Custom build, can't go more than an hour without BSOD on windows 8.1 (ntoskrnl.exe you are the bane of my existance.)

[Meziroth]

WINDOWS 7 won't even install, win 8.1 BSOD every 10 minutes, and Ubuntu reports errors even booting form USB.
Please help, feel like I just bought a very expensive paperweight.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: *A-Data 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($72.16 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB Tri-X Toxic Video Card ($229.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $840.08
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria



Last night I installed Windows 8.1 onto an external hard drive using a guide. I installed all updates on my laptop to current.

I then unplugged my internal HDD from my build, and connected the external through the usb 3.0 port.
Booted up, installed drivers from my different hardware and downloaded updates.
I have a fantastic amount of stability now. IF I don't do much on my computer. I tested this last night by leaving it on all night and It didn't blue screen.
HOWEVER if I start steam, and download- or install software, it eventually crashes. Minidumps can be found HERE:

http://www.filedropper.com/minidump_1


I'd appreciate someones assistance in tracking down the culprit.
Some quick points:

• 
  Fresh installed ~6 times already
  Still running from my external
  Internal HDD is unplugged
  Motherboard was tested/replaced. no issue here.
  Both RAM sticks were memtest'd (5 passes), replaced etc. no issue here.
  Video Card works well, problem persisted with IGFX.
  CPU was tested with Intel's CPU diagnostic. no issue here.
  Haven't tested my PSU (just moved, no friends :/ )

I am willing to screen share if anyone can help/ wants a look them selves.

To anyone reading this thread who is feeling hopeless: I spent 3 weekends to get to this point. The light is at the end of the tunnel, don't give up.

 

[noreaster]

You have 2 types of memory installed, is there a reason for this? try using just 1 module, probably the 4GB one, and see if it crashes with just the one module. If it crashes try a different module and/or a different DIMM slot on your motherboard. When running mis-matched RAM you can only set the RAM as fast as the slowest module otherwise you will have issues.
Have you checked the thermals of your machine? CPU temp and GPU temp in particular. I am sure you didn't forget to apply thermal paste when installing your CPU heatsink.
The power supply is a possible culprit since it idles fine but crashes otherwise. You have all of your cables securely connected (20+4 main, CPU power, PCIe power, etc.).
Check for bent CPU pins on the motherboard, this is a far shot as I presume you would not even be able to boot if there was a poor connection.

Overall, my intuition tells me that somehow the RAM is bad. Either you have one or more bad modules, or are trying to run the lower speed RAM at higher frequencies and it can't keep up.

 

[Meziroth]

I'm hesitant to blame the ram, I've used a lot of different configurations, and haven't run them together. I'll check the psu and report back later.

 

[Meziroth]

You have 2 types of memory installed, is there a reason for this? try using just 1 module, probably the 4GB one, and see if it crashes with just the one module. If it crashes try a different module and/or a different DIMM slot on your motherboard. When running mis-matched RAM you can only set the RAM as fast as the slowest module otherwise you will have issues.
Have you checked the thermals of your machine? CPU temp and GPU temp in particular. I am sure you didn't forget to apply thermal paste when installing your CPU heatsink.
The power supply is a possible culprit since it idles fine but crashes otherwise. You have all of your cables securely connected (20+4 main, CPU power, PCIe power, etc.).
Check for bent CPU pins on the motherboard, this is a far shot as I presume you would not even be able to boot if there was a poor connection.

Overall, my intuition tells me that somehow the RAM is bad. Either you have one or more bad modules, or are trying to run the lower speed RAM at higher frequencies and it can't keep up.

Well these are the different RAMs i have purchased. I've gone through about 4x 4gb sticks all bought from different places to test it and still have the issue. It persisted with both motherboards.

I don't have them all installed at once. I have that many to test out the different RAM slots basically.

 

[noreaster]

Okay, then you have done due diligence in respect to RAM it seems.
Full disclosure, I have not looked at your mini dumps since I am no good at decoding them, but based on your title (ntoskrnl.exe) points to the kernal on which your NT operating system is built. The problem with installing Windows on one machine then moving the drive to another is that the kernal is built based on specifics from the hardware present at install time. It seems like your laptop and desktop have the very similar architecture but not identical and this is why you are able to limp along from the external drive.
I once had an internal storage drive that would not always be accessible and would cause any number of problems, turns out the SATA cable was bad; have you tried a new cable for your internal boot drive?

 

[Meziroth]

Okay, then you have done due diligence in respect to RAM it seems.
Full disclosure, I have not looked at your mini dumps since I am no good at decoding them, but based on your title (ntoskrnl.exe) points to the kernal on which your NT operating system is built. The problem with installing Windows on one machine then moving the drive to another is that the kernal is built based on specifics from the hardware present at install time. It seems like your laptop and desktop have the very similar architecture but not identical and this is why you are able to limp along from the external drive.
I once had an internal storage drive that would not always be accessible and would cause any number of problems, turns out the SATA cable was bad; have you tried a new cable for your internal boot drive?

Unfortunately, yes.
Im just stumped that it happens on both the internal harddrive, and when i installed with the external.

I haven't hard tested (replaced) the PSU or CPU. To my limited knowledge it wouldn't make sense that they would cause this though.

 

[noreaster]

If you are drawing more power than the power supply can deliver (either due to over taxing the power supply or if the power supply is faulty) it will certainly shutdown/reboot.
I've not come across a faulty CPU so I cannot say what symptoms that could cause but I would presume it would be consistent and probably not let you boot period.
They make power supply testers but for a one-time-use it may not be worth the cost, if you have a amp/volt meter you should be able to measure the voltages that way. Unplug the cables power cables to the motherboard (20+4 main, 4/8 CPU) and trip the green wire on the 20+4 connector to any black wire and the PSU will come alive (best to have some load on it such as a drive and/or some fans) at this point look at a wiring diagram for your PSU and determine which wires should provide what voltage and amperage and see if it is delivering that.

 

[Blake Kerwood]

This is the exact problem I am having, did you ever find a solution?