I've been battling this frustrating issue with my PC for months now. I've replaced several major parts, including the motherboard, PSU, GPU, and cooler, but it continues to freeze unexpectedly. I initially thought the problem was with the RAM after hearing a bang sound when everything started acting up. I replaced the PSU thinking it was fried, then swapped the motherboard, but nothing has changed. I suspected the CPU was overheating, so I tried a new GPU too. Interestingly, my RAM only works reliably at speeds of 4800 MHz or lower; even at 4000 MHz, it's still unstable. I've just ordered a new CPU and another motherboard to try and fix this mess. My setup includes an Intel i5 14600KF, a B760M motherboard, Corsair Vengeance 6400 RAM, a 2TB Seagate FireCuda SSD, and a Nautilus 240 RS cooler. I really can't figure out whether it's the CPU or RAM causing the problems, especially after being misled on previous guesses. Additionally, my PC randomly reboots while entering the BitLocker password, and the AIO fans ramp up to 100% when it freezes. I can game without issues, but if switching to AMD doesn't solve this, I might just lose it and take a hammer to my PC.
4 Answers
Have you considered replacing the SSD? I had a similar issue where a refurbished SSD was causing my PC to freeze, even though it reported as healthy. After changing the SSD, my problems disappeared.
Does this freezing happen while your PC is idle, or only under load? If it's during idle times, it might be related to the C-state settings in your BIOS.
This might sound odd, but have you checked your USB connections? Sometimes, frequent polling from USB devices can cause freezes. What frequency do your mouse and keyboard operate at?
My mouse is 8000 Hz and I'm using a Bluetooth keyboard. It's funny you mention the USB ports; they were a bit flaky on my old motherboard after the bang sound happened.
Have you tried updating the BIOS? Sometimes that can solve stability issues, especially with new hardware. Also, make sure to install the latest ME drivers for your motherboard.
I've checked, and the BIOS is already updated to the latest version. I also tried different voltages on the RAM and CPU, but it's just making things worse.
It's weird, but it only freezes after I enter the BitLocker password. When idle, everything seems fine, and I can game or browse the internet without problems.