Windows 10: Random Freezing (no logs created); now CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT BSOD

OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64-bit 14393 Multiprocessor Free
CPU: AMD FX(tm)-8350 Eight-Core Processor
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G46 (MS-7693)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960
PSU: SeaSonic G-Series 80+ Gold 650W
Memory: 8128MB (2x4096) DDR3-1600

My computer has had a freezing issue where very suddenly the computer will become unresponsive and loop the last played audio frequency. It never blue screens or shuts offs; eventually, I'll need to hold the power button or unplug the computer to restart it.

No event viewer logs or memory dumps are ever made and the problem can never be reproduced, so I end up having to wait anywhere from one day to one week for it to happen again. I originally posted on Tom's Hardware (you can see my thread here) and so far I've tried:

• Multiple clean installs of Windows 10
• Memtest86+ (6+ hour test, all passes, no errors)
• Setting power options to High Performance and HDD to "Never Turn Off"
• Updating BIOS
• Change from IDE mode to ACHI mode
• Checking hard drive health with HD Tune - reallocated event count for my SSD was 16 and the freezing issue was quite common with my old SSD so I had it RMA'd but this didn't change anything
• Prime95 torture testing (10 hours straight right now with no crashes - my temperatures are attached below as temps1.png, temps2.png, and temps3.png)

Just this week, however, the freeze occurred for about 3-5 seconds before a CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT error appeared instead before the computer shut down. I'm hoping whatever caused this blue screen is behind what's been causing the persistent freezing issue and fixing this would fix that too. I've attached the requested logs below as well. Thanks!!

EDIT1: System Specs updated for more detail.

:)

 

Recent Frequency Increase: BSOD [CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT]

I'm experiencing an increasing frequency of Computer FREEZE and BSOD [CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT] instances, usually when I'm watching Online TV shows or movies (TWC Online). I've stopped using "EDGE" because of ongoing problems, and am now using "CHROME" as
my default browser. I understand that, basically, Windows can not handle interrupts when this happens, but what can I expect from Microsoft to correct this annoying problem and be more compatible with Online Video Services?

Summary of recent occurrences:

* 12/30/2015: 03:13:00 PM : TWC_Online : Request to File Explorer : BSOD (THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER) : Auto-Restart : c:/Windows/Logs : WindowsUpdate @ 3:16 PM, dosvc @ 3: 18 PM : c:\Windows\Minidump\123015-20968-01.dmp

* 12/31/2015: 03:45:00 AM : TWC_Online : BLACKSCREEN, Auto-Restart : c:/Windows : NO Minidump; Logs: dosvc, WindowsUpdate

* 01/10/2016: 4:32 AM : FREEZE while watching CBS 'Blue Bloods' on TWC_Online. Hard Power-Off required to restart computer

* 01/21/2016: 1:13 PM: Watching “The Blaze” live broadcast: BSOD (CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT) with NO Auto-Restart. Hard Power-Off to Restart

* 01/23/2016: 4:17 AM: Watching TWC Online: FNC : Freeze, then BSOD (CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT) : waited 10 minutes: with NO Auto-Restart. Hard Power-Off to Restart

 

BSOD / FREEZE Problems with WINDOWS 10

DISCUSSION: The following is recent BSOD/FREEZE occurances. I'm not interested in finding the cause of each one, but rather, when is Microsoft/AMD/et al going to upgrade Windows 10 and/or AMD
drivers to better handle interrupts and multiple threads.

Configuration: HP 500-314 Computer with: Windows 10 (64 bit), Processor: AMD A8-7600 [Radeon R7 Graphics, 10 Compute Cores (4C + 6G), 3100 MHz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)], 8 GB Memory,
2 TB HD, 500 GB External HD (Iomega).

RECENT BSOD/FREEZE OCCURANCES:

31.Dec.2015: 03:45:00 AM : TWC_Online : BLACKSCREEN, Auto-Restart : c:/Windows : NO Minidump; Logs: dosvc, WindowsUpdate :
10.Jan.2016: 4:32 AM : FREEZE while watching CBS 'Blue Bloods' on TWC_Online. Hard Power-Off required to restart computer :

21.Jan.2016: 1:13 PM: Watching “The Blaze” live broadcast: BSOD (CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT) with NO Auto-Restart. Hard Power-Off to Restart :

23.Jan.2016: 4:17 AM: Watching TWC Online: FNC : Freeze, then BSOD (CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT) : waited 10 minutes: with NO Auto-Restart. Hard Power-Off to Restart :

4.Feb.2016: 5:25 AM: BSOD [THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER] w/Auto-Restart: while watching TWC_Online (Channel 37) :

20.Feb.2016: 7:55 PM: three + hours into Defender Full Scan: BSOD [CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT] :

21.Feb.2016: 1:35 AM: BSOD [CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT] w/ NO Auto-Restart: while watching TWC_Online (Channel 37) :

21.Feb.2016: 12:23 PM: BSOD [THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER] w/Auto-Restart: while watching TWC_Online (AMC) :

22.Feb.2016: 3:25 AM: FREEZE while watching TWC (Billions) :

2.Mar.2016: 6:52 AM: BSOD [THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER]. Preceeded by: deletion of several files from File Explorer “Quick Access” list, then attempt to access TWC_Online via desktop shortcut. :

 

Hi PayneTrain,

Do you have other memory kits that run at 1866MHz? Or can you borrow any?
Your memory runs at 1600MHz while your CPU supports 1866MHz.


Please fill in your system specsPlease follow this tutorial and download the tool. The tool will give you detailed information about your system specs, please fill in your system specs more completely including PSU, cooling and other used stuff like mouse, keyboard, monitor, case, etc.
The PSU, cooling and other stuff are NOT mentioned in the tool.
In the left corner below in your post you find 'My System Specs'. After clicking it you can find a link a little below that says 'Update your System Spec', click on this link to get to the page where you can fill in your system specs.

 

Hi, my system specs on my profile and in this thread have been updated now using the 7Forums tool. I do not have access to any other memory kits at this time.

 

Do you know any friend, family or neighbour who you could ask?

 

Hi - I've asked some friends and none of them have DDR3-1866 RAM modules.

 

Unfortunately I see no other solution than getting a new kit of DDR3 1866MHz memory to test with *Sad

 

Do you mind explaining why you think the RAM frequency is behind this problem? You mentioned my CPU - the AMD FX-8350 - supports 1866 MHz RAM, but it does also support 1600 MHz RAM too, no? I can't spend $50+ on RAM when I'm not even sure that's what the problem is..

 

If you could provide a link where clearly is stated that your CPU supports 1600MHz I would appreciate it.

Incompability, incompatibility is a very annoying cause. It doesn't occur very often, but it something that should be checked.

 

AMD's website says that it supports frequencies up to and including 1866 MHz.

I also asked the question on their community forums to verify this information.

 

I missed this part...

Some other questions:

• What stress test option(s) did you run with Prime95?
• What stress test did you use for your GPU?
• Did you test your PSU similar to what is described in this tutorial? (Just to confirm it's been done properly *Smile )
• What are the 3.3v, 5v and 12v values according to the BIOS?
• When you RMA'd your old SSD, did you change cables and/or connection port when installing the new SSD?
• I assume there is no overclock present?
• After a clean install, did you wait for a random freeze to occur before installing any software/driver?
• What are the voltage and timings of the RAM according to the BIOS?
• What is the voltage of the CPU according to the BIOS?

Please run CPU-Z | Softwares | CPUID, open it and make screenshots of the following tabs

• CPU
• Mainboard
• Memory
• SPD*
• Graphics

*SPD shows the details of each stick, you can show the details by choosing different slots in the left upper corner.
Please make screenshots of each stick.

Please post each screenshot in your next reply/replies.

 

• I ran the torture test Blend for all ten hours before ending the test. No crashes or freezes.
• I used FurMark. It wasn't recently so I may have the settings wrong but I'm sure it was a standard Full HD stress test for about six to eight hours. No crashes or freezes.
• I have not. I'll run through the tutorial given if I can get my hands on a multimeter.
• 3.3V = 3.328V; 5V = 5.061V; 12V = 12.232V
• I did not change cables or connection ports.
• No overclock - could I confirm this somewhere to be sure? There is no overclock.
• Yes, it has frozen immediately following a clean install with no new software or drivers (other than hardware drivers)
• 11/11/11/28 timing for both sticks; I couldn't find the voltage readings in BIOS but CPU-Z does say they run at 1.50V
• CPU Core Voltage = 1.040V, or 1.048V, or 1.056V

Attached are the photos you requested from CPU-Z

 

1. Please run Prime95 again, but use the Small FFTs and the In-Place large FFTs options. Run Prime95 at least a few hours with each option.
2. Please open Furmark and try to remember what options were checked, or run Furmark again according to the instructions below in the post. I believe that the standard options should be edited a little where in the settings all options should be checked except for 'Dynamic camera', see the tutorial for the exact configuration.

6. The best place is the BIOS.








Diagnostic test

GPU TEST


Run Furmark tutorial



Note Run Furmark for around 30 minutes



Warning Your GPU temperatures will rise quickly while Furmark is running. Keep a keen eye on them and abort the test if temperatures rise too high
When finished, make a photo/screenshot of Furmark and post it.

In Furmark you can find a tool called 'GPU-Z' (if you want to install GPU-Z is up to you), when GPU-Z is open click on the 'Sensors' tab, on this tab you can monitor

• the frequency of the GPU,
• the GPU memory clock,
• the temperature,
• the power,
• the load on the GPU,
• Etc.

I would like you to make a screenshot of GPU-Z after you have either cancelled Furmark for any reason or Furmark is finished, post this screenshot in your next reply with the result of Furmark.

 

I've updated Steps 4, 8, and 9 of my previous reply with the BIOS readings. I have also successfully ran Furmark for about 55 minutes with no crashes or artifacts. I have attached the Sensors tab of GPU-Z below.