Gaming issues/troubleshooting help needed

Hey everyone.

So, here's the deal. Lately, I've been running into this issue where while playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the game stutters or just completely freezes for about 2 to 5 seconds. After that, my FPS tanks from around 250–300 down to a pathetic 30–60.

It mostly happens mid-game, but recently it's started happening randomly during basic PC use too—usually when I’m just loading up a YouTube video. Everything hangs, and I have to force a hard reset.

Here are my specs:

Intel ® Xeon ® Processor E3-1231 (8M Cache, 3.40 GHz)
CPU Cooler LC-CC-95, Intel/AMD, 90mm 4-pin
Asrock Intel 1150 Socket B85 ANNIVERSARY Chipset MB
Kingston DDR3 1600MHz, C11, 16GB (2x 8GB)
Patriot SSD Blast 240GB, 7mm, 2.5"
Gigabyte GF GTX970IXOC, 4GB GDDR5, DVI, DP
LG GH24NSC0 sat Bulk Black 24 x super Flower Golden Green 350 w
Super Flower Golden Green 350W, 80+ Gold

GPU drivers are up to date, and I'm running Windows 10. GPU temps sit at 40°C at idle, and maybe jump up 10–15 degrees during gaming.

I've been digging around online, and the advice is all over the place. Some people say it's thermal paste, others swear it's the drivers, and some blame the power supply. Anyone dealt with this before? I've had this rig for two years, but these problems only started cropping up back in May.

Cheers.

James Baker87 said:Hey everyone.

So, here's the deal. Lately, I've been running into this issue where while playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the game stutters or just completely freezes for about 2 to 5 seconds. After that, my FPS tanks from around 250–300 down to a pathetic 30–60.

It mostly happens mid-game, but recently it's started happening randomly during basic PC use too—usually when I’m just loading up a YouTube video. Everything hangs, and I have to force a hard reset.

Here are my specs:

Intel ® Xeon ® Processor E3-1231 (8M Cache, 3.40 GHz)
CPU Cooler LC-CC-95, Intel/AMD, 90mm 4-pin
Asrock Intel 1150 Socket B85 ANNIVERSARY Chipset MB
Kingston DDR3 1600MHz, C11, 16GB (2x 8GB)
Patriot SSD Blast 240GB, 7mm, 2.5"
Gigabyte GF GTX970IXOC, 4GB GDDR5, DVI, DP
LG GH24NSC0 sat Bulk Black 24 x super Flower Golden Green 350 w
Super Flower Golden Green 350W, 80+ Gold

GPU drivers are up to date, and I'm running Windows 10. GPU temps sit at 40°C at idle, and maybe jump up 10–15 degrees during gaming.

I've been digging around online, and the advice is all over the place. Some people say it's thermal paste, others swear it's the drivers, and some blame the power supply. Anyone dealt with this before? I've had this rig for two years, but these problems only started cropping up back in May.

Cheers.

Check your Windows event log to see what's going on and paste it here.

Check the CPU temps during those spikes and see how much RAM is getting eaten up.

It seems to have become a predictable routine by now. I boot the PC, let it sit idling for maybe 5 to 10 minutes, and then try to launch YouTube or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The whole thing freezes for about five seconds—audio stays fine initially while the picture locks up—and then that obnoxious buzzing sound kicks in right before the system resets itself.

Here, every 'critical' error looks identical:

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date: 8/26/2017 10:35:30 AM
Event ID: 41
Task Category: (63)
Level: Critical
Keywords: (70368744177664),(2)
User: SYSTEM
Computer: Makziowskyi
Description:
The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.
event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power" Guid="{331C3B3A-2005-44C2-AC5E-77220C37D6B4}" />
<EventID>41</EventID>
<Version>5</Version>
<Level>1</Level>
<Task>63</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000400000000002</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2017-08-26T08:35:30.045893500Z" />
<EventRecordID>8986</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>Makziowskyi</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="BugcheckCode">0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter1">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter2">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter3">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter4">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="SleepInProgress">0</Data>
<Data Name="PowerButtonTimestamp">0</Data>
<Data Name="BootAppStatus">0</Data>
<Data Name="Checkpoint">0</Data>
<Data Name="ConnectedStandbyInProgress">false</Data>
<Data Name="SystemSleepTransitionsToOn">0</Data>
<Data Name="CsEntryScenarioInstanceId">0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckInfoFromEFI">true</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Fine, I'll get back to you regarding temperatures in a bit.

That Super Flower Golden Green 350w is 80+ Gold—I’m guessing you just grabbed it because it came with the case? I mean, there’s zero logic in pairing a PSU like that with those specific components...
Regarding the drivers, you said they aren't the issue. If it were the thermal paste, your temps would be spiking even at idle, so you'd definitely notice the difference. Though, you could always swap the paste out; it's not a bad idea, especially since it's only about $10
depending on what brand you pick. If you can swing it, maybe borrow a PSU from a buddy just to test it? I'm pretty much 90% sure that's your culprit. I went through the exact same thing once—blew my entire budget on parts and didn't have enough left for a decent power supply, so I was stuck using some cheap 500W unit that came bundled with a pre-built. It worked for a little bit, but then the same thing happened: every time I put any load on the system, the whole PC just freezes up...

Even if you aren't looking to drop cash this Friday, I spotted a Corsair tx650 for $50 on Craigslist. It's an older model, but honestly, for that price, you really can't complain...

mistyskipper4 said:That Super Flower Golden Green 350w is 80+ Gold—I’m guessing you just grabbed it because it came with the case? I mean, there’s zero logic in pairing a PSU like that with those specific components...
Regarding the drivers, you said they aren't the issue. If it were the thermal paste, your temps would be spiking even at idle, so you'd definitely notice the difference. Though, you could always swap the paste out; it's not a bad idea, especially since it's only about $10
depending on what brand you pick. If you can swing it, maybe borrow a PSU from a buddy just to test it? I'm pretty much 90% sure that's your culprit. I went through the exact same thing once—blew my entire budget on parts and didn't have enough left for a decent power supply, so I was stuck using some cheap 500W unit that came bundled with a pre-built. It worked for a little bit, but then the same thing happened: every time I put any load on the system, the whole PC just freezes up...

Even if you aren't looking to drop cash this Friday, I spotted a Corsair tx650 for $50 on Craigslist. It's an older model, but honestly, for that price, you really can't complain...

Thanks. Yeah, the budget was tight, and since I asked for recommendations for the whole build here on the forum, this is just how it turned out. I've been convinced it's the power supply the whole time, too, so I'll see what I can pick up. I'll check Craigslist and see what's available.
How much wattage do I actually need for this setup to stay stable?

I totally get where you're coming from. Been there myself. If you're looking at used gear, my advice? Scour Reddit or some dedicated PC enthusiast forums. You can usually snag better deals there, and since most people are just hobbyists, they’ll often give you some kind of informal guarantee. Way less chance of getting ripped off...
My move would be to aim for something around 600W—though honestly, more won't hurt. It's better to have the headroom. Just grab a solid modular unit from a brand like Corsair or Seasonic and you'll be set for a long time, especially if you decide to upgrade to a beefier GPU later or start messing around with overclocking.