[SOLVED] Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

anmihe · May 18, 2015

Hi guys,

Hoping for some help to troubleshoot my newly build desktop. Specs accordingly:

Intel Core i7-5820K - no overclock
ASUS X99-A - with latest bios
3x 8GB Crucial DDR4 Ballistix 2400MHz DDR4 XMP PC4-19200
EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2 PSU
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0
Windows 8.1

The computer freezes seemingly at random, can be in-game, when surfing, working in Photoshop or Illustrator or when it just idle with nothing but the desktop open. Can't find any apparent patterns, doesn't seem to happen more frequently when stress testing or gaming, sometimes it can happen just a few minutes after windows starts and sometimes I can game for an hour or two before it happens.

There is no BSOD, the screen just freezes and if any sound is playing it also hangs and becomes a buzzing/wining sound. Then it stands like this until I reboot, after it have happen computer boots and windows starts as normal.

This happens a lot, sometimes 2-3 times a hour and is only visible as a "Critical, Kernel-Power" error in the event logger.

This is what I have done so far:

- 2x fresh windows install with new and latest drivers
- replaced the GPU with a ASUS GT 740
- ran Memtest64 over night, passed 2 runs and was on the 3rd when no errors when I woke up

Still the problem persists.

Only clue I get is that often but not always when this happens 6F is shown on the motherboard Q-code display, which according to ASUS manual is in the interval for "System Agent DXE Initialization". Now clue what that mean or if it is related.

So this leaves the MOBO, CPU and PSU, I would assume CPU and PSU problems would show itself differently. Can it still be software/driver related?

And ideas, takes or suggestions?

How can I troubleshoot this further?

Running a Samsung SM951 256GB AHCI M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 as bootdrive...can this have something to do with it?

Thanks in advance, all help much appreciated.

x BlueRobot · May 18, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

I understand that your not experiencing any BSODs, but could you please run the following tool - https://www.sysnative.com/forums/bs...ng-instructions-windows-10-8-1-8-7-vista.html

anmihe · May 19, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

Hi there and thanks for your reply.

Ok, done. Or at least I hope, the file never generated a zip so I zipped the SysnativeFileCollectionApp output folder myself. And I had a hard time generating the system report, just got a "An error occurred while attempting to generate the report. The operator or administrator has refused the request." But I went in to the Performance Monitor and saved it from there as the report seamed to be generated anyways.

Hope it works for you. And since I wrote the post I have taken out one 8GB ram stick as someone suggested that I had to have them in pairs and couldn't use 3 with my motherboard, but it still freezes haven't just put it back in again.

Please let me know if you need anything else!

Thanks again! :)

anmihe · May 19, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

Hi again, some additional info...

As said in original post I ran Memtest64 overnight for about 10 hours, with all 3 ram sticks in and it ran 2 complete tests and was on the 3rd when I turned it off without any errors, Memtest report attached.

And I'm also running the Driver verifier as of the last hour without any BSOD's or other problems.

anmihe · May 20, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

Hi again,

Some more food for thoughts! :smile9:

There been a significant decrease in the freezes. I've only had 5 freezes in about 43h (and nothing in the last 36!) compare to 16 the 24 hours before that. Only thing that is different then from now is the amount of ram sticks as I pulled one out the day before yesterday after a suggestion that my problems was due to them not being in pair and that my motherboard required it. Still I've had freezes also with only two sticks...but much less.

Below is a overview of all the freezes, as the reboots I force to do is logged in the event viewer , the reds is with 3 ram stick in, the greens are with 2 ram stick.

Critical 2015-05-19 07:48:46 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-19 01:57:05 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-19 01:09:11 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-19 01:06:39 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-19 00:16:53 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-18 20:06:20 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-18 16:55:17 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-18 16:43:41 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-18 16:03:07 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-18 15:36:51 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-18 15:02:24 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-18 14:21:32 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-18 12:01:57 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-18 11:35:25 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-18 00:25:44 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-17 23:59:05 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-17 21:09:08 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-17 21:09:02 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-17 20:46:42 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-17 19:45:17 Kernel-Power 41 (63)
Critical 2015-05-17 19:37:27 Kernel-Power 41 (63)

As said, a significant decrease, and nothing at all in the last 36h.

Going to keep only 2 in for another 24h or so and then put back the 3rd and see if they increases again.

Thoughts on this? Can it still be memory related even thought I've passed 2 test in Memtest64 and still have had crashed with only 2 sticks in?

Thanks in advance.

Patrick · May 20, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

I'd run memtest for 8 passes:

Memtest86+:

Download Memtest86+ here:

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Which should I download?

You can either download the pre-compiled .ISO that you would burn to a CD and then boot from the CD, or you can download the auto-installer for the USB key. What this will do is format your USB drive, make it a bootable device, and then install the necessary files. Both do the same job, it's just up to you which you choose, or which you have available (whether it's CD or USB).

Do note that some older generation motherboards do not support USB-based booting, therefore your only option is CD (or Floppy if you really wanted to).

How Memtest works (you don't need to read, it's only for those interested in the specifics):

Memtest uses algorithms (specifically two), namely moving inversion & what is deemed Modulo-X. Essentially, the first algorithm fills the memory with a pattern. Starting at the low address, it checks to see if the pattern was changed (it should not have been), writes the patterns complement, increments the address, and repeats. Starting at the highest address (as opposed to the lowest), it follows the same checklist.

The reason for the second algorithm is due to a few limitations, with the first being that not all adjacent cells are being tested for interaction due to modern chips being 4 to 16 bits wide regarding data storage. With that said, patterns are used to go ahead and ensure that all adjacent cells have at least been written with all possible one and zero combinations.

The second is that caching, buffering and out of order execution will interfere with the moving inversions algorithm. However, the second algorithm used is not affected by this. For starting offsets of 0-20, the algorithm will write every 20th location with a pattern, write all other locations with the patterns complement, repeat the previous one (or more) times, and then check every 20th location for the previously mentioned pattern.

Now that you know how Memtest actually works, it's important to know that the tests it goes through all mean something different. It goes from Test 0 through Test 12, many of which use either one or the other algorithm discussed above, among many other things.

Any other questions, they can most likely be answered by reading this great guide here:

FAQ : please read before posting

anmihe · May 21, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

Hi again,

Patrik, thanks for your reply. I've ran through the first stick overnight and after 8h it had gone through 4 runs but failed all the hammering tests. See below summery:

Result summary
Test Start Time 2015-05-21 02:06:23
Elapsed Time - 8:02:00
Memory Range Tested - 0x0 - 240000000 (9216MB)
CPU Selection Mode - Single: CPU # 0
# Tests Passed 44/47 (93%)
Lowest Error Address 0x118B2C (1MB)
Highest Error Address - 0x23E41DCA0 (9188MB)
Bits in Error Mask - 00000000FFFFFFFF
Bits in Error - 32
Max Contiguous Errors - 1

Test # - Tests Passed - Errors
Test 0 [Address test, walking ones, 1 CPU] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 1 [Address test, own address, 1 CPU] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 2 [Address test, own address] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 3 [Moving inversions, ones & zeroes] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 4 [Moving inversions, 8-bit pattern] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 5 [Moving inversions, random pattern] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 6 [Block move, 64-byte blocks] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 7 [Moving inversions, 32-bit pattern] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 8 [Random number sequence] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 9 [Modulo 20, ones & zeros] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 10 [Bit fade test, 2 patterns, 1 CPU] - 4/4 (100%) - 0
Test 13 [Hammer test] - 0/3 (0%) - 2243

Last 10 Errors
[Data Error] Test: 13, CPU: 0, Address: 23E41DCA0, Expected: 00000000, Actual: 00000080
[Data Error] Test: 13, CPU: 0, Address: 23DC09A04, Expected: 00000000, Actual: 00040000
[Data Error] Test: 13, CPU: 0, Address: 23D80CD38, Expected: 00000000, Actual: 00020000
[Data Error] Test: 13, CPU: 0, Address: 23D41C0B0, Expected: 00000000, Actual: 00000008
[Data Error] Test: 13, CPU: 0, Address: 23A00C688, Expected: 00000000, Actual: 00020000
[Data Error] Test: 13, CPU: 0, Address: 23981CD08, Expected: 00000000, Actual: 00400000
[Data Error] Test: 13, CPU: 0, Address: 2398093A8, Expected: 00000000, Actual: 00002000
[Data Error] Test: 13, CPU: 0, Address: 23880D7BC, Expected: 00000000, Actual: 00004000
[Data Error] Test: 13, CPU: 0, Address: 235009508, Expected: 00000000, Actual: 00002000
[Data Error] Test: 13, CPU: 0, Address: 23241D1B0, Expected: 00000000, Actual: 40000000

Can this be caused my anything else but a faulty RAM? Going to run through the other sticks next overnight.

And I realized I'm not running Memtest86+ but rather Memtest86, does that matter?

Thanks for any inputs!

Patrick · May 21, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

Can this be caused my anything else but a faulty RAM?

Nope, not really. I mean yes, but it'd be a bad motherboard which I doubt + you can rule that out by testing the bad sticks in different slots. If they fail regardless of which slot they are in, then the board is fine.

And I realized I'm not running Memtest86+ but rather Memtest86, does that matter?

Yes and no. 86+ is better, although if you're failing Memtest86, you'd fail 86+.

anmihe · May 21, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

Ok, and thanks for your fast reply!

Patrick · May 21, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

You're welcome.

anmihe · May 22, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

Hi again guys,

Ran the second stick over night, but computer froze after it had been running for 7:43, and looks like it had similar results, 1960 errors and all the latest listed for test 13, the hammer test. And this is the original "third" stick I had in from start and had taken out when the freezes decreased significant as described earlier.

Will run the 3rd untested stick next, but if that also produces similar errors, and all for the hammer test, should I start assuming a motherboard problem? I mean, how likely is it that I would get 3 sticks that all show the same kind or errors and failing the same test?

Patrick · May 23, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

I'd just replace the entire kit, really. No use in testing all the sticks.

Mix and matching is bad, anyway. So don't use your current RAM + new RAM.

anmihe · May 23, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

Hi Patrik,

Thanks for the reply. Already tested the 3rd stick over night though. Gave similar result, after about 8 hours and 4 runs it had 1730 errors and all with the Hammer test.

The sticks is not bought as a kit though, just three 8GB single sticks of the same type and with the module part number: BLS8G4D240FSA.16FA.

So how likely is it that all 3 sticks would show the same types of error? Can this be caused by something else?

Patrick · May 23, 2015

re: Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

Bad board, but without a different kit to test, we can't find out.

anmihe · Jun 6, 2015

Hi Guys,

Just an update. Replaced the RAM with a new kit. These sticks passes Memtest with no errors and have had it in for 5 days now and no freezing since.

So pretty sure this was the RAM!

And thanks for the help and inputs! :)

Patrick · Jun 6, 2015

Cool, glad to hear.

Search

Search

[SOLVED] Random crashed, no BSOD, screen/sound freezes and reboot is required -Windows 8.1 x64

anmihe

Member

x BlueRobot

Administrator

anmihe

Member

Attachments

anmihe

Member

Attachments

anmihe

Member

Patrick

Sysnative Staff

anmihe

Member

Patrick

Sysnative Staff

anmihe

Member

Patrick

Sysnative Staff

anmihe

Member

Patrick

Sysnative Staff

anmihe

Member

Patrick

Sysnative Staff

anmihe

Member

Patrick

Sysnative Staff