PC freezing up, help! :)

Hey everyone,

I've got this PC that keeps freezing up after about 2 or 3 minutes while running OCCT.
Specifically, it happens during the CPU:Linpack test—the actual CPU stress test runs fine, but then 😳 OCCT just freezes, or it happens about 10 minutes into a gaming session.

Specs:

- A 320GB WD Blue SATA drive; I've checked it with HDD Sentinel, CrystalDiskMark, and HDD Regenerator, and it shows as 100% healthy across the board.

- Power supply: I was using an old 400W MS Industrial unit—honestly, it was junk—so I swapped it out for a Corsair, but I'm still using the same thermal paste.

- HD6670 graphics card: Tested it, and it's working perfectly whether under load or idle.

- RAM: A mix of 1GB DDR3 and 2GB DDR3, totaling 3GB. I ran MemTest, and they seem to be performing without any issues.

- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo. Temperatures look totally normal even under 100% load, but like I mentioned, OCCT causes the screen to freeze after two minutes. Then I have to hard-reset the computer, and you get that annoying "tzzzzzzz" buzzing sound. 😁

- Motherboard: MSI 770-C45—though I'm really not sure if the board itself is the culprit here.

If anyone has any suggestions on what else I should try testing, please let me know—I'd really appreciate the help.

I don't think it's a driver issue, since the exact same thing happens even after a fresh OS installation.

So, what kind of CPU cooler are you running? Is it just the Stock one or something else?

The cooler itself is an original part—but I’m not even talking about the temperatures here

Did you swap out your power supply too—meaning, did you go with a Corsair unit? If so, I’m thinking it’s most likely a motherboard issue; once it hits those certain temperature thresholds, the board probably just freezes up. 🤷

I’ve already swapped out the power supply, but it still freezes up. I even tried running a live version of Windows XP, and the exact same thing happens—complete freeze. Then, I switched to a different processor, and while it didn't crash after two minutes like before, it still hangs after about 15 minutes. So, based on that, we can rule out the CPU being the culprit here...

Those chipset heatsinks on this motherboard aren't exactly rock solid—they're held on by just two flimsy plastic clips. It’s easy to accidentally nudge one while you're poking around inside the case, which can crack the thermal paste underneath. Maybe take a closer look to see if they feel loose? If they are, you should probably just clean them off and re-apply some fresh paste.

I had one board that absolutely drove me insane until I fixed the passive heatsink like that. See, besides the temperature sensors on your CPU and GPU, there are usually one or more sensors right on the motherboard itself—most often in the chipset, which tends to run a lot hotter.

darkowl72 said:Those chipset heatsinks on this motherboard aren't exactly rock solid—they're held on by just two flimsy plastic clips. It’s easy to accidentally nudge one while you're poking around inside the case, which can crack the thermal paste underneath. Maybe take a closer look to see if they feel loose? If they are, you should probably just clean them off and re-apply some fresh paste.

I had one board that absolutely drove me insane until I fixed the passive heatsink like that. See, besides the temperature sensors on your CPU and GPU, there are usually one or more sensors right on the motherboard itself—most often in the chipset, which tends to run a lot hotter.

Thanks

I took a look, and there is one passive heatsink held by two plastic clips; it feels really solid though—it doesn't seem loose or unstable at all.

In that case, you might be better off just leaving it alone.

Kyle Martin67 said:Hey everyone,

I've got this PC that keeps freezing up after about 2 or 3 minutes while running OCCT.
Specifically, it happens during the CPU:Linpack test—the actual CPU stress test runs fine, but then 😳 OCCT just freezes, or it happens about 10 minutes into a gaming session.

Specs:

- A 320GB WD Blue SATA drive; I've checked it with HDD Sentinel, CrystalDiskMark, and HDD Regenerator, and it shows as 100% healthy across the board.

- Power supply: I was using an old 400W MS Industrial unit—honestly, it was junk—so I swapped it out for a Corsair, but I'm still using the same thermal paste.

- HD6670 graphics card: Tested it, and it's working perfectly whether under load or idle.

- RAM: A mix of 1GB DDR3 and 2GB DDR3, totaling 3GB. I ran MemTest, and they seem to be performing without any issues.

- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo. Temperatures look totally normal even under 100% load, but like I mentioned, OCCT causes the screen to freeze after two minutes. Then I have to hard-reset the computer, and you get that annoying "tzzzzzzz" buzzing sound. 😁

- Motherboard: MSI 770-C45—though I'm really not sure if the board itself is the culprit here.

If anyone has any suggestions on what else I should try testing, please let me know—I'd really appreciate the help.

I don't think it's a driver issue, since the exact same thing happens even after a fresh OS installation.

Feels like I'm reading my own post from over two years ago. Same exact issue.

If you're using a cheap case, pull the I/O shield off the motherboard or insulate it somehow.
Mine used to crash during OCCT tests and throw blue screens too.

The case and the shield are causing a short circuit.😬

If it isn't likely a faulty motherboard, then you're looking at an MSI issue; they really struggled with the AM3+ socket, especially their budget and mid-range lines.

Alright, I’ve laid everything out on my desk to start fresh, but I'm running into the exact same issue. It’s not even hitting me with a Blue Screen of Death or shutting down entirely—the screen just completely freezes. Everything stays visible, but the system is totally unresponsive, leaving me with no choice but to force a hard shutdown...

Kimberly Gomez34 said:If it isn't likely a faulty motherboard, then you're looking at an MSI issue; they really struggled with the AM3+ socket, especially their budget and mid-range lines.

Generally true, but just my two cents—my MSI board is bottom-of-the-barrel, yet it’s been chugging along fine for three years now. Maybe you'll get lucky.