PC freezes when CPU stress tests run without overclocking
PC freezes when CPU stress tests run without overclocking
Hey everyone, I just assembled my first PC and it would randomly crash during gameplay. I ran stress tests with Prime95 and Intel Extreme Tuning Utility. It tends to freeze for about 1 to 5 minutes in those tests. Even though all the lights stayed on and the fans kept spinning when it froze, I couldn't take any action. I haven't done any overclocking except enabling XMP in BIOS. Here are my specs: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/WqwTFs CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K 3.2 GHz 24-Core Processor CPU Cooler: Lian Li Galahad II Trinity Performance 108.29 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE X WIFI7 ATX LGA1700 Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-7200 CL34 Storage: Western Digital Black SN850X 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD GPU: Gigabyte GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB Video Card PSU: MSI A1000G PCIE5 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply CPU temperature during freeze: 75-85°C Idle, room temps 35-45°C
Hello, the stress test completed successfully, which suggests the issue might be resolved. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean your memory performance will match its advertised speed.
Not at XMP probably. Most 14th generation CPUs should handle 7200MT/s in XMP, though not every one does. You might have a model that doesn’t work. There are steps you can take to aim for a stable 7200MT/s, even if it means swapping your kit for something rated 6400 CL32 instead. That rating should support overclocking to 7200CL34 with similar effort as the 7200-rated version. If you decide to push it, begin by lowering memory speed to 6400 and gradually increase by 200MT/s until you hit a crash in Y-Cruncher VT3 (a stress test). After that, adjust IMC voltages—VDDQ TX, VDD2, and VCCSA—within their optimal ranges; higher isn’t always better. Once stable, run VT3 for two hours. If it fails, tweak PLL voltages, which can help achieve higher speeds.