PC Freeze
PC Freeze
Approximately two months ago, I purchased a new PC and have been experiencing freezing problems. The issue appears as a slowdown or complete freeze. On one screen, I play football manager while another runs a YouTube video on the second screen. When the freeze starts, the computer stops responding—clicking buttons yields no effect, the video freezes despite ongoing downloads, and opening new windows or apps fails to load content. Restarting from the start menu doesn’t resolve the problem. The freezes occur irregularly, sometimes lasting a few days before recurring. I checked system metrics using HWMonitor but didn’t find any alarming data. During a freeze, the CPU usage was around 23% and RAM at 37%, with temperatures normal. I haven’t been able to pinpoint the exact cause consistently because I can’t predict when it happens or always have the system open.
My initial thought was that one of my two RAM modules might be faulty since they’re new, along with the motherboard and CPU. I ran MemTest several times and found no errors. I removed one module and swapped them, but the freeze persists. There were also no crash reports to point to a software issue.
It seems unlikely the GPU or SSDs are the problem, as I moved those components from my previous machine and drivers are current. My suspicion now leans toward the motherboard or CPU. Could anyone assist me further?
PSU: Corsair 850W RMx Series Modular 80 Plus Gold
I plan to revise my initial message with these details. I've completed several memtest checks without any issues. I'll try updating my BIOS while I'm at it.
The power supply comes from the previous model (late 2016). For storage, I acquired two Samsung SSDs: one 1TB EVO 850 and another 2TB EVO 870. The 850 holds the operating system, and both are from the older machine.
I believe this issue has been ongoing for a while.
Disconnect the disks from the power source.
Maintain the first disk with the windows open.
If you're using a less powerful graphics card, install it in your system and observe if freezing occurs.
It seems the power supply might be the cause, especially under heavy usage.
I updated my BIOS first, then waited to see if that resolved the issue. The PSU should be sufficient for my setup. I used the PC part picker to assemble the computer and calculate its power needs. I didn’t perform any tasks that would strain the power supply. I’ll remember this and the disks in case it happens again, though I suspect a CPU problem might be the cause. The frustrating part is I can’t recreate the issue—it just occurs.