Windows keeps Freezing + Black screen every couple of seconds

[MaxLampe]

Hello everyone,


TL;DR: After building a new PC and installing Windows 10, the system freezes for 20-60s with a brief black screen at the end after every 5-10 seconds of "normal" usability. Needless to say, the system is not usable like this. I've tried many things and I cannot even pin-point the source (hardware or software) of the issue.


As mentioned above, Windows runs fine for a 5-10 seconds and then all mouse / keyboard input is ignored (mouse can still be moved) for another 5 seconds followed by a complete freeze for 30-40s. At the end is a brief black screen, after which everything is fine again for another 5-10 seconds. Then the cycle repeats. No suspicious activities in the task manager.


The problem appears regularly even without running any tasks. However, I feel it gets worse when you run a task or start a program or two.


Due to my efforts below, the only causes I can think of are an issue with the very old graphics card or maybe an issue with the CPU and SSDs? I am lost, to be honest.


Below are my hardware configurations and the things I've tried so far. I would be more than thankful for any help or even idea that I could try.
Best regards!



Hardware (all new except old GPU form 2012)

Motherboard: ASUS B450-F ROG STRIX
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700x
RAM: 2x Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB

GPU: Nvidia Geforce gtx 660

SSD: WD Blue M.2 SSD 2280 1TB

PSU: Corsair RM550x


History/Tried fix and result:

• Issue appeared during windows setup (before first desktop), after resolution went up during the windows set-up process.
  
• Get all Windows Updates - did not solve the issue
• Get AMD update via ASUS Grid software - did not solve the issue
• Activate Windows 10 and run updates again - did not solve the issue
  
• Running RAM Test (normal settings: 2 Tests) - Passed successfully
  
• Getting WDC Dashboard for SSD status /driver - Everything fine. However, sometimes, during loading of the program, the freeze etc. is triggered and the program remains blank afterwards as it seems to be unable to load the SSD data
• Getting Nvidia experience program for latest driver - did not solve the issue
• BIOS update on ASUS Board - did not solve the issue
  
  
• Checked compatibility of M.2 SSD with mother board. Should be fine.
• Checked slots for RAM in motherboard again and mechanical issues (everything plugged in tightly etc) overall.
  
• Changing power plan in settings to not suspend the drive - setting value from 30min to 240min (found that in a forum) - did not solve the issue
  
  
• Rebooted without mouse and keyboard plugged in (i.e. without USB devices plugged in) - did not solve the issue
  
• Using an older 750W Power supply - did not solve the issue
  
• During one of the many trips to the UEFI, I tried the auto-tune (i.e. automated overclocking settings) of CPU and RAM. The SSD was not found afterwards, and I had to revert to default settings. Maybe hinting to an issue with CPU and SSD?
  
• Removing and installing the SSD completely - did not solve the issue
  
• Using an older SSD (Crucial 128GB), reinstalling Windows - issue there again, however, not during Windows setup (stayed in low resolution). Started happening on desktop (on automated full resolution) immediately again.
  
  
• The following was tried on the old SSD and hence all above steps (new drivers etc.) are not yet installed!
  
• Via reg file, add AHCI link power management settings option to power settings in order to turn off LPM (found that in a forum) - did not solve the issue
  
• Lowered resolution to 800x600 - did not solve the issue
  
• Removed graphics card driver to use windows graphic driver - did not solve the issue (I am not sure if I did that right though, as it reverted to some sort of Nvidia driver after all)
  

Thank you in advance for everybody who reads this. I hope I was detailed enough.
Best regards,
Max

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