Is my CPU causing boot errors?

Boopig

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Jan 2, 2014
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Hello.

So two weeks ago I built my new PC. The PC worked fine for the first week, The RAM appeared faulty so I switched the RAM and everything went back to normal.

Last Friday I just finished playing Escape From Tarkov when my PC blue screens out of nowhere. After that my PC posts, and I can access the BIOS but if I try to boot any sort of windows, whether that's my OS on my SSD, installation media or a recovery environment my PC blue screens. I got various errors but more often than not it's irql_not_less_or_equal.

I have tested every part, replaced the motherboard and RAM and nothing has worked. The only part left to check is the CPU.

My PC is currently in a repair shop, the technician described the error as a 'kernel panic'. Before I spend another £300 on a new CPU. Is it possible a CPU could be causing these blue screens?

I7 8700k (stock clock)
16gb ddr4 3000mhz (stock clock)
Prime z370a
Evga GTX 1080 superclocked (stock clock)
Evga 850w gold standard
 


We've attempted all of that.

We've reinstalled on the same SSD. Installed on a new SSD. Replaced the motherboard and RAM. Checked the power supply for errors. There is not a whole lot we haven't attempted.


 


I've exhausted everything. Taking the GPU out of the machine was one of the first things I did.

I've done research, there have been a few cases where a CPU has had enough functionality to post but cannot boot windows.

These cases have the same symptoms my PC had. In the week I built the rig I had memory management and ntoskrnl.exe BSODs. Soon after their PC would post but fail to boot any form of windows. Unlike every other part, the CPU isn't a tried and tested part or shown to be functional. Since I built my rig my PC has had various bluescreens. And throughout all the tests I've ran, the only common variable has been the CPU.

I've generally tried everything, the CPU is the only part that hasn't been tested. I've bought a cheap due core Celeron which can fit into my motherboard. If windows can boot with the Celeron chip we will know my 8700k is indeed faulty.
 
Sorry to necro.

Turns out, the CPU was faulty. The guys in the repair shop said that out of all their years they've never seen a CPU act like this.

I've got a new 8700k in the machine. Everything is running beautifully! :)
 


Excellent, glad it worked out.