DAW on the FRITZ: Help needed with a computer problem

Hello.
Last year I built my fourth DAW to run Win and Sonar X2. My previous three DAWs all ran flawlessly. This new computer has had an intermittent problem since I started using it. Any suggestions for helping me diagnose this problem are appreciated.
 
The problem I am having are repeated freezes of my DAW. The freezes bring down the entire operating system; the computer no longer responds to mouse and keyboard input, and the only way I can regain control of the computer is to turn it off and restart it. These freezes mostly occur when running Sonar X2, but I have also had one freeze when playing back audio using Win Media Player, and one freeze when the computer was sitting idle with the Desktop up (in fairness, most of the time that I am using this DAW, I am using Sonar). Because I have these freezes performing different operations, I am now thinking this is NOT a Sonar problem,
 
I built the DAW specifically to run Win 7 and Sonar X2. The computer has no other functions. The specs are as follows:
Processor – Intel i5 3570 quad core @ 3.40 gHz (normal clock – NOT overclocked)
MOBO – ASUS P8Z77-VLX w/ Intel Northbridge Z77 Express chipset
Memeory - 2 x Corsair Vengence CMZ16GX3M2A1600C10B (2 modules of 8 GB apiece: total 16 GB), DDR3
Power - Corsair CMPSU-750TXV2, 750 watts
Firewire - StarTech.com 4 port PCI 1394a  firewire card
OS - Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit, SP-1
Cakewalk - Sonar X2a (I believe I have all Sonar X2 updates installed)
Audio Interface – Mackie Onyx 1604 w/ firewire card installed (driver ver. 1.7 installed – is the only driver version Mackie makes for this device and this OS)
MIDI Interface – MOTU Micro Express USB midi interface (Motu “universal” driver installed – is the only driver version Motu makes for this device and this OS).
 
What I have done so far:

1. First, I contacted CW Tech Support. Their response was that Sonar could not possible cause a crash/freeze of the entire OS, that this behavior must be due to a problem of one of the computer drivers. They did not respond when I asked them how I might further troubleshoot this problem.
   
2. I then ran a test of the physical memory using Memtest+86 (ver. 5.01). Zero errors were reported.
   
3. I fully updated the OS
   
4. Replaced the Firewire card with one made by SIIG (recommended by some experts as compatible with the audio interface I use).
   

 
Despite these efforts, I continue to have intermittent freezes. So, I'm thinking my next step should be to replace the RAM modules. If I continue to see freezes after doing that, I will replace the MOBO and processor.
 
Dan anyone suggest any diagnostics I can do to better pinpoint the problem? Can anyone suggest other fixes I should try before re-building the DAW?
 
Sorry for the long post. Thanks for your help.
 
 

Hello.  Thanks for your reply.
 
In truth, I don't check on the temperature much, because the best way I know how to do this is in the BIOS, and I have to restart the computer to get to the BIOS.
 
I will run Sonar for a while and then check the temp. and report back.

You don't say what video card you are using. Also, have you tried looking through the Windows Event Viewer? It is entirely possible that the problem is being logged there.
 
Regards,
Dan
 

Hello.  Thank you for our helpful suggestions.
 
1) This computer does not have a dedicated graphics accelerator card.  Graphics are handled by the graphics capabilities of the processor itself.
 
2) I have previously run Memtest+86 (ver. 5.01).  No errors were reported.  My understanding is that Memtest will find most, but not all memory problems.  Because the behavior of this computer is so very characteristic of a memory problem, my next move is to go ahead a assume this is a memory problem and replace RAM modules.
 
3) I have to confess I nervous about taking the computer apart and putting it back together again hoping to fix a bad connection, because I worry I could just as easily cause some new problem (cause a static short, break something, create some bad connection where previously there was none, etc).  I suppose such an effort is cheaper than building another computer. 

There is a Win 7 bug that can cause freezing under certain special circumstances (unlikely in your case), but if everything else fails you can consider a hot fix:
 
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2265716/en-us
 
 

Hello.
 
Thanks for the encouragement Slart.  Time to take the bull by the horns...
 
Gcruz...very interesting.  That seems to explain why Memtest finds no errors, yet the behavior is very much like a memory problem.
 
So it sounds like my next best step is to replace the memory, and when I do that to unplug and reseat all the electrical connections.
 
Sigh.  I appreciate everyone who offered suggestions on this.

Hello.  So I checked on the Intel web-site for the specifications of the i5-3570 processor, and their information is that this processor supports up to 32 gb of memory, and is compatible with DDR3-1333/1600 memory, and does not support ECC memory (funny - I thought all memory these days is ECC).
 
Here: http://ark.intel.com/compare/65702
 
So, I am not sure the memory speed per se is the problem.
 
But I do think my next best move is to replace the memory modules
 
Thanks again for all your thoughts and suggestions.
 
 

One other thing to try, if you haven't already done so is to clean and inspect the motherboard.  Dust build up might cause a component to overheat.  Inspect the electrolytic capacitors for leakage.  The tops should be flat and clean.  A slight bulge or leakage indicates a bad cap.  Good luck.