Question GPU Drivers Crash Entire System Instantly. Multiple GPU's Tested

[Joemama742]

Hello,

I'm hoping for some advice. As the title suggests, I have a strange issue with my system. Last week while playing a game, my computer randomly crashed. Over the weekend it progressively got worse to the point where it would crash anytime the drivers for the GPU got updated. Thinking it was a faulty GPU (I had an old 970) I bought a new AMD 9700 XTX, however, I've run into the same problem. The computer runs completely fine until I enable any driver that isn't the Microsoft Basic Display Driver. Once enabling the driver for either GPU the system immediately crashes and the system can only be rebooted after going into safe mode and disabling the driver or using a system restore. Device viewer sometimes does not show the PCIE device (in this case the GPU) and then sometimes does show it correctly. However, it always recognizes something is in the port. To me this could be a faulty Mobo or drivers not being installed after a fresh windows install.

What I've tried so far with no luck:

• Fresh clean installs of Windows 10/11 twice
• Rolling back drivers
• Trying two different GPUs
• Running Memtest 64 for 3-4 hours (no errors)
• Turning off PBO and other similar features.
• Visually inspecting the mobo for obvious damage of which I see none

I only have one PCIE port (mini ITX board) so I can't test other slots, unfortunately. Reliability History and Event Viewer both say the same thing: "System Thread Exception Not Handled. What failed: (the driver I enabled be it AMD or Nvidia)". Other than this, there are no problems with the system. Any ideas about what the issue could be? MOBO or maybe PSU? The PSU is very strong as it's less than one-year-old Corsair SFF 750 W Platinum. I also don't game heavy by nature of not having a ton of time and, up until a week ago, only having a 970 GPU which simply isn't capable of anything too demanding these days.

Any ideas would be very much appreciated. My specs are below:

• Windows 11 Home
• AMD 3700X (no overclocking at all)
• Aorus X570i Mother Board
• AMD 7900 XTX (or 970)
• 500 GB NVME SSD and 250GB SATA SSD (I tried installing the OS on both in case of MOBO issues)
• 16 GB 3600 RAM
• 750W Platiunum Corsair SFF PSU

 

[Ralston18]

Try running the built in Windows troubleshooters. The troubleshooters may find and fix something.

Try "dism" and "sfc /scannow".

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow-to-repair-windows-system-files-2626161

GPU drivers

Manually download the applicable GPU drivers directly from the manufacturer's website. Reinstall and reconfigure.

No third party tools or installers.

 

[Joemama742]

Hi Ralston,

I've tried those as well. Any driver (AMD/Nvidia) including those from Windows update crashes the system immediately.

As for sfc /scannow, I did those and there were actually a couple of errors which the system fixed (ran it three times with the last two showing no errors) but it still didn't help. I also tried resetting the CMOS in an act of desperation but that still didn't help.

 

[Joemama742]

Update: I got a new Mobo and I still have the exact same issue. Looks like it is the PSU

 

[Joemama742]

Hey Folks,

Sorry if this is in the wrong spot, but I've never seen this in all my years of PC building. I'm at wits end with what could be crashing my PC.

For Some Context - I built a new system during the pandemic in late 2020. Everything was new except my GPU which was an old GTX 970 which I planned to replace once there was a killer game I wanted to play. Fast forward to early August 2023 and while playing a game, my computer crashes. It restarts but is on shaky ground. I figure the old GPU is finally in it's death throws. Basically, anytime I try to enable the GPU driver the whole system crashes.

"That's fine!" I say as I want to play Starfield anyway. So - I ordered a new 7900XTX and did a clean install of Windows 11 (complete wipe). However, much to my surprise the issue persists. The second I enable anything but the Microsoft Generic Display Driver the whole system crashes and I need to revert to a system restore or turn on safe mode and disable the driver.

Thinking it might be the RAM, I run a full pass with Memtest 86 and it returns no errors. So I replaced the motherboard with a new one. Same issue. I replaced the PSU with a new one (same model but new. See below) and I still have the same issue. If I try to enable any driver for either GPU the system immediately locks up and crashes. Does anyone out there have any ideas what in God's earth this could be?

Things I've tried:

• Clean install of Windows 10/11
• Downloading just the drivers (no additional software)
• Running SFC /checknow. There were errors but they were fixed and each pass is now clean.
• running Memtest 86 for 4 passes. All OK
• Replacing the motherboard with a new one
• Replacing the PSU
• Completely cleaning the computer (why not)
• Running Cinabench to test the CPU for errors of which nine cropped up, temps stayed under 60 degrees C
• Turning off XMP
• Turning off AMD PBO etc
• Playing a small crucifix on the case to ward off weaker demons (no luck)

System Specs
Windows 11 Home
Ryzen 3700X (no overclocks of any kind)
16 GB G Skill RAM 3600
AMD 7900XTX stock (Nvidia 790)
500GB NVME
250GB SSD
Corsair SFF 750 W Platinum PSU (old and brand new)

 

[Lutfij]

Stick to one thread unless you want everyone to end up with spaghetti brains.

 

[Joemama742]

I know I know. I’m just trying to get a response, not sure if I’m in the right place