[SOLVED] Critical Process Died - Fresh Install BSOD

[Altusmightus]

Hello,

PC Specs:
Asus B450-F GAMING Motherboard, BIOS Ver. 5404 (Up to date)
Ryzen 7 5700X
G. Skills 8Gb x 4 (3200 Mhz)
Asus Tuf RTX 3080
Corsair Cx650M
WD 570n 500gb (boot drive)
Seagate barracuda 1TB

Problem:
A few months ago I have been having consistent BSOD (Critical process died, unknown kernal, when playing video games (mainly apex legends) it got to the point where even launching the game crashed my PC, then built up to crashing when I launched file manager or tried to access files on my drive. I thought it was a drive issue. Got a new drive, clean install windows and everything has been fine for a week or so.

I am not sure what changed, but yesterday the issue started again. My PC has been crashing. BSOD only lasts a split second, the only error I was able to read was Critical Process died, however, it has been happening when I play Apex Legends (not exclusive to it)

Another issue I have been having is my M.2_2 slot is not recognizing my M.2 (or at least intermittently recognizing it and then disconnecting it after a minute) I decided to bother fixing this issue and just popped my M.2 into an external case.

I have ran a clean install
Ran DDU
Ran mem86
Ran the sfc and dism commands
everything is up to date
Temps are not concerning
No dump files are being created

This is making me think that the issue is either PSU or Motherboard related. I've been told the fluctuations in power draw can upset my PC considering the limited headroom I have, but that doesn't explain why I was fine after a clean install and new boot drive. Could it just be my motherboard? I don't know how to isolate this issue

 

[Lutfij]

Got a new drive, clean install windows and everything has been fine for a week or so.
Where did you source the installer for the OS? Did you install the OS in offline mode to later install all necessary drivers with the latest version in an elevated command?

How old is the PSU in your build? As for your concern, it could also be a lack of grounding from your wall outlet. Do you feel a mild tingling sensation when you touch the metal part of your case while your feet are making contact with a tiled(non wooden/non-carpeted floor)?

How is the SSD mounted in your case? If you're not installing the SSD with the necessary standoff, it's possible your issue is there.

 

[Altusmightus]

Where did you source the installer for the OS? Did you install the OS in offline mode to later install all necessary drivers with the latest version in an elevated command?

I downloaded Windows ISO onto a USB drive and went through the installation prompts and downloaded the drives by going to the necessary websites directly (Nvidia for GPU and Asus for MB)

How old is the PSU in your build? As for your concern, it could also be a lack of grounding from your wall outlet. Do you feel a mild tingling sensation when you touch the metal part of your case while your feet are making contact with a tiled(non wooden/non-carpeted floor)?

My PSU is around 4 years old. The PC is connected to a surge protector (rated for 1200W). I will have to move my PC to perform the test you described as I am not sure the answer to that second part.

How is the SSD mounted in your case? If you're not installing the SSD with the necessary standoff, it's possible your issue is there.

It is properly mounted. Fully inserted with standoffs.

 

[Altusmightus]

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/VdHhwg

Here is the link to my build. It seems like the headroom my PSU supplies is very little, and as far as I know it needs to handle a decent amount of power draw variations?

 

[Altusmightus]

I was able to get another BSOD error: unexpected_store_excpetion

 

[hotaru.hino]

Power supply calculators tend to overestimate what you need by assuming everything is running at maximum load.

For instance, PCPP thinks my setup will need 600W. I've my entire setup plugged into a watt meter and the worst I've seen it get to is around 400-450W. But this is including my monitors which draw around 80-90W between them, and maybe another 5-10W from my speakers.

 

[Altusmightus]

Power supply calculators tend to overestimate what you need by assuming everything is running at maximum load.

For instance, PCPP thinks my setup will need 600W. I've my entire setup plugged into a watt meter and the worst I've seen it get to is around 400-450W. But this is including my monitors which draw around 80-90W between them, and maybe another 5-10W from my speakers

Perhaps, but all the symptoms are leading me to believe it is. Ive been reading that the 3080 has a tendency to transiently spike way higher than its 350 TDP. Not sure where to go from here

 

[hotaru.hino]

Perhaps, but all the symptoms are leading me to believe it is. Ive been reading that the 3080 has a tendency to transiently spike way higher than its 350 TDP. Not sure where to go from here

A cursory glance at the only place I know of that recorded transient spikes for 3080s pegs the spike going up to around 420W. The rest of the system even while gaming likely isn't drawing more than 150W.

I mean, it could be the power supply or something power related, but not because it's hitting capacity. Sudden changes in general are usually more stressful than a gradual build up to that point.

 

[Altusmightus]

A cursory glance at the only place I know of that recorded transient spikes for 3080s pegs the spike going up to around 420W. The rest of the system even while gaming likely isn't drawing more than 150W.

I mean, it could be the power supply or something power related, but not because it's hitting capacity. Sudden changes in general are usually more stressful than a gradual build up to that point.

I just ran OCCT stress test and I was able to replicate the crash.

https://imgur.com/a/gqrnaqa

View: https://imgur.com/a/gqrnaqa


I am not knowledgeable enough to to ascertain the results as a direct cause of my PSU. But considering that my temps were fine in previous image, what else would be the cause?

My RAM is new, my drive is new, my CPU is new along with its cooler, windows is clean installed, gpu drivers clean installed. I might just buy a new PSU but don't want to drop 100 bucks only to find out its not the reason.

 

[hotaru.hino]

I just ran OCCT stress test and I was able to replicate the crash.

https://imgur.com/a/gqrnaqa

View: https://imgur.com/a/gqrnaqa


I am not knowledgeable enough to to ascertain the results as a direct cause of my PSU. But considering that my temps were fine in previous image, what else would be the cause?

My RAM is new, my drive is new, my CPU is new along with its cooler, windows is clean installed, gpu drivers clean installed. I might just buy a new PSU but don't want to drop 100 bucks only to find out its not the reason.

Assuming what the motherboard is reporting regarding 12V and 5V is accurate, then that's your problem. Those values shouldn't deviate outside of +11.40 V to +12.60 on 12V and +4.75 V to +5.25 on 5V.

So you need a new PSU. Though if you still get those values after a replacement, then the motherboard is suspect.

 

[Altusmightus]

Just upgraded to a new PSU (850 W). Unsure the actual reason I was having the crashes, but so far my problem has been solved after replacing it.