PC freezes during periods of heavy CPU usage?
PC freezes during periods of heavy CPU usage?
System details:
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 6-Core (new)
CPU cooler: standard cooler included
Motherboard: ASUS Prime A320M-K
Memory: Corsair CMK16GX4M2Z2933C16 Vengeance LPX 16GB 2933MHZ 2x8 (new)
Storage: Intenso SSD Sata 3 Top 512GB (system drive + new) + Crucial BX500 480GB CT480BX500SSD1
GPU: GTX 1060 6GB
Power supply: Seasonic focus plus 650 gold
Case: MemoryPC Midi-Tower Schwarz
Operating system: Windows 11 64bit
Monitor: Benq Xl2411P (144hz) + Belinea 1925 S1w (60hz)
Hello,
I'm experiencing problems since I acquired this PC it's used second hand and I've already swapped out some parts. Initially I suspected the CPU was the culprit, but after replacing two more components the issue continued.
Potential causes for freezing (are there others?) The other components have been replaced:
GPU: GTX 1060. I strongly believe the graphics card isn't responsible. Freezes occur during CPU workloads, not GPU usage.
Motherboard: ASUS Prime A320M-K updated to the latest BIOS version. It's possible the motherboard is the source of instability, but I'm unsure how to track it.
I'm uncertain about the PSU model, but I also doubt it's the main problem. The system never crashed due to power shortages.
CPU, RAM, and hard drive (SSD) have all been replaced. The remaining parts are second-hand. I still had the old hard drive, but I checked its condition with a crystal disk test earlier; results were normal. Stability or performance problems could arise if the hard drive is failing, though that seems unlikely.
I'm using Windows 11 64bit as my OS and noticed freezing episodes sometimes. Opening Task Manager and restarting Windows Explorer resolves it occasionally, but it can linger for about 20 seconds before I have to wait.
Tasks that trigger freezes:
- Veracrypt encrypting a hard drive
- Playing a game while recording (depends on load; heavy games cause freezing if recording starts)
- Rendering videos
I'd like to understand the root cause or find ways to monitor components that might be affecting performance. Personally, I suspect the motherboard is the main issue. I doubt the GPU would behave this way, especially during non-GPU-intensive tasks. The PSU seems fine under CPU-heavy activities like encryption, so it's likely the motherboard is the culprit. I'd prefer to seek advice before replacing it.
Also, my OS remains fresh since installing Windows 11 on a second hard drive and using the first as secondary storage. Please let me know if you need further details.
Best regards
Edit1: Included full system specifications
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
When sharing a troubleshooting thread, it's important to provide your complete system details. Please list the specifications as follows:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
Include the age of the PSU along with its make and model. Also, note the BIOS version for your motherboard at this time.
I'm running Windows 11 64bit. I've noticed occasional freezes where opening the task manager and restarting Windows Explorer resolves the issue, but sometimes it remains frozen for about 20 seconds before requiring patience.
Where did you obtain the OS installer? If you're still using the original OS from purchase, consider reinstalling after creating a bootable USB and installing offline, then manually adding drivers via an elevated command—such as right-clicking the installer and selecting Run as Administrator with the latest drivers.
I don't know the PSU model, but I'm also unsure if it's contributing to the problem. The system never crashed due to power shortages.
Remove the side panels from the case and check the sticker on the PSU for clues. Also, be cautious about the unit's age.
The task manager is informing that the issue arises at the moment of occurrence.
Hallo, ich habe meine Task-Manager- und Ressourcenmanager aufgenommen und es scheint, dass die Abstürze auftreten, wenn mein Festplattenlaufwerk 100 % belegt ist, während ich ein Spiel spiele und ein Video auf meinem zweiten Monitor ansehe.
I did additional recordings and increased the system load to recreate the freeze. I created a volume, encrypted it with veracrypt, and observed unusual activity with System PID4. The test file being used was the one I was creating or encrypting. In the second picture, for some reason, my game Dead Island 2 appeared with high read demand even though I hadn't started the game. I was booting up Lost Ark instead. Edit1: just noticed that Windows Defender reactivated, possibly scanning the game files at that time.
Another update: I executed crystaldiskmark and the write operations are very minimal, but I'm unsure what might be responsible.
Here is a screenshot of CrysatlDiskInfo: