BSODs when gaming

[doodah]

Keep getting them, in my previous W10 install and in my current W11 install. They don't seem to happen when I've previously tried running the likes of 3DMark or Heaven but definitely with gaming including VR.

Sometimes it can happen frequently (e.g. CS Go) and there have been times where it doesn't happen for multiple sessions. I have gone through driver reinstalls and updates, my temps seem fine. I was undervolting but reset my 3070 to default and it still happens.

I never get them when doing anything else on my computer. Have just generated a custom view in Event Viewer but unsure what any of it means. chkdsk - no errors. Any ideas?

• 5800X3D
• Asus CH6
• 3070 FE
• W11
• Silicon Power PCIe M.2 NVMe SSD 1TB Gen3x4

 

[doodah]

Has the PC ever not BSOD, or it did this since built?

Do the BSODs display the same errors, or different ones?

Evolving build, mobo and nVME have remained the same for a while. CPU, GPU and memory have been upgraded over time. I think the issue has been lingering for about a year but I can go months without gaming, and for either the CPU or GPU upgrades - benchmarks haven't caused any.

Always the same BSOD - the simplified version without any codes. Most result in the game freezing quickly followed by a BSOD, the last one froze for a good few seconds before the BSOD. Playing Arkham Knight which worked fine for the first few hours of the game (think I played that a few months ago), now it BSODs almost at the same point. With CS Go (weeks to months ago), it would do it like clockwork after a few mins.

My current suspect is the nVME, will be 4 years old in August - it's happened over two operating systems and multiple GFX drivers updates.

 

[doodah]

That would be my suspicion too, based on what you have described. If you have had to verify game files with Steam or launchers has it ever had to replace files? Do you have any integrity/ECC errors showing in something like CrystalDiskInfo?

Just doing the verify game files for Batman AA and HL Alyx, followed by CrystalDiskInfo.

 

[doodah]

I think in function, you can change the format of the raw values so that you can read them, but I forgot how, from a quick google: function, advanced, 10 DEC.

Thanks, updated the picture now. HL Alyx - all files validated. Batman AA - "1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired".

Edit - ran Silicon Power's toolbox and everything looks fine from their end. Waiting for results from a full scan.

 

[doodah]

All looks good on CrystalDiskInfo, you have zero errors, though that's a lot of power cuts

Have you ever analysed the crash dumps? (there's a guide here)

Hhhmmm not sure why that is, for days I use this PC - it's just left on most of the day/until I finish work. I don't have any sleep or hibernation turned one.

Thank you for the guide, will report back .

Edit - you can repeat this particular BSOD quite well, always does it at the same cut scene (within a few second range of the same part). Off to read the logs.

Edit - the BSOD hung around much longer this time for me to take a pic, the completion progression is taking a significant amount of time (perhaps because this is the nth time it's happened?). POST and booting took a lot longer after that BSOD and my mouse also wasn't working/powered, plugged it into another USB port - same again. The next port brought it back to life. Now wondering if it's the mobo and/or PSU?



Edit - dump file info below

Spoiler

Debugging Details:
------------------


KEY_VALUES_STRING: 1

Key : Analysis.CPU.mSec
Value: 4155

Key : Analysis.DebugAnalysisManager
Value: Create

Key : Analysis.Elapsed.mSec
Value: 12491

Key : Analysis.IO.Other.Mb
Value: 11

Key : Analysis.IO.Read.Mb
Value: 2

Key : Analysis.IO.Write.Mb
Value: 44

Key : Analysis.Init.CPU.mSec
Value: 187

Key : Analysis.Init.Elapsed.mSec
Value: 17607

Key : Analysis.Memory.CommitPeak.Mb
Value: 165

Key : Bugcheck.Code.DumpHeader
Value: 0xef

Key : Bugcheck.Code.KiBugCheckData
Value: 0xef

Key : Bugcheck.Code.Register
Value: 0xef

Key : CriticalProcessDied.ExceptionCode
Value: a95d0080

Key : CriticalProcessDied.Process
Value: csrss.exe

Key : WER.OS.Branch
Value: ni_release

Key : WER.OS.Timestamp
Value: 2022-05-06T12:50:00Z

Key : WER.OS.Version
Value: 10.0.22621.1


FILE_IN_CAB: MEMORY.DMP

BUGCHECK_CODE: ef

BUGCHECK_P1: ffff8006a4314140

BUGCHECK_P2: 0

BUGCHECK_P3: ffff8006a4314140

BUGCHECK_P4: 0

PROCESS_NAME: csrss.exe

CRITICAL_PROCESS: csrss.exe

ERROR_CODE: (NTSTATUS) 0xa95d0080 - <Unable to get error code text>

BLACKBOXBSD: 1 (!blackboxbsd)


BLACKBOXNTFS: 1 (!blackboxntfs)


BLACKBOXPNP: 1 (!blackboxpnp)


BLACKBOXWINLOGON: 1

SYMBOL_NAME: ntdll!RtlLookupFunctionEntry+82

MODULE_NAME: ntdll

IMAGE_NAME: ntdll.dll

STACK_COMMAND: .cxr; .ecxr ; kb

BUCKET_ID_FUNC_OFFSET: 82

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID: 0xEF_csrss.exe_BUGCHECK_CRITICAL_PROCESS_a95d0080_ntdll!RtlLookupFunctionEntry

OS_VERSION: 10.0.22621.1

BUILDLAB_STR: ni_release

OSPLATFORM_TYPE: x64

OSNAME: Windows 10

FAILURE_ID_HASH: {5e6305e4-6cee-e712-ef3b-837a6f876337}

Followup: MachineOwner
---------

 

[doodah]

When you do the analyze -v thing, it should come up with a "probably caused by" and the module name can also be significant. In your case, it is ntdll.dll. I can't find anything related to it, but this happening at the exact same cut scene is very suspicious.

I wonder if you might have a malfunctioning driver, or an instability issue that is created when your hardware switches power states. Have you tried googling people getting BSODs at the same point as you?

CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED, this sounds like it can be due to file corruption or outdated drivers (presumably that aren't fully compatible with the OS build).

What peripheral devices (including USB) and third party apps do you have running while you game?

The SSD is still seeming suspect at this point, too, despite showing no errors.

Thanks again, I'll do some Googling as you suggest. As for apps and peripheral devices.....

• Aging Anker gaming mouse
• Corsair mechanical keyboard
• Bog standard memory card reader
• USB cable for my monitor's USB hub
• As for third party apps - Flux, Dropbox, AnyDesk, Riva Tuner, MSI Afterburner and Fan Control

 

[doodah]

Nearly 40 minutes passed, 0 errors. I'll let it go on for a while more.

Edit - first full pass completed, 0 errors.

 

[doodah]

Thanks, that's next on my list. Neither my keyboard or mouse were running their own software. I've since found the Anker mouse app (on Reddit lol) and stopped downloading the Corsair software when I saw it was 1GB - for a blumin keyboard.

 

[doodah]

What PSU do you have?

Thermaltake Toughpower XT 1275W ' 80 Plus GOLD' Modular Power Supply, initially bought in my mining days, was used for that but not for a great deal of time. Tried Batman with all third party apps closed (except for Fan Control), it managed to play the whole cut scene but BSOD shortly after. Peripherals next.

 

[doodah]

Thought I'd just try uninstalling everything from the drive in question (forgot to add, it's a 1TB nVME but I've partitioned into 250/750 for boot/games), so got rid of games, platforms and formatted the drive. Installed Steam and just Batman AA, BSOD on the title screen with a different error.

 

[doodah]

I'm just updating the chipset drivers, re-installing GFX card drivers and there's a BIOS update to do as well.

Well that's annoying if it is the RAM, I thought XMP speeds were meant to be generally safe/stable.

 

[doodah]

They are, but only if the BIOS has the correct internal config for them, Sometimes it takes a bunch of BIOS updates to get to the one that works with your setup - This is not too uncommon really.

Try turning off XMP and using default base JEDEC as mentioned. Then update BIOS and restore XMP to see if that has made a difference.

Nope to that also. Pretty sure memory reverted back to 2400Mhz when I updated the BIOS, game BSOD'd in the usual spot of the cut scene. Going to try one more time, after manually turning off XMP in case the system reverted back to it during a restart.

Edit - yeah it was definitely on auto/default @ 2400Mhz. Going to try reseating the RAM and GFX card.

 

[doodah]

Hhhmm the PC feels choppy since reinstalling/updating drivers etc. nVidia control panel is slow to navigate with a noticeable delay between clicks and animations. And it's a similar case navigating Windows system settings, though not as significant.

Uninstall the Corsair drivers, your KB will still work. I experienced the same issue and now actively avoid Corsair peripherals whatever the cost/quality.

No Corsair drivers installed, think it's Windows 11 default.

Edit - Device Manager almost crashed before finding its feet.

 

[doodah]

Yeah it feels like when previous versions of Windows were indexing hard. Just looking.

Edit - looks like it might be Defender.



Edit - poor computer isn't having a good time of late. I've Googled and found threads on the issue in OcUK. Have tried the exclusion trick, task scheduler tricks - nada. If I turn off real time protection, the process ramps down to 0% but jumps back up once you turn protection back on.

A new hard drive and a fresh install of W11 looking more likely. Not been that impressed with W11.

 

[doodah]

I've seen a couple more mentions of people having BSODs and it being the PSU (e.g. an unstable rail). Interestingly it looks like Thermaltake offer a 10 year warranty on the Toughpower series.

Even if it is the PSU, it's been a grand one that essentially paid for itself.

 

[doodah]

Did a fresh Windows install as the Defender bug was annoying me. Paused Windows updates after installation, added chipset and nvidia drivers - no BSOD at the cut scene or the brief play after it.

Edit - it gets more weird. Wanted to actually play this damn room/level, noticed all of thr PhysX stuff was turned off. Tried to turn the first option on, PC immediately restarted (no BSOD).

Edit - and we're back to square 1. Restarts though instead of a BSOD, at the same point in the cut scene.

 

[doodah]

Have you used BlueScreenView (free tool)?

Installed. Enjoying my PC not running like a dog any more. It's still so confusing because it was seemingly fine on the first run (post new W11 install) but as soon as I fiddled with any of the PhsyX settings, went belly up and reverted back (they were all turned on in my prior install of W11).

Edit - just had a round on CS Go, no issues. Testing a VR game next.

 

[doodah]

Issue back in full force. BSOD'd in the menu of Warzone 2.0, weirdly Blue Screen Viewer is not picking up any dump files. A second attempt at Warzone also brought up the USB symptom, where my mouse stops working after the BSOD restart. Windows said it wasn't recognised, worked fine in another port.

 

[doodah]

Memory and GFX card reseated, checked other cables and gave it a dust. I've had to move the tower to I can plug the power into a different socket (previously plugged into an extension cord), and due to my mouse cable being a bit tangled with other cables (DP, power, keyboard), inadvertently pulling it caused the monitor screen to briefly turn off (assumed I flexed the DP cable too much). Or so I thought - the PC had restarted.

 

[doodah]

Thanks, I'll do a longer one. Just had my first play of Warzone 2.0 - not a clue what was going on .

I was able to play though, previously never getting past the menu. Batman AK cutscene next.

Edit - good sings. Got past that cutscene and part of the level. No issues so far.

Edit - and again. Accidentally touched the power plug with my foot. PC turned off. I think that time was due it being loose. I've put the PC back in its usual place, will test a few more games.