Hey all, I've been having an issue for the past few months that I haven't been able to figure out how to fix. I'm kind of at a loss as to how to figure out what the cause to my problem is. Anyway, the problem is that seemingly randomly, my computer will shut off and start back up. I'll be doing anything, and sometimes nothing, and the computer will just reset right away. No windows shut down, no blue screen, nada. Screen just goes black and the computer starts up with POST and loads up to the windows error screen informing me of a shutdown and my options to start normally or safe mode, etc.
 
My overclock is completely stable as I have completed 20 runs in LinX 0.6.4 with a problem size of 25,000. Temps never exceeded 88C on any core as read by Real Temp 3.4. MemTest has shown no errors as well. The computer shuts off sometimes during gaming, sometimes while the computer is idle, sometimes while I'm surfing the net or anything. It does seems to happen mostly when there is some kind of multimedia going on. Usually videos, flash, java, video games, etc. I also get strange freezes with a loud buzzing sound coming out of my speakers randomly during videos (usually those within a web browser). Like if I watch a video on youtube, it'll randomly freeze and that loud buzzing sound will come through my speakers and I'll have to turn off the computer by holding the power switch down. I'm not sure if the shutdowns and freezes are related to eachother, but obviously I'd like to somehow fix both of them. My video drivers are up to date (260.89) as well, but my BIOS is not. I can't remember which BIOS version I'm using, where do I check this?

Here are my BIOS settings as well:


CPU Clock: 20x
CPU Freq: 201
MCH Strap: Auto
CPU Uncore 16x
CPU Clock Skew 0ps
Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Freq: 100
OC Recovery: Disabled

Memory SPD: Standard
Memory Freq: 1067 Mhz / 2:8
Channel Interleave Setting: 6 way
Rank Interleave Setting: 4 way
Memory Low Gap: Auto
tCL: 9
tRCD: 9
tRP: 9
tRAS: 24
tRFC: 74
Command Rate: 1T
The rest are on Auto.

CPU Vcore: 1.35
VTT: +150 mV
CPU PLL: 1.65
IOH PLL: 1.8
QPI PLL: 1.175
DIMM Voltage: 1.64
IOH Vcore: 1.1
IOH/ICH I/O Volt: 1.5
ICH Vcore: 1.05
VTT PWM Freq: 610 KHz
CPU PWM Freq: 1210 KHz
CPU Impedance: Less
QPI Signal COmpensation: Middle

Intel Speedstep: Disabled
Turbo Mode: On
CxE Function: Disabled
Exectue Disable Bit: Disabled
Virtualization: Disabled
Hyperthreading: Enabled
Active Cores: All
QPI Controll Settings: Enabled
QPI Link Fast Mode: Enabled
QPI Freq Selection: 4.800 GT/s


Any input from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

Everest says I'm using Release Number IX58S61J.
 
Also, I'm not using a sound card, just the sound that comes with the motherboard and I have them updated to the ones on the EVGA drivers list as well.

I think I will first try stability testing with Prime95 over night even though it 20 passes of LinX. Then I will try running at stock for a few days. The crashes and freezes really happen so infrequently...It's like 1-2 times per week usually. Some weeks I go without shutdowns or freezes entirely though, and others I get more than 2. If I watch movies or videos through a web browser, it will crash for sure within 30-60 min, sometimes it'll crash within the first minute of a youtube video, or it'll take me watching a few youtube videos and then it crashes.
 
But for sure if I continue to watch web browser videos, it'll inevitably crash...This is just as much of a problem as the shutdowns, seeing as shutdowns can happen at really inconvenient times, like when I'm #1 in BFBC2 (this has happened several times), or when the loot drops in WoW...Other times it just happens randomly like when I'm browsing the net or when I'm asleep and left my computer on doing nothing. Does this sound linked to having power problems in my house? It does seem like it could be a power issue in some way, like with my power supply...or RAM? The crashes during videos sounds like there might be something wrong with my video card, but I really have no clue. Maybe it's just problems with my BIOS too? I don't remember ever having these issues when I first built my computer.

I just had this problem.  To rectify it I had to update my bios to 74.  Then I had to enable Intel Speed step (Under the cpu features).  I also had to change my memory to 2:10  I have an i7 2.66 ghz....Something about it opperating at 1333 and the memory at 1066 was cuasing problems.  I also adjusted my memory voltage to 1.65 (My memory needed that, but it was defaulting to 1.5 volts) I also adjusted my memory timings.
 
Before I updated my bios, I would get a black screen and then the computer would restart...after I would get BSOD page fault errors....NOW after all these changes I run fine no problems.
 
hope this helps.
 
David Norvell

Updated my BIOS and put back in my overclock. I'm going to run some stress tests tonight to see how it is.

Now Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit won't properly show my RAM...

 
3.99 GB Usable? What the heck?

Just restarted and now it says 1.99 GB usable...So weird. Going to try the tRL +1 or +2 suggestion from you, loveha.

I was getting more problems on that other BIOS, so I reverted back to my old BIOS. I'm still having freezing issues and the computer shutting off. Anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem could be? My processor typically runs around 48-50C idle and never gets past 80C when I play games or anything. If I run LinX it'll max out around 88C. I know that's high, but it's stable at that, and it never gets to 80 or beyond during normal applications. Anyone think my overclock is unstable and any idea how to fix freezes or shutdowns?

There are many errors in my event viewer...The biggest one is Event 35, Kernel-Processor-Power. 312 in last 7 days, 88 in last 24 hours, 16 in last hour. This may be linked to my computer shutting down and/or freezing, I think... The last one is listed at 3:24:51, which is about when my computer last shut off...

Some research shows that if I enable SpeedStep, it'll completely fix this problem...I will test this, but if I'm not mistaken, SpeedStep will lower my performance will it not?