Z68 Extreme4 Randomly Freezes

[RistoCaliente]

I really like the Z68 Extreme4 but every so often my entire system will lock up. It usually will happen when I am playing music or listening to a netcast. There is no BSOD or error messages, it just compleatly freezes and I end up having to power off my power supply to get any responce. (Ctrl-Alt-Del, Reset and Power Off do nothing)

I tried different music applications (iTunes, Zune, Window's Media Player, Etc, Etc.) But still encounter this issue. Also, I have the lastest BIOS and Audio drives from ASRock installed, still I have these issues.

I am hoping someone out there is having this same issue, or knows how to correct it. Thank you


My Build:
Cooler Master HAF 912
i5-2500K (Not Overclocked, Stalk Cooler)
Z68 Extreme4 (BIOS 1.5)
8Gb's RAM (PNY XLR8 DDR3 1600)
Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W

Windows 7 Pro 64bit

[gkline]

I have a very similar system. Same MB,CPU, case. I'm OC to 4400 without a problem. Are you using the stock HS? I use a CoolerMaster Hyper212+. As to PSU I use an Antec Truepower II 750W. What video card are you using? I have 2 5850s in Crossfire. How many fans in your case? I added 2 200 mm coolermaster fans and used a Zalman 120 mm for the exhaust. Sounds like either a ram problem I use Gskill ddr3-1600 or PSU. Could be that your heatsink is not properly attached.

[wazza300]

I would try manually setting dram voltage according to what's printed on your ram,either 1.5v or 1.66v,then try one or two clicks more qpi/vtt voltage than what auto is using,then see if bsod's still occur

[Ydinsieni]

I really like the Z68 Extreme4 but every so often my entire system will lock up. It usually will happen when I am playing music or listening to a netcast. There is no BSOD or error messages, it just compleatly freezes and I end up having to power off my power supply to get any responce. (Ctrl-Alt-Del, Reset and Power Off do nothing)

I tried different music applications (iTunes, Zune, Window's Media Player, Etc, Etc.) But still encounter this issue. Also, I have the lastest BIOS and Audio drives from ASRock installed, still I have these issues.

I am hoping someone out there is having this same issue, or knows how to correct it. Thank you


My Build:
Cooler Master HAF 912
i5-2500K (Not Overclocked, Stalk Cooler)
Z68 Extreme4 (BIOS 1.5)
8Gb's RAM (PNY XLR8 DDR3 1600)
Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W

Windows 7 Pro 64bit

Hi

What hd/ssd you are using?

Have you run memtest? If not get it from here Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool run it as default settings. You should run it when you go to sleep/work so it can run it more than once.

I prefer the auto installer for USB stick http://www.memtest.org/download/4.20....installer.zip

If program is not familiar here is info how to install it to USB stick http://forum.canardpc.com/threads/39...t-on-USB-Drive

[RistoCaliente]

@gkline: Currently I am using the i5's onboard graphics. I wanted to keep my build under $800, I do plan on getting a descrete graphics card in the future, but probably 2 - 3 months from now. I am using a stock HS, but even when my system is running fairly high intensity games, my CPU has never gone over 60C (Running CoreTemp to mark my Temps) Also, when computer is not under load, my it runs about 25 - 30C

@wazaa300: My system dosn't actually BSOD, it just freezes... no error messages, no codes. Even the mouse won't move. I will try changing up my voltage on my ram. My RAM recommends using 1.65v and I have it at 1.5v. I will see if that makes a difference. Thank you!

@Ydinsieni: I have a 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM, 6.0Gb/s. I have used Memtest86+ (found it in the recent Maximum PC article) I ran it about 5 times (Using the USB method) and did not come up with any errors. Thank you though.

Thank you all again for your help. So far the system freeze has been sporadic, but obviously troublesome.

[uszkanni]

I am also seeing freezing of my system, in two different contexts.

My system freezes when I power it on using the onboard DVI or HDMI connectors. Just get a blinking cursor. If I then hit the reset button, it will come up. System can be restarted from Windows just fine, just happens when it is powered off. The VGA/D-Sub connector doesn't have this problem.

I have also had a couple of freezes when "gaming" (I don't actually play games much but I use them for testing purposes). As in your case, reset had no effect, had to power down the system. In some cases, the system would power itself off after about 15 seconds.

Maybe the thing we have in common is using the onboard graphics?

Contacted Asrock tech support via e-mail and, while they were responsive, time-wise, they couldn't offer any suggestions other than to return the board to the reseller for a replacement. I am exactly 2 days out from the 30 day return period at Newegg and I'm hoping to get the thing returned in time. The question now is, do I try another Asrock or move on to a different manufacturer's problems.

[Drakoniae]

I have already reply in the topic of "BSOD" but for now my problem is similar to you
I use onboard graphic and are about 10 days that i "test" my sistem ( 6 hour max at day), i try a cuple of test (prime95...) but not all the day and the result was:
1 freeze during a startup of Asrock Extreme Utility 4 days ago, with no possibility to reset only power down.
my system:
2600k
asrock z68 Ext4
8(4+4) Gb Vengence Cl8 (set 1,5volt)
ssd intel510 120gb (sata3_0) (windows 7 Ult 64bit)
hdd wd 1Tb (sata3_1)

[wazza300]

You need to set dram voltage according to your ram,not enough will cause freezes,as will not enough qpi/vtt voltage,if your using the igpu then again you could test one or two clicks more igpu voltage than what auto is using,then test

[uszkanni]

You need to set dram voltage according to your ram,not enough will cause freezes,as will not enough qpi/vtt voltage,if your using the igpu then again you could test one or two clicks more igpu voltage than what auto is using,then test

Don't know if it will help anyone else, but it did not solve my problem. I tried IGPU voltage at both +50 and +100 mv with no effect. DRAM voltage was 1.5V as per my RAM spec. Still have the problem with HDMI and DVI at power up. Have also had another system freeze, this time while system was basically at idle. Don't look forward to pulling the CPU and cleaning/re-applying thermal compound, I was getting such nice temps.

[Da_Man]

see my post here Asrock Z68 extreme 4 : BSOD A clock interrupt was not received ---,

try to increase the core voltage to 1.190, it fix the freezing issue for me.