Computer completely freezes after an hour or so (Windows 7)

[Edo]

First of all I don't know if this is the right place to ask for assistance but since I do have a Gigaybte motherboard and I have tried everywhere else and got no results I might as well try here.
This is my problem:For the last couple of days my computer keeps on locking up(or freezing),sometimes it's right after I start it,sometimes it's an hour or so after,the mouse arrow just stands there and I can't do anything else but restart my computer...and then it starts all over again.I would really appreciate any help that you guys can provide as I am pretty much desperate at this point and again don't know where else should I look for assistance,here are my system specs:
Motherboard:Gigabyte GA-M61PME-S2P
CPU:AMD Atlon II x 3 455 3,3 GHz
RAM:4 GB DDR2
GPU:Radeon 6770 1GB DDR5
PSU:Seasonic 520 W
OS:Windows 7 Professional 64 bit

[Vezina]

Indeed it s an annoying issue.

You should first test the memory ,but this can be caused by bad memory controller in the CPU , a bad HDD ,a  bad SATA controller or a bad video card.

Download Memtest and do 22 passes or so on each memory stick and then on both.

Also if possible try Windows XP ,it may be some driver issue as that chipset is rather old.

Have you installed any motherboard chipset drivers under Windows 7 ?! If so i recommend you to install W7 with only it s build in drivers.Add only the ones not included like LAN or sound if needed.

[Edo]

First of all thanks for replying,now I have tried to do this memory test but after it reached 54 % computer locked up again(in those 54 % there was no errors)and I have installed the basic driver for the motherboard but that was one 1 year ago...even while I was typing this it happened 2 times this time only for a couple of seconds.

[Vezina]

First of all thanks for replying,now I have tried to do this memory test but after it reached 54 % computer locked up again(in those 54 % there was no errors)and I have installed the basic driver for the motherboard but that was one 1 year ago...even while I was typing this it happened 2 times this time only for a couple of seconds.

Looks like memory or Memory controller issues if this happened while running Memetest from a CD or USB stick.Remove one of the memory sticks ,try them one at a time with Memtest..

[Edo]

Unfortunately that did not help and just as I thought the fact computer locked up during the memetest was just a coincidence since it took me an hour and a half just to test those 54 % .

[Vezina]

Unfortunately that did not help and just as I thought the fact computer locked up during the memetest was just a coincidence since it took me an hour and a half just to test those 54 % .

The only solution is swaping components into a know to work system ,one by one.
It can be some motherboard issue as it is rather old.

[Hippie Tech]

Check the capacitors on the mobo, graphics card and power supply. If any are bad, they will look swollen, wet and/or rusty.

[Edo]

Sorry for not replyng,had to pass kidney stones   (all is well now though).The freezing is also happening when I play games now,sometimes it just freezes for a couple of seconds and then goes back to normal and sometimes(like it happened today)it just stopped and started to make a weird buzzing noise.

[autotech]

First put  a good PSU and retest. Hopefully you can find a friend that has one. Had a simular problem and it made me go nuts i swapped out processor and memory then at last put up for a different motherboard when that made no difference i tried a different psu.

Didnt think it would make any difference as i froze after 30 to 40 minutes and since it powered up when turned on or restarted i was sure it had to be either operating system clean install or what i did above.  Might not be your problem but it is always my first step a known good PSU with a single 12 volt rail at 30 amps or above. That graphics card requires just a little less than your power supply so with everything else and how old your PSU is might  try it.

[Edo]

I just found that it was the Realtek HD Audio Manager that was causing these problems!So please tell me there is an alternative to this soundcard or am I stuck with it?

[autotech]

go to realtech site and see if a newer driver if not go to device manager and roll it back, if it wont do that google older versions of it, if that doesnt work download driversweeper and then uninstall it and go to windows updates and download that one see if it helps.

[Edo]

Updating realtek driver helped,thanks!

[Vezina]

Glad you fixed it for now.