Understanding and Troubleshooting PC Freezes During BIOS and MemTest86 on Modern Hardware
Building a reliable and stable gaming or productivity PC can sometimes be a challenging process, especially when encountering unexpected hardware issues. Recently, a user shared their experience with persistent system freezes occurring early in the boot process, even during BIOS and memory testing phases, prompting an investigation into potential hardware incompatibilities or defects. This case study provides insights into diagnosing such issues on modern systems equipped with newer components like DDR5 RAM and AMD Ryzen CPUs.
System Configuration Overview
The user’s upgraded build includes the following key components:
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 4060 Eagle OC Ice
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Memory: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 (CMK32GX5M2E6000Z36, CL36)
- Motherboard: MSI Pro B650-A WiFi
- Power Supply: Corsair CX750W
Recent Changes and Symptoms
The primary modifications involved installing a new motherboard, upgrading to DDR5 RAM, and replacing the power supply. Post-upgrade, the user encountered a series of stability issues:
- The system would freeze during idle, typically within an hour of operation.
- Freezes occurred even during BIOS initialization.
- MemTest86, a diagnostic tool for memory errors, also failed due to system instability.
- The problem persisted regardless of GPU installation status, indicating the issue might not be GPU-related.
Additional Context
- The BIOS has been updated to version A.10, incorporating AMD’s AGESA ComboAm5PI 1.2.0.0a.
- Windows was freshly reinstalled via USB, ruling out OS-level corruption.
- Interestingly, a similar pattern of instability was observed on a previous motherboard (Gigabyte A620M DS3H), which experienced issues after several months of use, hinting at a potential recurring hardware compatibility concern, particularly with the memory modules.
Potential Cause: RAM Compatibility or Defect
Given the history and symptoms, the user suspects the root cause lies within the DDR5 RAM modules — either due to incompatibility with the Ryzen 7600X platform or a defect in the modules themselves. DDR5 memory, while offering significant performance benefits, can sometimes present compatibility challenges with specific motherboards or CPUs, especially if not on the motherboard’s QVL (Qualified Vendors List).
Key Diagnostic Questions
To guide further troubleshooting, consider the following questions
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