Problem with I7-6700K system crashes
Problem with I7-6700K system crashes
Hello everyone, I occasionally buy and sell computer components. About half a year ago, I upgraded my 6600k to a 6700k from a machine I bought for resale. Within a few weeks, I started experiencing complete system freezes. These usually happen while gaming but can occur in other situations. They happen with or without CPU overclocking. I reinstalled Windows, updated the microcode for the CPU to the latest version (0xC6), replaced the RAM and GPU, applied fresh thermal paste, and ensured the Hyper Evo 212 Cooler was properly seated. It seems some Skylake CPUs were prone to this problem. Have anyone else encountered similar issues?
Do you have another power supply unit on hand for testing the CPU? It seems like you've checked all the usual options. You might also consider using a different power source if you can find one.
CPU freezing often happens with insufficient voltage. Check CPU-z to monitor voltage levels. Adjust BIOS settings to raise voltage and try again. Stick to a constant voltage, remove offset, and lock CPU speed. Switch to Windows High Performance power mode instead of Balanced. Turn off C states in BIOS, as they may cause issues. New RAM can also lead to problems—set it manually to default and test one module at a time. Full or partial load tests are helpful. Tools like Prime95 or Cinebench R20 are useful starting points. Troubleshooting becomes tricky when you change several things together. Reinstalling Windows during an unstable period could be contributing too.