PC needs more than ten minutes after powering on to function properly and enter a complete system lock state.
PC needs more than ten minutes after powering on to function properly and enter a complete system lock state.
PC Specs:
CPU: Intel i7-13700K
GPU: GeForce RTX 4080 (MSI)
Mobo: MSI PRO Z970-A WiFi
PSU: Corsair RM850x 80 PLUS Gold
RAM: 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 (2x16GB)
Windows installation on 1TB M.2 SSD partition, 2x 3TB HDDs, 2 M.2 SSDs.
My PC takes an inordinately long amount of time to progress to a usable state after logging into a profile. I have attempted to reduce the intensity of everything starting up during pc loading, but it hasn't reduced the amount of time being spent just waiting for the ability to do anything. If I try and start anything or open any windows during this, the entire computer hangs for minutes at a time.
Recently, possibly related, when my pc is under medium load while gaming (Shadow of War specifically), my PC freezes up for multiple seconds at a time in areas of high intensity and action. A couple of hours ago, for the first time, my PC froze up for 10-15 seconds first, then experience total system hard lock about a minute after, despite minimal CPU load of approx 15-20%, though GPU usage was 98% (not sure if this appropriate GPU load for the game on max visual settings).
I would really like to know the likely cause for these things. If my CPU is dying, that would be really really bad, but at least I would be able to narrow down the cause at least a little. Until recently, my CPU was overheating regularly due to a prior issue (now managed, at least for the time being), so might this have damaged my CPU and caused this issue?
Thanks in advance.
Check the Reliability History/Monitor and Event Viewer for any error messages, warnings, or informational entries recorded just before or at the time of the freezes. These logs might offer more insight into what’s occurring.
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Turn off the system, unplug it, and open the case.
Remove dust and debris carefully.
Confirm that all components—cards, connectors, RAM, jumpers, and case connections—are securely positioned.
Examine with a bright flashlight for any signs of damage: exposed conductors, twisted or bent cables, melted insulation, discolored spots, corrosion, cracks, scratches, loose or missing screws, swollen parts, or moisture.
These findings indicate potential issues that may require time to resolve.
If the problems persist during operation, there could be additional factors at play.
Concerning the PSU: is it recent? Was it originally built, replaced, refurbished, or used?
Has it been subjected to heavy gaming usage?
Also consider the power requirements of all listed drives.
In summary, the PSU appears to be a probable cause.
You should also watch for rising error counts in the logs, as power instability can damage software and further harm performance.
The PSU was purchased only in early 2023, making it two and a half years old. There were no unexpected viewer errors, even during the PC hard lock period. Around that time, there were just two issues: one for an "unexpected system shutdown" and another for a "unclean restart". Later, during the 10-minute test, four errors appeared—three related to Windows Update Medic Service and one for PushToInstall. No other significant problems. After the hard lock, the PC failed to boot and remained on the manufacturer's intro screen, requiring it to be turned off and left idle for about five minutes. Once it restarted normally after ten minutes, no further issues were observed. The reliability history also shows nothing unusual.
I primarily use the PC for gaming, but rarely for anything demanding, especially in the past six months. Even playing MTG Arena can cause the PC to freeze for several seconds if other tasks run on the second screen. All power requirements—drives, CPU, GPU, and peripherals—are comfortably supported by a robust 850W Gold PSU. I haven’t noticed any damaged parts or loose connections in the case, and my checks were thorough. There are no signs of burnt wires, bent cables, component failure, missing screws, or instability in any connected drives. All M.2 drives are securely fastened, HDDs are properly connected, and the GPU is firmly installed without any sagging.
To identify the root cause, try disconnecting as many components as possible—remove all drives except the OS drive, use a single RAM stick, detach the GPU and switch to Intel built-in graphics. Check if it boots and starts faster. If not, replace the RAM stick with another one. If the issue persists, the problem may lie with the CPU or power supply unit. The OS drive is a possibility, but if it freezes on the motherboard splash screen, it’s less likely unless there are two separate faults. This model uses a 13th generation Intel processor, which is known to experience such issues.
There are numerous drives; installing Windows with several connected drives could create confusing boot partitions that disrupt performance. Also, avoid installing games or apps on these drives—use them only for storage. Otherwise, your system will run extremely slowly.
In your BIOS, ensure only your Windows drive is set as the first boot drive, then turn off all other drives in the boot menu. Other drives, particularly HDDs, may hinder your PC's speed if they're scanned during the boot process. I have my system running a WD Blue 1TB SSD with Windows 11 25H2 and Antivirus installed only. My games are stored on a Seagate 2TB Hybrid HDD that matches the read-write speeds of my Windows SSD. I've noticed outstanding performance in games and productivity apps without any problems. Just a suggestion. I hope it assists you. Best of luck in resolving the issues affecting your PC so you can enjoy its full capabilities. Cheers from an old-school PC builder and gamer.
As an initial consideration about "The PSU was only purchased in early 2023, new, so two and a half years old," I no longer link the term "new" with qualities of reliability or functionality. This means I don’t assume it’s inherently faulty or unreliable. [Cynicism acknowledged.]
It’s important to concentrate on identifying potential causes by eliminating or deactivating possible factors. In simple terms, the aim is to figure out whether a specific condition leads to issues—either confirming if X causes problems or not. This approach can be challenging in practice.
I recommend changing the CMOS battery according to the instructions in the Motherboard’s User Guide. This serves as a straightforward elimination step.
You didn’t mention any time or date-related concerns, so I’ll verify where the system obtains its clock information. Errors here can lead to instability and performance issues. Once more, just as a logical step.
When reviewing, I observed references to "Windows Update Medic Service" and "PushToInstall service." Both seem to originate from Microsoft. A quick run of "dism" and "sfc /scannow" could help detect corrupted or problematic Windows files.
Refine the list of suspects—including the storage devices—as suggested by @JayGau.
Proceed slowly, change one element at a time, and document everything.
Observe for recurring patterns or additional changes.
I've observed another recurring pattern where the system stutters, and this occurs each time it freezes. This issue appears with every stutter, regardless of the game—whether it's Shadow of War or Terraria at its lowest settings. My game stalls and the GPU load briefly reaches zero.
In task manager, within the start up apps section you’ll find the last Bios time.
On my similar MSI Z690 model it is 14.6 seconds. (There seems to be a typo with Z970)
If you haven’t already, refresh the BIOS settings to the latest version.
Recent updates are essential to shield against the notorious 13/14 generation voltage problems.
What is your case model and CPU cooler?
You might be experiencing thermal throttling.
This will reduce the CPU speed until it reaches sufficient cooling capacity to restore full performance.
The adjustment begins at 100°C and serves to protect the CPU from overheating.
It may lead to performance lag.
Review your startup applications list; you can close them later if needed.
Scrutinize your installed programs for any unfamiliar entries.
Is your C drive nearing 95% capacity?
That indicates a significant performance issue.
While operating, ensure Task Manager remains active.
Monitor the CPU activity graph at regular intervals to observe core usage.
Are you running additional applications during gaming sessions?
Applications such as Discord often have higher priority and can trigger stuttering.
Nvidia and other software may continuously check for updates, potentially disrupting gameplay.
Consider using Malwarebytes Free Edition to scan for malware.
Verify your storage units. A few could be malfunctioning.
Apply the manufacturer's dedicated SSD diagnostic for SSDs and HDtune for HDDs.
Display screenshots (upload to imgur.com and share the link)
Monitor the temperatures of your M.2 drives—they may be overheating.
The 13th and 14th generation Intel processors show deterioration warnings. Overclocking could accelerate this problem.
If you haven't upgraded your motherboard's BIOS to address the concern, your CPU might already be compromised.
I modified my BIOS roughly five or six months back, and the overheating problem only appeared a few weeks later for some time. I didn’t realize the performance drop until then, so the update came about. Around the same time, I also undervolted the system to help with the heat issue. This happened after I relocated and moved my Windows installation to another drive, but a dedicated boot M.2 refused to start.
The faulty SSD is still connected, and I haven’t been able to detach or test my HDDs or SSDs separately, since my user files are on a different drive than the Windows installation (User files on a 3TB HDD, Windows files on a separate SSD partition) and it won’t boot if I disconnect the HDD. I scanned all drives and didn’t find any problems.
BIOS update took about 15 seconds.
Current BIOS version is around six months old.
I’m using a Corsair 4000D case, and my CPU has never exceeded 80°C anymore—though it used to reach 100°C often. I fixed that issue about half a year ago. I can still monitor the CPU temperature, and it’s not throttling.