CPU instability? need help!

[Scoobyboo]

Hello, I'm having problems with my new build randomly freezing up (let's say about once a week).

It happens when I'm browsing the internet for example and I want to open the start menu, another program, ... but all it does is change the mouse pointer into that loading circle.
I can keep using the programs that are open already (alt-tabbing doesn't work tho) but the rest of the system is just frozen.
Another example is when I'm doing mediocre tasks and an IM chat window opens up, but it doesn't show the person that tries to talk to me nor their text, and the system is also frozen up.
There are other examples so I would think it's not software related at all.

I'm using a 3570K on an Asus Maximus V Gene motherboard with a Dark Rock Advanced heatsink.
The other hardware can be seen in my signature.
Overclocked to 4.4ghz, with 44 x 100, voltage offset of [-]0.025V
75% LLC and the Power Phase Control on Optimized
Maximum Temp (using realtemp 3.70) idle is 43°C, and 75°C on stressed load.
ROG CPU-Z gives Core Voltage 1.192V idle and 1.176V on stressed load.

For stability testing, I got through LinX, Prime95, HCI memtest with even an offset voltage of -0.035V but I lowered it hoping it would have fixed my problem...

On the other hand, I'm wondering if maybe my videocard could be the culprit...
I have a shitty 9600GT and at the moment I'm only using the native win7 drivers for it, so I haven't installed anything from Nvidia yet.

 

[BrightCandle]

Take everything back to stock speeds and run it for a few days. Confirm it is actually the overclock and not a general hardware fault. Then overclock slowly with decent stability tests. Once you get 4.2Ghz and above don't just 10 minute prime 95 test the machine, instead make sure to actually use it for something real and spend a few days with it to confirm it actually does work.

If it fails at some point you bump the voltage, until that is you hit either a heat problem or your maximum acceptable voltage (I would recommend 1.35V).

I would hazard a guess and say your CPU overclock is unstable, and it likely requires a lot more voltage than its getting for the clock speed you have, but that could have started being a problem since about 4.0 Ghz so you could be 0.1 V or more away from what you should be running, but the only way to do it is rail it back and use general use as a stability test as well.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Yeah, run at stock before wasting your time on anything else. Also, take the 9600GT out and blow the years of dust out of it.

 

[TJCS]

-restore stock speeds/settings
-install updated drivers for your hardware (also check for exclamation errors in device manager)
-take a look inside event viewer > system for errors (WHEA-Logger)

good luck

 

[VirtualLarry]

OCZ SSD? If so, could be the culprit.

 

[Scoobyboo]

Thank you for the replies, pointing out it's most likely my OC.
I'll try out the stock speeds and hope I can go from there

Eventviewer only shows the unexpected shutdown as error, and network link disconnecting.

There's no exclamation marks in device manager, but I'll take a look if I find any new drivers (the build is only running for a month yet).