Asus Desktop Locks Up [SOLVED]

[rgand]

My wife's Asus desktop computer locks up when she's running streaming stock charts. The computer works fine for a short while then just locks up and she needs to turn the power off and re-boot.

Her system: Linux Mint 18.1 Cinnamon 64-bit v3.2.7, Linux Kernel 4.4.0.72-generic, Intel Core i7-4790K CPU @ 4.00GHz x 4, 16GB RAM, 250GB SSD (for OS), 1TB SSHD (storage drive), NVIDIA GM107 (GeForce GTX 750).

She runs the stock charts on Google Chrome since they don't work on Firefox.

The computer works fine when she boots to Windows 7 and runs the charts there. She can also have other windows open to do other things and everything works fine. That OS is also on a 250GB SSD (not the same one) with access to the same 1TB storage drive.

I cleaned the computer and filters just the other day so I know it isn't heating up.

Do I need to increase her virtual memory to help this? If so, how do I do that? Is there some other setting or configuration needed? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the help.

[kc1di]

first lets get a better look at your system
Please run this command in a terminal and post the output here.

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inxi -Fxz

I Suspect that since it won't run in FireFox it's a flash problem of some sort.
It may be helpful for those trying to help to know the web address so they can test it.

[rgand]

Thanks for the reply. I took a screen shot after running the line.

inxiFxz.png

The stock chart turns out to be a streaming thing. Here's the url but without a paid subscription, you probably won't be able to view it.
https://www.philsgang.com/class-updates/trading-class/

[austin.texas]

The command is

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inxi -Fxz

Not inxi Fxz
You can copy and paste the text with the mouse. A screenshot is not necessary.

[rgand]

Apologies for the typo before. I am not on her computer so I had just done a screen shot since that was easiest.

This time I created a text document and sent that to my self via email. Here's the text from that file:

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marie@MLinuxSSD ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: MLinuxSSD Kernel: 4.4.0-72-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.2.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.1 Serena
Machine:   System: ASUS product: All Series
           Mobo: ASUSTeK model: Z97-AR v: Rev 1.xx
           Bios: American Megatrends v: 2012 date: 09/30/2014
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7-4790K (-HT-MCP-) cache: 8192 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 31999
           clock speeds: max: 4400 MHz 1: 4000 MHz 2: 4000 MHz 3: 4000 MHz
           4: 4000 MHz 5: 4032 MHz 6: 4000 MHz 7: 4004 MHz 8: 4000 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GM107 [GeForce GTX 750] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) FAILED: nouveau
           Resolution: 1680x1050@59.88hz, 1920x1200@59.95hz, 1920x1080@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on NV117
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.2.0 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 9 Series Family HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 NVIDIA Device 0fbc driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-72-generic
Network:   Card: Intel Ethernet Connection (2) I218-V
           driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: f040 bus-ID: 00:19.0
           IF: eno1 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1826.4GB (20.8% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: Crucial_CT256MX1 size: 256.1GB
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: ST1000DX002 size: 1000.2GB
           ID-3: /dev/sdc model: WDC_WDS250G1B0A size: 250.1GB
           ID-4: USB /dev/sdd model: 3200BEV_External size: 320.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 214G used: 11G (6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 17.12GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdc5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8C mobo: 27.8C gpu: 34.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 0
Info:      Processes: 243 Uptime: 3:00 Memory: 822.8/15989.9MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.461) inxi: 2.2.35 
marie@MLinuxSSD ~ $ 

[kc1di]

Looks like it may be a problem with your graphics card driver It says:

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Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GM107 [GeForce GTX 750] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Failed: nouveau
           Resolution: 1680x1050@59.88hz, 1920x1200@59.95hz, 1920x1080@60.00hz

So I would go to the driver manager found in menu >Administration and install the recommended Nvidia driver for your card.
See if that makes a difference.

[rgand]

I installed the recommended driver as you suggested. We had to reboot the computer several times to get it to load correctly but now it seems to work fine. I'll test it more later to make sure it boots correctly every time. Will be able to test the live streaming tomorrow as it's over for today.

I also did the same on my ASUS laptop and found a recommended driver. It booted correctly the first time. Both my laptop and her desktop seem to be faster with video-related functions. Before, my laptop screen was slightly 'pinched' proportionately compared to the external monitor I use. Now both are correct.

Thanks for the help. I'll report back tomorrow on how the live streaming works.

[rgand]

Good test this morning. It locks up still. It looks like it does it when other applications are running. The session is run through Chrome. I had her test it with different apps and it seemed that when it locked up, Firefox and Mailwasher (runs through Wine) were both open but not necessarily doing anything active. It did happen quicker when she was working in Mailwasher but not when Firefox wasn't running. It didn't lock up when she worked in Mailwasher without Firefox open. When the 'go to meeting' session was over, the computer was running sluggishly and a re-boot corrected that. None of this happens in Windows with Firefox and Mailwasher running and being used. How do I increase the virtual memory to see if that is the problem?

[kc1di]

how much ram is in that machine. The swap file if that is what you mean by virtual ram will not be used unless your running out of ram memory.

[rgand]

It has 16 GB RAM. I suspect then that isn't the issue. I'll check the actual usage tomorrow when she's on the session. Any other suggestions on what to check?

[kc1di]

only thing I can think of is if it's streamed using flash. there is a setting that say hardware acceleration which you can access by right clicking on a flash screen. Make sure that is unchecked.

other than that I would monitor the cpu usage and temp of the processor.

[Neil Edmond]

Kind of a long shot, but it could be a defective RAM module rather than a lack of RAM space. Run MemTest86+ to rule that out.

[rgand]

Thanks for the replies.

only thing I can think of is if it's streamed using flash. there is a setting that say hardware acceleration which you can access by right clicking on a flash screen. Make sure that is unchecked.

other than that I would monitor the cpu usage and temp of the processor.

Will do this Monday when she's on the session.

Kind of a long shot, but it could be a defective RAM module rather than a lack of RAM space. Run MemTest86+ to rule that out.

Will report back after I've tried this.

[rgand]

MemTest86+ has been running for 11 hours and is on the 6th pass with no errors on the full 16 GB. The CPU temp is 50-52 C (around 125 F). No problem there. Thanks for the suggestion because that rules out RAM as the problem.

The next step will be to monitor the session for CPU usage and temperature Monday AM.

[kc1di]

Which browser is she using for the streaming?

[rgand]

She uses Chrome for the session. It won't run in Firefox.

[kc1di]

Just a note, that Chrome on my mint install when I'm streaming something will often max out on or more of my cpus and cause over heating that will sometimes result in freezes.
I notice this mostly when I'm using chromecast to my TV. but it may be worth noting and seeing if it's happening on her machine.
it if is I found using a lesser resolution can sometimes tame it down a bit.
Not sure what other options are available. -- I do find that Opera is not quite so bad , but I can't stream everything in it either.

[rgand]

Thanks for that bit of information. I'll watch temps closely on Monday when it's running. The site she goes to says Opera will run it, too. I see Opera in the Software Manager so will load that and maybe give it a try if Chrome is the issue. Will advise after I've had a chance to see what's going on.

[kc1di]

go to the opera site and download the latest version I believe the one in the repository is quite old. I think there at version 44 now.
anyway download the .deb and install it with gdebi.
here's their page:
http://www.opera.com/computer/linux

[rgand]

Opera v44 is downloaded and installed. She clicked on an archived broadcast and it downloaded the whole thing rather than stream it. It'll be interesting to see how it handles a live broadcast. We'll check that on Monday, too. I appreciate all the help on this.