[SOLVED] Constant crashes with games, please help

[outphaze1]

Built my own computer in July, since then I've been having some pretty bad luck with games crashing to desktop and random BSOD. Specs:

CPU: Ryzen 3600
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
Ram: Crucial Ballistix sport LT 3200 MHz DDR4 CL 16 8g x2 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MNJKPSK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
SSD: Intel 660p M.2 1TB
Motherboard: ASrock B450 pro4
PSU: EVGA 500W Bronze
OS: Windows 10 pro

I initially had lots of BSODs upon initial build but were mostly resolved after updating BIOS to the new 3.50 ASrock released. Since then, I've been randomly crashing to desktop while playing some computer games and the occasional BSOD. Strangely, some games don't seem to crash as much as others, presumably because they're less graphic intensive? (CSGO doesn't crash much.) However, decreasing all graphics down to low settings doesn't seem to help much.

I have a suspicion that the problem is my RAM, but I don't know enough about computers to really prove it. My ram is rated 3200 but it's currently on 2400 in the BIOS. I did crash a bit more when I tried 3200. I did memtest86 multiple times and it showed no issues. All of my windows/GPU drivers are up to date. I have tested my CPU/GPU in the past for thermals and it seemed normal, but I can't remember any numbers or the programs I used so I will happily re-test.

I'm just very frustrated with everything since I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. I will be more than happy to do the full range of tests. Last, I ASRock has released a new BIOS for my MOBO 3.60, and was contemplating updating it to see if it would help but thought I'd ask here first.

Thanks for your time and help.

 

[PC Tailor]

Please see the BSOD link in my signature below for a guide on what to post for threads where you are encountering BSOD.

Being as the BSOD is what seemed to occur first, it would be useful to access the dump files (explained in guide below) for us to dig a little deeper into the issue. If this occurred from a fresh build then it likely could be a hardware issue, or simply a faulty driver causing mayhem. But the dump file and stop codes could give us a better idea.

How did you run memtest? For at least 4 passes too?
What max temperatures for the CPU and the GPU have you been reaching?
Do you also have latest MB/Chipset drivers?

 

[outphaze1]

Here is a link to my MEMORY.DMP
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqnyLnh8ECeKqQtpesYOjUnWU8Xe?e=3eUPyL

 

[PC Tailor]

BugCheck 139, {1e, fffff8073fe678f0, fffff8073fe67848, 0}
***** Debugger could not find nt in module list, module list might be corrupt, error 0x80070057.
Probably caused by : Unknown_Image ( ANALYSIS_INCONCLUSIVE )

Module list being corrupt means we can't look at drivers, but also means it is more likely a hardware fault.

MODULE_NAME: Unknown_Module
IMAGE_NAME:  Unknown_Image

It appears it can't find the modules due to said corruption.

WARNING: Unable to reset page directories
 # Child-SP          RetAddr           : Args to Child                                                           : Call Site
00 fffff807`3fe675c8 fffff807`3bdd32e9 : 00000000`00000139 00000000`0000001e fffff807`3fe678f0 fffff807`3fe67848 : 0xfffff807`3bdc14e0
01 fffff807`3fe675d0 00000000`00000139 : 00000000`0000001e fffff807`3fe678f0 fffff807`3fe67848 00000000`00000000 : 0xfffff807`3bdd32e9
02 fffff807`3fe675d8 00000000`0000001e : fffff807`3fe678f0 fffff807`3fe67848 00000000`00000000 ffff8505`c692fac0 : 0x139
03 fffff807`3fe675e0 fffff807`3fe678f0 : fffff807`3fe67848 00000000`00000000 ffff8505`c692fac0 00000000`00000000 : 0x1e
04 fffff807`3fe675e8 fffff807`3fe67848 : 00000000`00000000 ffff8505`c692fac0 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 : 0xfffff807`3fe678f0
05 fffff807`3fe675f0 00000000`00000000 : ffff8505`c692fac0 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 00000000`00000000 : 0xfffff807`3fe67848

probably a dump file we'd be trying to squeeze juice out of a rock with. Based on what you've described it is likely a hardware or core OS problem.

How did you run memtest? For at least 4 passes too? I would run it per this guide: Testing RAM
What max temperatures for the CPU and the GPU have you been reaching?
What exact PSU model is it?
I would also be tempted to run some storage drive tests: Testing Storage Guide

Has this occurred literally since you got the computer?

 

[outphaze1]

Did some gaming to test.
Max GPU temp: 70C
Max CPU temp: 75C

As for memtest I did at least 4 passes. I also used Windows memory diagnostic tool more recently and it was normal.
PSU model: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DTMXD83/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And yes this has been happening since July when I built the computer.

If this is hardware issues, what are the most likely culprits? RAM? SSD? I might just start replacing parts since at this point it would be less painful to just eat the cost rather than diagnose and solve this.

I will work on the storage guide when I can. Thank you again for all of the help.

 

[PC Tailor]

If this is hardware issues, what are the most likely culprits? RAM? SSD?

No way to tell based on the errors. One would likely suspect things like RAM and Storage, however remember that these are controlled by your other components, so it's hard to trace exactly where it comes from in these types of errors. The PSU is not great quality that's for sure, which can equally cause issues.

Have you tried clean installing windows as per this guide also: https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/how-to-do-a-clean-installation-of-windows-10.3170366/

Have you run the storage drive tests yet?

 

[outphaze1]

No way to tell based on the errors. One would likely suspect things like RAM and Storage, however remember that these are controlled by your other components, so it's hard to trace exactly where it comes from in these types of errors. The PSU is not great quality that's for sure, which can equally cause issues.

Have you tried clean installing windows as per this guide also: https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/how-to-do-a-clean-installation-of-windows-10.3170366/

Have you run the storage drive tests yet?

Did the storage drive test. SSD "PASSED" with the long generic. I suppose next I'll try doing a clean install next. Will have to buy a storage device to backup my files first, so might be a few days.

Do you think the crashes have anything to do with RAM speed in my BIOS? Like I said earlier, it's currently 2400 but not sure what the optimal # is. I have tried 4-5 different speeds and all seem the crash all the same.

 

[PC Tailor]

Do you think the crashes have anything to do with RAM speed in my BIOS? Like I said earlier, it's currently 2400 but not sure what the optimal # is. I have tried 4-5 different speeds and all seem the crash all the same.

Likely not, either way, if it was crashing at lower speeds, it would indicate to me the RAM could be faulty, as opposed to it simply being the speed. Both the RAM and the MB should run at that rated speed, so there's no significant reason why it shouldn't.

 

[outphaze1]

@PC Tailor

Updated my bios - still crashing.
Tried doing fresh installation of windows 10 - computer kept crashing DURING installation (as it has in the past). Still crashing after reinstallation on both the SSD and the HDD. I tried another set of ram and still crashing.

I suspect the motherboard... I know you said my PSU isn’t great but my GPU recommends 450W and I have a 500W, and it shouldn’t be under full load on something like windows install, right?

 

[Dcopymope]

@PC Tailor

Updated my bios - still crashing.
Tried doing fresh installation of windows 10 - computer kept crashing DURING installation (as it has in the past). Still crashing after reinstallation of both the SSD and the HDD. I tried another set of ram and still crashing.

I suspect the motherboard... I know you said my PSU isn’t great but my GPU recommends 450W and I have a 500W, and it shouldn’t be under full load on something like windows install, right?

Its not that there is something inherently wrong with the PSU itself, its just not enough when trying to run applications as demanding as video games. You can take it to a service department at Best Buy or Micro Center, and they will probably tell you that your power supply is fine after testing it, and they will tell you that 500 watts is enough for your purposes. This is where my issue with these technicians starts, because that is NOT at all what I was taught in my A+ course as you will see in the image below.

They tell people this, and then wonder why they keep coming back complaining about their PC going haywire, crashing and such. It doesn't sit right with me at all. Don't let the "gold" or "platinum" rating fool you. When a GPU recommends a certain wattage to power your entire PC, just think of it as the minimum required. Your PSU would be enough if you were just using your PC to run Microsoft Office or something. But since you are trying to play video games, the true recommended wattage for your PSU is around 900 watts or more.

 

[PC Tailor]

I know you said my PSU isn’t great but my GPU recommends 450W and I have a 500W

Wattage is unfortunately irrelevant when quality isn't there, as being suggested above.
A GPU could run perfectly fine on a good quality 550W, but not a bad quality one for example.

If you're on hardware diagnosis now (being as clean installs didn't help) a start is to run through some of these:
RAM: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/threads/test-ram-with-passmark-memtest86.24300/
Storage: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/threads/hard-drive-hdd-diagnostics-sea-tools-for-dos-ssd-test.4072/
CPU: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/th...nd-intel-processor-diagnostic-tool-ipdt.3908/
PSU: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/threads/test-power-supply-unit-psu.4061/

Just remember none of these are guaranteed, just because your component passes these tests does not mean they're not the cause. Only a full swap and retest and truly verify which component is faulting.