I created two bootable USB drives for OS installation. One was used for the previous setup onto an old SSD, the other for the latest installation on a new SSD. Only one SSD was installed at each time, and no additional peripherals were connected besides the keyboard, mouse, and monitor. The operating system was installed online via wired Ethernet. After installing the GPU driver in administrator mode, there was a freezing issue before the GPU driver was applied. The power supply unit arrived with the PC in August 2022. I’m considering buying a new one as suggested, especially since I’m based in London and would likely order from an online retailer like Overclockers. Borrowing a PSU isn’t practical—most people in my circle aren’t familiar with PC internals, and I’m a single man in my mid-60s, making me stand out. It would be simpler to buy a new unit, willing to spend up to £100. Please let me know if you need more details. Thank you for your advice so far!
Sound cards can cause significant conflicts with a motherboard. I would attempt to remove it and switch to the built-in sound card from the motherboard. Update your motherboard drivers directly from MSI. Purchase a PSU from a reputable seller offering a solid return policy; be prepared for a 15% charge if you return it. Opt for a reliable power supply only after reading reviews, as warranty length is a good sign of quality. Choose models with at least a 7-year warranty—SeaSpring and Corsair are recommended options. A £100 investment is unlikely to solve the issue; aim for around £200. There’s no drawback to selecting a very powerful PSU, except for cost. It will only draw the power it needs, regardless of its maximum capacity. The difference between 750W and 850W may be negligible.
Acknowledged and appreciated your feedback. I removed the sound card for the latest update (now relying solely on monitor audio) and plan to use an external DAC in the future for better sound quality.
During the recent driver updates, I managed to stabilize the system despite frequent crashes over the past few months, so I’m confident everything is functioning properly now.
My initial checks on the power supply indicated that a budget upgrade might be necessary. There seem to be some discounts available, but a high-quality unit should be my priority for future upgrades (though not yet planned).
The input quality has been another focus area. This is my first PC with such a setup, and while I have some doubts about the CPU cooling system based on the BIOS, I’ll investigate further this evening at home. It could help clarify what’s happening, even if it doesn’t eliminate the need for a PSU upgrade.
Thanks again for your advice.
Thank you for your feedback. At this stage my PC becomes unresponsive within about five minutes after turning it on. I'm using a fresh Windows 11 setup with only the driver for the RTX 3060 GPU installed. I need to add CPU-Z and screen capture while it's running. I'll try to fulfill your request and provide an update.
View the image here.
Screenshots have been prepared as requested.
Tried the adjustment, but freezes persist. Reduced voltages to 1.28V still results in issues. All setups with two modules are affected. Are there other parameters I should change? This is unfamiliar territory for me. Just got a new PSU (Corsair RM1000X) and will test if it helps.