Question Dead CPU 9900k or Motherboard Asus Z390-I?

[t0xiczinc]

Hey guys, I need your help! I have completed a PC build 3 months ago i9 9900k + Asus z390-i + Asus RTX 2070 + Corsair 32GB ram 3200 + Nuctua U9. My bios was set using XMP II with most of the other setting Asus defaults. Everything was running normal with great thermal until recent Windows update. The screen went black and took at least 30 min with no activity, I don't have reset button on my case so I decided to pull the plug from the wall (long power button didn't work as well)

As I'm rocking the plug to pull it out it sparks a little and makes a electric short sound. When I connected the power again the PC posted however booted to BSOD "WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR". I thought this might be a bad Windows update so I secure erased the SSD and tried to clean install Windows using USB and every time the system will post normally then I got different BSOD at the Windows setup logo as following "CRYPTO_LIBRARY_INTERNAL_ERROR" or "CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED" , "DRIVER_OVERRAN_STACK_BUFFER", "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL", "SESSION1_INITILIZATION_FAILED" and more!

I'm really confused, since the PC is posting with no issue! Do you think the power surge might killed either the CPU or the Motherboard?.. I don't have another CPU or motherboard to test so here is some of the troubleshooting I tried to diagnose the issue..

• I removed all other HW just have the CPU, RAM attached and used onboard graphics
• no visual damage on the motherboard VRM's or capacitors.
• no error led at motherboard post.
• setting bios optimized default = same issue BSOD...
• pushing CPU overclocking to the limits 1.4 volts = the setup will start but immediately be killed with BSOD.

** - disabling CPU turbo mode = I was able to boot and setup windows finally but with strange screen flickering (random dots and lines).
** - running Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool (turbo disabled) = FAIL at Prime Number step or BSOD
*** - setting bios to use 6 CPU cores only + turbo disabled = PC will run normally with no error + Intel IPDT will PASS + CPU stress test will PASS!!
*** - setting bios to use 6 CPU cores only + turbo enabled = PC will run normally with no error + Intel IPDT will PASS + CPU stress test will PASS!!
*** - setting bios to use 7 CPU cores only regardless turbo = again immediately BSOD!!

So based on the BSOD messages and my tests I guess 2 of the CPU cores are dead! or maybe some VRM's on the motherboard are defective? what do you think?

 

[Cioby]

Jesus don't unplug, just press and hold the shut down button.

It may be time to try to send it on warranty for repairs. Try to omit the fact that you unplugged it like an animal.
Those errors and tests seem to show towards the CPU. Intel is usually pretty nice about customer support so try to send it back and blame it on a power surge during the black screen if you really want to mention that.

You could open and check the pins or the CPU but you may void warranty so just let professionals do it.
You could still try moving one RAM stick or both. Leave just one in different slots. See if that works.

 

[t0xiczinc]

Jesus don't unplug, just press and hold the shut down button.

It may be time to try to send it on warranty for repairs. Try to omit the fact that you unplugged it like an animal.
Those errors and tests seem to show towards the CPU. Intel is usually pretty nice about customer support so try to send it back and blame it on a power surge during the black screen if you really want to mention that.

You could open and check the pins or the CPU but you may void warranty so just let professionals do it.
You could still try moving one RAM stick or both. Leave just one in different slots. See if that works.

Yeah, I will eventually start the RMA process but at least I need to know where to go Intel or Asus?

moving memory between slots combination resulting BSOD as well. I've tested the memory using MemTest86 tool https://www.memtest86.com It took 6 hours to complete 4 passes and no errors returned. For the CPU pins. I've checked both on MOBO side and CPU side using mico lense and no visual damage.