First build in about a decade, my win7 machine keeps freezing for 1-2 seconds

[leibowski]

Hi everyone. First off I will say that I am brand new here so I hope this is the correct forum to post this in. I am going to try to be as descriptive as possible.

Now, here is my dilemma:

I built my first PC in about a decade as I made the switch to all Macs earlier in the 2000's during college. I decided to build a new PC for diablo (big surprise right?).

Anyways, I used a build that was posted on mmo-champion.com since I wasn't up to date with the newest parts in the slightest. So I build the machine yesterday and it all works. However, the system is randomly "stuttering" -- it will completely freeze up for 1-2 seconds then resume back to normal. I opened up the task manager to view CPU usage and it seems when this is happening the 1st CPU core spikes up to 100%.

Here is the full breakdown of my setup:

Running Windows 7. I disabled a lot of the preloaded MS components that I don't need/want.

Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive - WD5000AAKX (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00461G3MS/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00)

Gigabyte Intel Z77 LGA1155 AMD CrossFireX W/HDMI,DVI Dual UEFI BIOS ATX Motherboard GA-Z77-D3H (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R21K9E/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00)

8GB G.Skill DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz Ripjaw Series (9-9-9-24) Dual Channel kit F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00339X1EM/ref=oh_details_o05_s01_i00)

Intel Core i3-2100 Processor 3.1GHz 3 MB Cache Socket LGA1155 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JEVGMO/ref=oh_details_o05_s01_i01)

XFX AMD Radeon HD 6870 900M 1 GB DDR5 DUAL MINIDP HDMI DUAL DVI PCI-E Video Card (HD687AZHFC) (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005C31F2M/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00)

Asus 24xDVD-RW Serial ATA Internal OEM Drive DRW-24B1ST (Black) (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0033Z2BAQ/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i02)

Corsair Builder Series CX V2 500-Watt 80 Plus Certified Power Supply Compatible with Intel and AMD Platforms - CMPSU-500CXV2 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W2T2U6/ref=oh_details_o06_s03_i00)

TP-Link TL-WN951N 300Mbps Wireless N PCI Adapter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034CL2ZI/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00)


I have not tried removing any components to see if the issue stops yet. I will probably try removing the network card when I get home to see if the problem persists (probably not the cause but why not isolate?).

If you guys could provide any useful diagnostic suggestions or any tools that might help me figure out where this is coming from that would be really great. If you need information let me know and I will try to provide as much as I can.

Finally, if this is in the wrong place or even the wrong forum to register to try to get help on this issue, if any suggestions for the appropriate forum would be awesome. Thanks in advance.

 

[Soulcatcher668]

The first step I would recommend is download HWmonitor.

Keep it running in the background while you are using your comp.

It will tell you if you are having temp issues (can cause CPU spikes).

You should also check what is running in the background.

What antivirus do you use? Some of them are hogs that will use up all your resources from time to time.

 

[leibowski]

I just installed win7 yesterday so I haven't run installed any antivirus yet. On that same note, suggestion for the best one?

I will install HWmonitor tonight when I get home from work. Thank you for that suggestion.

 

[manu2b]

I've been using Avast for years and never caught a virus.

 

[Soulcatcher668]

I've been using Avast for years and never caught a virus.

+1

 

[leibowski]

Thanks will get that tonight as well.

 

[leibowski]

Well I solved the problem and I feel like an idiot.....I never installed the drivers off the disc that came with my motherboard.

Once I remembered to do that all the stuttering stopped. Thanks all for the suggestions on HWMonitor, I installed that as well as the antivirus program suggested above.

 

[Soulcatcher668]

Make sure you get the updated drivers from the gigabyte website. The ones on the disk are usually outdated.

Glad you got it solved.