Question PC freezes during gaming and while using a second monitor for browsing or watching videos?
Question PC freezes during gaming and while using a second monitor for browsing or watching videos?
Hello, I'm facing a curious situation that keeps me stuck despite my best efforts to pinpoint the root of the problem. I'm mainly a gamer, using my PC for gaming and browsing, but I don't engage in video editing, crypto mining, stock trading, or remote work. Yet, I regularly encounter a PC freezing issue that only appears when using my second monitor for browsing or YouTube. Usually, I use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge—both of which I've experimented with because I think Edge uses less memory, though it shouldn't be a concern given my system's specs.
The freezing behavior is quite specific: my main screen freezes completely, yet I can still move the mouse and hear my friends on Discord. I can even reply to them, and they respond clearly. The secondary monitor freezes slightly later, but still allows interaction if I right-click the taskbar, revealing options like Task Manager or settings. Audio remains for up to ten minutes before everything stops, forcing a hard restart by pressing the power button.
When I describe it as "partially frozen," I can still interact with the secondary screen, though responses are very slow. If I close Discord, the window attempts to close but does so extremely slowly, as if shrinking in real time. Eventually, all interactions cease entirely.
I've tried various diagnostics and adjustments—resetting BIOS, running stress tests, reinstalling Windows, changing RAM voltage, cleaning the PC, rearranging components—but none of these solutions have worked.
I've also shared several troubleshooting steps without success.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
You forgot to mention the make and model of the PSU in your build. Include it's age.
ROG Strix B550-F gaming (Bios version 3202)
You have a BIOS update pending, to version 3205;
ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING | Motherboards | ROG Global
rog.asus.com
Clear the CMOS once you've verified that the BIOS was flashed successfully.
Swapped ram sticks to secondary DIMM slots, now using A2 and B2 (no changes)
They should be in slots A2 and B2 from the get go.
Reinstalled windows entirely on my (C.) drive
Where did you source the installer for your OS? As for your OS, did you install it in an offline mode? Did you manually install all relevant drivers in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator?
I upgraded the BIOS to version 3205, cleared the CMOS for five minutes to reset completely. Managed to use the PC for roughly two hours before it froze again.