BSOD Crash and Ram Issues

[Majorian213]

Hi guys

A friend of mine pointed me in this direction after I mentioned some issues today around BSODs and crashes.

Basically I was playing a game last night and had both monitors go black and everything became unresponsive. I had to power down and saw in the Event Viewer log that it was an Event 41 kernal error or something similar. I read this is linked to RAM issues and today had a BDOS show up that has sent me down a rabbit hole.

This is a fresh build and my TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta Alpha RGB DDR5 Ram 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz slots should be fine. When I slotted them in, I made sure to do everything calmly and gently.

I'm unsure on what to do because I ran a Windows Memory Check with no issues. Have run CHKDSK, DISM to no avail and SFC which has reported some corruptions but fixed them. I then run Memtest86 and get the following read on the second pass:

Finished pass #1 (of 4) (Total errors: 0, ECC errors: 0)
Test: 8 Addr: 63DF16580 Expected: B24E1041 Actual: 924E1041 CPU: 0

I read that even one result is a death knell and WhatCrashed has given me this error that I have read could be RAM related.

Bugcheck Code: 0x119(0x5 0xFFF920F65169000, 0xFFF920F65230820, 0x147A6)
Bugcheck Name: VIDEO SCHEDULER INTERNAL ERROR
Driver or module in which error occurred: watchdog.sys (watchdog + 0x5745)
File path: watchdog.sys
Description: Watchdog Driver
Product: Microsoft Windows OS
Bug check description: This indicates that the video scheduler has detected a fatal violation
Analysis: This is a video related crash

Is it time to reseat the RAM? Or should I look at sending it back? I would ideally like to see if I can order a suitable counterpart with a flat-head as the jagged heads of my Teamgroup press against my CPU fan.

Any help or suggestions would be hugely appreciated

Specs
- AMD Ryzen 7 9800X 3D Desktop Processor (8-core/16-thread, 104MB cache
- PNY GeForce RTX 5080 OC Triple Fan 16GB GDDR7
- Gigabyte B650 GAMING X AX V2 Motherboard - Supports AMD Ryzen 8000 CPUs, 8+2+2 Phases Digital VRM, up to 8000MHz DDR5 (OC)
- Corsair RM850e (2025) Fully Modular Low-Noise ATX Power Supply

 

[darkblade]

Memtest86 is pretty reliable - if it detects an error, you have dodgy RAM. Take a photo of the screen with the error on and request an RMA.
Have you tried running each stick on its own and trying to reproduce the problem?

 

[Majorian213]

Hi Darkblade, thanks for the get back!

I am troubleshooting today again starting with a reseating of both sticks in case I inserted them wrong during the build. Next I will move on to testing them individually and going from there.

I do have a picture of the test results, but only as of pass two as I read somewhere one result is enough and the test should be stopped there.

What do you mean by request an RMA? Do you happen to mean post a picture in this thread and request or is there a specific page / tool I should do this at?

Thank you again kindly. I have had a look at the RAM topic pinned after noticing it and have made note of some tests to run but I personally find tech overwhelming.

 

[Tetras]

Are you running with EXPO/XMP off or on?

I had to power down and saw in the Event Viewer log that it was an Event 41 kernal error or something similar. I read this is linked to RAM issues and today had a BDOS show up that has sent me down a rabbit hole.

41 isn't reporting a RAM issue, it just reports that the PC was shut down in an unexpected way.

 

[Majorian213]

Are you running with EXPO/XMP off or on?


41 isn't reporting a RAM issue, it just reports that the PC was shut down in an unexpected way.

Okay, apologies. I read somewhere that the BSOD with Error 41 could highlight a RAM issue and that sent me down a rabbit hole.

EXPO/XMP on my Gigabyte dashboard has been/was disabled from the moment I first looked into the BIOS when the issues were going down - idk if that is having the impact or not.

I've reseated and done a second test and on the fourth pass it's brought up another issue:

> Test 8 Addr: 63FD97FC0 Expected: C40B1C90 Actual: E40B1C90 CPU: 0

I have an imgur album with the screen captures I have here

Just a little confused because the first emergency or sudden shut down I had to do seemed tied to graphics settings + making sure drivers were updated and now a BDOS creeps in.

 

[Tetras]

EXPO/XMP on my Gigabyte dashboard has been/was disabled from the moment I first looked into the BIOS when the issues were going down - idk if that is having the impact or not.

Alright, don't know what a Gigabyte deshboard is, but anyhow.

Normally with memtest if you only get a few errors this is a configuration/stability issue, whereas if you get many errors the sticks are just plain faulty (especially if it happens with EXPO/XMP off).

Any errors is bad though, you should get none.

If your system is unstable, it can cause multiple crashes, including in the video driver.

 

[Majorian213]

Alright, don't know what a Gigabyte deshboard is, but anyhow.

Normally with memtest if you only get a few errors this is a configuration/stability issue, whereas if you get many errors the sticks are just plain faulty (especially if it happens with EXPO/XMP off).

Any errors is bad though, you should get none.

If your system is unstable, it can cause multiple crashes, including in the video driver.

I meant my BIOS* apologies

In the bios settings EXPO/XMP is already turned off. I have the option to flick to XMP1, 2 and so on - presume I will need to consult the MOBO manual and see what that is about if it needs turning on?

I am running individual stick tests but honestly Tetras, I am overwhelmed.

A good chunk of feedback similar to yours says one problem is too many and I will need to consider replacing the RAM irrespective. But I have also read other points and so will fire off a few questions that I hope you or others can answer - so I can think next steps.

1) One error on two sequential scans for both RAM sticks (32 GB) is a sure fire and absolute sign the RAM sticks need replacing anyway? What happens if one (16 GB) tests clear and the other negative? Should I get replacement RAM anyway?
2) If it is a config / stability issue, what would be the most likely issue if both sticks test clear via solo tests or if one tests clear and another does not?
3) I have read that it could be a voltage issue, a CPU IMC issue, a motherboard slot / trace issue. How would I be able to gage better if those are the culprits?

Thank you. I appreciate all these questions might prove annoying, but I thank you and others for taking time to answer. It is much appreciated.

 

[Tetras]

What happens if one (16 GB) tests clear and the other negative?

If it happens in the same slot, then you probably have just one faulty stick, but since a kit comes in pairs you would normally need to RMA both sticks anyway. If you could send the test to the retailer/manufacturer, bad memtest results are hardly ever debated. From what I'm aware, once a memory manufacturer accepts an RMA, they just replace the kit regardless of their own test results. I'm not sure if retailers would do the same. OCers have other tools like TestMem5 which can get you the results quicker.

If the behaviour is slot specific, that's a different story, e.g. it can be a bad CPU, a bad CPU mount, or a faulty board.

If it only happens when 2 sticks are working together (but the slots are otherwise fine independently), that's hard to say, but similar likelihood to the above, a bad CPU, mount or faulty board.

3) I have read that it could be a voltage issue, a CPU IMC issue, a motherboard slot / trace issue. How would I be able to gage better if those are the culprits?

Voltage issue: slightly increase the appropriate voltage and see if the issue is resolved.

CPU IMC: if so, it would persist with multiple RAM kits, but large amounts of memory errors are rarely anything else. CPUs that can't run 2 sticks of memory stable (in the manual's recommended slots) with EXPO/XMP disabled are super uncommon. A CPU IMC issue might be localised to one channel only, though a bad board (e.g. damaged / broken pins) can behave like that too.

Occasionally you get a situation where a CPU/board just hates a particular kit (often due to the memory chips used) and nothing can resolve it except BIOS updates to solve compatibility problems. That's not something we see much and often found through looking on somewhere like reddit (for the model number).

Motherboard slot/trace issue: visual damage is possible (to front/rear of the PCB). The memory errors will happen only when memory is populated in those specific slots.

2) If it is a config / stability issue, what would be the most likely issue if both sticks test clear via solo tests or if one tests clear and another does not?

Config/stability issues would usually persist, but with EXPO/XMP there's not much that can cause it. Insufficient default SoC/memory voltage, PBO, bad BIOS,..

 

[Majorian213]

If it happens in the same slot, then you probably have just one faulty stick, but since a kit comes in pairs you would normally need to RMA both sticks anyway. If you could send the test to the retailer/manufacturer, bad memtest results are hardly ever debated. From what I'm aware, once a memory manufacturer accepts an RMA, they just replace the kit regardless of their own test results. I'm not sure if retailers would do the same. OCers have other tools like TestMem5 which can get you the results quicker.

If the behaviour is slot specific, that's a different story, e.g. it can be a bad CPU, a bad CPU mount, or a faulty board.

If it only happens when 2 sticks are working together (but the slots are otherwise fine independently), that's hard to say, but similar likelihood to the above, a bad CPU, mount or faulty board.


Voltage issue: slightly increase the appropriate voltage and see if the issue is resolved.

CPU IMC: if so, it would persist with multiple RAM kits, but large amounts of memory errors are rarely anything else. CPUs that can't run 2 sticks of memory stable (in the manual's recommended slots) with EXPO/XMP disabled are super uncommon. A CPU IMC issue might be localised to one channel only, though a bad board (e.g. damaged / broken pins) can behave like that too.

Occasionally you get a situation where a CPU/board just hates a particular kit (often due to the memory chips used) and nothing can resolve it except BIOS updates to solve compatibility problems. That's not something we see much and often found through looking on somewhere like reddit (for the model number).

Motherboard slot/trace issue: visual damage is possible (to front/rear of the PCB). The memory errors will happen only when memory is populated in those specific slots.


Config/stability issues would usually persist, but with EXPO/XMP there's not much that can cause it. Insufficient default SoC/memory voltage, PBO, bad BIOS,..

Yeah, that was more or less my conclusion when someone mentioned I could individually test and just run on one in the interim. My desperation to reach a definitive conclusion comes in part due to time and cost; I will need to return the kit, wait for a refund and purchase another set. I would stick with my current models but they are too clunky and I think one is pressing up or a bit too close to the CPU fan cooler - hoping for ones with flat heads.

I asked for this build in r/buildapc and saw in pc part picker there were no compatibility issues. Only thing I can think of is that it might be a bad mount, but so far I have observed v stable and cool temps when playing games.

Some questions on that note.

- What would a bad mount look like? Do I need to check if I have screwed in my CPU cooler properly ahead of ordering my new parts?
- You mention local channels. Does that mean the slots where each stick is fitted? How would I be able to test that, would it be running both individual ram stick tests from the same slot or both slots?
- Any side tests I can do with the MOBO? I have given a close look and can see no physical elements of damage on either side.

 

[Tetras]

- You mention local channels. Does that mean the slots where each stick is fitted? How would I be able to test that, would it be running both individual ram stick tests from the same slot or both slots?

The motherboard manual will tell you, but they're almost always the first two slots from the CPU (1,2): first channel and the second two slots (further from the CPU): second channel.

Manuals list them as channel A and channel B. The reason you place a stick in each channel (usually slots 2 and 4, from the CPU) is to maximise bandwidth from having a stick across both two channels.

If you have a bad channel or bad mount, then sticks will fail (or maybe board won't even boot at all) whenever placed in slots 1,2 OR slots 3,4.

- What would a bad mount look like? Do I need to check if I have screwed in my CPU cooler properly ahead of ordering my new parts?

You can't normally see a bad mount unless the mount is supeeeeerrr bad, but yeah, it just means the screws are too tight, too loose or uneven. This most commonly results in a boot failure, but a lost/broken channel happens sometimes.

- Any side tests I can do with the MOBO? I have given a close look and can see no physical elements of damage on either side.

Not that I'm aware of, unfortunately that kind of fault is rarely user detectable, save by replacing the motherboard.

 

[Majorian213]

The motherboard manual will tell you, but they're almost always the first two slots from the CPU (1,2): first channel and the second two slots (further from the CPU): second channel.

Manuals list them as channel A and channel B. The reason you place a stick in each channel (usually slots 2 and 4, from the CPU) is to maximise bandwidth from having a stick across both two channels.

If you have a bad channel or bad mount, then sticks will fail (or maybe board won't even boot at all) whenever placed in slots 1,2 OR slots 3,4.


You can't normally see a bad mount unless the mount is supeeeeerrr bad, but yeah, it just means the screws are too tight, too loose or uneven. This most commonly results in a boot failure, but a lost/broken channel happens sometimes.


Not that I'm aware of, unfortunately that kind of fault is rarely user detectable, save by replacing the motherboard.

Thank you!

I'll finish up testing this separate RAM stick and start the returns. But before that do one boot with slots A1 and B1 covered to test for a bad mount.

I hear you on the MOBO, but is there any specific testing for CPU IMC?

 

[Tetras]

I hear you on the MOBO, but is there any specific testing for CPU IMC?

For running at high speeds, sure.., but for issues running with XMP/EXPO off? Not really.

You'd have to replace the CPU. Bad IMCs for stock running are so rare though, not something I'd consider until all other options are exhausted.

 

[Majorian213]

Okay, I will note that going forward. Cognizant I have kept you pressed with questions Tetras so don't feel obligated to respond but all the same, very grateful. I have an update.

I have tested both RAM sticks individually with a full pass for each stick. It seems like the root of the issue is the dual-channel because that is where Memtest is finding the issues, so from what I read it could be a case of adjusting voltage / adjusting settings for the RAM or updating the Bios. Plus I have just done a second test as you suggested on where the MOBO manual says slot A1 and B1 and believe I can discount a bad mount / channels as the former boots up OK (a little slower) and slots A2 and B2 test fine for the RAM slots in Memtest.

I'm thinking aloud here but idk if this now means I need to look at adjusting settings for RAM or looking at Bios updates alone or if I now need to start probing the CPU and MOBO. Before I went down this rabbit hole I ran a stress test for my CPU in Prime95/GIMPS and all appeared fine, no worker stops or any outright red flags.

Any recommendations would be appreciated - feel stuck in the mud here haha

 

[Tetras]

Any recommendations would be appreciated - feel stuck in the mud here haha

There's no harm at all in bumping the volts up a bit (e.g. SoC, DRAM), not unheard of for these boards to undercook it "out of the box".

That said, if you're running at the base speed (probably 4800 without EXPO/XMP) this really should not be necessary.

BIOS updates and changing settings are free, so I guess I'd start there. From what you've said, the board is not a problem, you've got all slots and channels fault free.

There's still a possibility that the CPU's IMC or the board is at fault, which I'd look at once you've exhausted making changes in the BIOS.