Hi guys! I desperately need help!
After 10 years (yes, 10) with the same PC I decided to build a new one. I decided to wait for Ryzen 2000 and during the last weeks I was choosing and purchasing all the parts needed. On Friday I finally started assembling everything and installing Windows but, ****! The PC keeps freezing every few minutes! Something is really wrong. I'll give you some details:
Specifications
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 at stock clocks.
- Cooler: Scythe Kotetsu Mark II
- Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX B350-F Gaming
- BIOS: 4011 (the online retailer updated it so it would be Ryzen 2000-ready).
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 3000 (2 x 8 GB), running at 2133 MHz (I keep RAM settings in AUTO until I get the freezing fixed).
- PSU: Seasonic G-Series 550 W
- GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 (yes, it's old but I don't play demanding games at the moment, so I don't plan on upgrading anytime soon). It has been working flawlessly in my old PC for years).
- Disk drive: Seagate EVO 850 500 GB
Error messages
- I got twice a CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT error, but normally it just freezes. It can be browsing the net, installing something, or even sitting idle in the desktop.
Tests already performed
- Software: it happens since Windows 10 was just installed fresh, so I don't think it's a software issue. All drivers are up-to-date (as far as I can tell).
- I tried to install the Creators Update, but it freezes between 71 and 80%.
- MEMTEST86 gives no errors (default test, 4 runs).
- I tried with 1 RAM stick only, both sticks, but it does not help. When using one single stick I always used slot A2, as instructed in the manual of the motherboard.
- CPU temperature is below 40 (it does not have the time to get warm before it freezes, LOL).
- Other devices: I already disconnected the sound card, additional hard drive, DVD-drive, webcam and USB mic, but it does not help.
- I checked all connections to the motherboard, all cables are tightly attached.
Everything I could test seems to be OK. So I'm starting to think that either:
- I screwed something up. It's my first PC build; I had upgraded almost everything in my old PC without problems, and I think I assembled everything correctly in the new one, but maybe I overlooked something.
- Some component is defective. But, which one??? Possibly not the RAM, as MEMTEST86 passes, so what else? CPUs almost never fail, right?
What do you suggest? Is there anything else I could try? Should I RMA the motherboard?
