Question PC freezes, I'm at wits' end

[Serellyn]

Hello everyone,

This might become a long opening post but I think details are important here. I will divide into sections to keep it from becoming one lengthy unreadable mess.

Current Hardware / Windows

• CPU - Intel 13600K
• DDR - Corsair DDR4 Vengeance LPX 2x16GB 3600
• MOBO - Asus ROG STRIX Z690-A GAMING WIFI D4
• GPU - Gigabyte 2070 SUPER
• PSU - Corsair HX1000i 2022
• DISK - Various Samsung (m.2) SSD's + HDD
• Windows 11

A new system 6 months ago
About 6 months ago I decided it was time for a new system. I bought the above CPU, DDR, MOBO and an m.2 drive. I installed everything with the PSU and GPU (GTX 1070) from my previous system. I flashed the BIOS, installed Windows 11 and installed drivers etc. However, the PC had demons, it had random and frequent crashes. I've tried all the things you might think of (re-install, drivers, strip down hardware, check DDR, etc.), but I did not (and don't have) replacement parts so I can test another CPU or motherboard for example. I then also changed out the PSU for a brand new one, however, that still didn't solve anything. But then, I 'stole' the GTX 2070 from my girlfriend's PC and behold, no more crashes for some reason...

Current situation
Well, I'm here for a reason aren't I? The last week the pc started freezing again. I changed nothing, maybe it was a Windows update or a GPU driver update, but something messed up my system again. In random situations it freezes, but it always seems to freeze while playing 'Warhammer 40K: Darktide'. When it freezes and I reboot, it almost always freezes again within a few minutes, even if I'm just viewing the desktop.

Troubleshooting so far

• Flashed BIOS
• Memtest
• Rollback GPU driver
• Updated all drivers
• Removed ASUS Armoury Crate
• FurMark GPU Stress test
• SFC Scannow
• SSD Health checks with Samsung Magician
• Checked Event Viewer (See below for errors)

I have not yet reinstalled Windows 11 this time since it didn't help 6 months ago either. I am however downloading Windows 10 as I'm writing this. It's my last resort to try, otherwise I'm sending back my motherboard since I'm getting the feeling more and more that it's a motherboard issue.

Event Viewer Errors
The thing here is, every day it seems there are new kind of errors that precede the crashes.

The latest crashes seem to be caused by the following errors;

The cplspcon service terminated with the following error:
Unspecified error

WHEA-Logger: A fatal hardware error has occurred. A record describing the condition is contained in the data section of this event.

This error comes up a lot

The server {AB8902B4-09CA-4BB6-B78D-A8F59079A8D5} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

This error is new since today, I think the disks do not like the crashes.

The IO operation at logical block address 0x0 for Disk 6 (PDO name: \Device\000000bd) failed due to a hardware error.

The Intel(R) Content Protection HDCP Service service terminated with the following error:
Unspecified error

Note I just typed this whole thing without crashing.
I hope you guys can help me, I'm about to throw my PC out the window and live a life of solitude in the wilderness.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Did you buy the memory in a kit or did you buy two separate DDR4 memory modules that were just the same model?

Did you verify that the memory you bought was on the motherboard QVL list or on the Corsair memory finder compatibility list as compatible with your motherboard?

What is the EXACT model of your memory kit or kits?

Have you run Memtest86 to rule out any memory problems, for FOUR FULL passes?

Have you tried removing one of the DIMMs (Memory modules) leaving only one DIMM in the A2 slot to see if you still have the same issue?

Have you tried uninstalling Warhammer, downloading the game installer FRESH, and reinstalling it, on a CLEAN installation of Windows?

What CPU cooler are you using? Have you installed HWinfo and monitored the CPU and graphics card temperatures to ensure this is not a thermal issue and also looked at the system voltages to make sure it's not simply a problem with the PSU despite the fact that it is a fairly good model?

I think the first order of business should absolutely be a clean install of Windows. Then, go to the motherboard product page and download/install the latest drivers for chipset, network adapters and audio. You might actually want to do this BEFORE installing Windows, so you already have them ready to go. Then go to the Nvidia website and download and install the latest drivers for your graphics card. Then download and install any relevant drivers for keyboard, mouse, printer and any other peripherals. Do NOT install Armory crate at any point, ever. Do NOT use ANY third party "driver updater", ever. Always manually go get the required drivers.

Make sure the BIOS is fully up to date as well since there have recently been some BIOS updates for a variety of Z690 and Z790 boards.

THEN, do a fresh install of Warhammer using a freshly downloaded installer and see if you still have issues.


In the event you have NOT yet checked the memory, it would be a good idea to do so before doing any of the above.

Memtest86​

Go to the Passmark software website and download the USB Memtest86 free version. You can do the optical disk version too if for some reason you cannot use a bootable USB flash drive.


Create bootable media using the downloaded Memtest86. Once you have done that, go into your BIOS and configure the system to boot to the USB drive that contains the Memtest86 USB media or the optical drive if using that option.


You CAN use Memtest86+, as they've recently updated the program after MANY years of no updates, but for the purpose of this guide I recommend using the Passmark version as this is a tried and true utility while I've not had the opportunity to investigate the reliability of the latest 86+ release as compared to Memtest86. Possibly, consider using Memtest86+ as simply a secondary test to Memtest86, much as Windows memory diagnostic utility and Prime95 Blend or custom modes can be used for a second opinion utility.

Click here to download Memtest86 USB package​

Create a bootable USB Flash drive:

1. Download the Windows MemTest86 USB image.

2. Right click on the downloaded file and select the "Extract to Here" option. This places the USB image and imaging tool into the current folder.

3. Run the included imageUSB tool, it should already have the image file selected and you just need to choose which connected USB drive to turn into a bootable drive. Note that this will erase all data on the drive.


No memory should ever fail to pass Memtest86 when it is at the default configuration that the system sets it at when you start out or do a clear CMOS by removing the CMOS battery for five minutes.

Best method for testing memory is to first run four passes of Memtest86, all 11 tests, WITH the memory at the default configuration. This should be done BEFORE setting the memory to the XMP profile settings. The paid version has 13 tests but the free version only has tests 1-10 and test 13. So run full passes of all 11 tests. Be sure to download the latest version of Memtest86. Memtest86+ has not been updated in MANY years. It is NO-WISE as good as regular Memtest86 from Passmark software.

If there are ANY errors, at all, then the memory configuration is not stable. Bumping the DRAM voltage up slightly may resolve that OR you may need to make adjustments to the primary timings. There are very few secondary or tertiary timings that should be altered. I can tell you about those if you are trying to tighten your memory timings.

If you cannot pass Memtest86 with the memory at the XMP configuration settings then I would recommend restoring the memory to the default JEDEC SPD of 1333/2133mhz (Depending on your platform and memory type) with everything left on the auto/default configuration and running Memtest86 over again. If it completes the four full passes without error you can try again with the XMP settings but first try bumping the DRAM voltage up once again by whatever small increment the motherboard will allow you to increase it by. If it passes, great, move on to the Prime95 testing.

If it still fails, try once again bumping the voltage if you are still within the maximum allowable voltage for your memory type and test again. If it still fails, you are likely going to need more advanced help with configuring your primary timings and should return the memory to the default configuration until you can sort it out.

If the memory will not pass Memtest86 for four passes when it IS at the stock default non-XMP configuration, even after a minor bump in voltage, then there is likely something physically wrong with one or more of the memory modules and I'd recommend running Memtest on each individual module, separately, to determine which module is causing the issue. If you find a single module that is faulty you should contact the seller or the memory manufacturer and have them replace the memory as a SET. Memory comes matched for a reason as I made clear earlier and if you let them replace only one module rather than the entire set you are back to using unmatched memory which is an open door for problems with incompatible memory.

Be aware that you SHOULD run Memtest86 to test the memory at the default, non-XMP, non-custom profile settings BEFORE ever making any changes to the memory configuration so that you will know if the problem is a setting or is a physical problem with the memory.

 

[Serellyn]

@Darkbreeze thank you for your elaborate response.

- DDR is a 32GB memory kit, on the QVL list (CMK32GX4M2D3600C18)

- I have run the memtest overnight with all 4 passes but it was with the memtest integrated in the BIOS. So I might have something to win there with an updated one. I'm not confident it will work, but it's worth a shot.

- I did check with HwInfo, however only the temps and those looked good. I'll look for the system voltages, however, I'm not really into that so what should I look for exactly and what are the voltages it should be on?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Generally speaking it's like +/-5% on each of the 12v, 5v and 3v based on the ATX spec, however, we know for a fact that systems can and do encounter problems when voltages drop below 11.7v on the 12v, and since that is usually the rail that most PC problems stem from the majority of the time, then unless something really looks off on the other voltage readings that's the one I'd primarily worry about.

And you want to check those voltages WHILE you are running under a heavy load like running Prime95 small FFT or another very stringent stress test. Just gaming might not be enough to find the problem, but a very demanding game running is better than nothing. Having the CPU and GPU both under stress at the time you take the readings is a good idea though. Something like Furmark might work well enough.

 

[Serellyn]

Generally speaking it's like +/-5% on each of the 12v, 5v and 3v based on the ATX spec, however, we know for a fact that systems can and do encounter problems when voltages drop below 11.7v on the 12v, and since that is usually the rail that most PC problems stem from the majority of the time, then unless something really looks off on the other voltage readings that's the one I'd primarily worry about.

And you want to check those voltages WHILE you are running under a heavy load like running Prime95 small FFT or another very stringent stress test. Just gaming might not be enough to find the problem, but a very demanding game running is better than nothing. Having the CPU and GPU both under stress at the time you take the readings is a good idea though. Something like Furmark might work well enough.

Thank you, I will try running some load and look at the voltages.

I just came back from a few days away, played a little Hydroneer and had YouTube open and the system just gave up again. In the Event Viewer no noticable errors just before the crash but after rebooting these two again;

The cplspcon service terminated with the following error:
Unspecified error

A fatal hardware error has occurred. A record describing the condition is contained in the data section of this event.

Also, I've just ordered a new m.2 SSD, I'll replace my system m.2 with that the new one to see how it goes. Is it also possible that if the SSD with games (separate from my system ssd) is acting up, it could crash the whole system? Or only if it would be the system ssd?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Anytime ANY device is not working correctly, it CAN result in crashing the entire system depending on what the deal is. Primarily too, if something isn't working correctly, it's driver may crash the system.

 

[Serellyn]

Well, I scanned my games drive, full of bad sectors. Seems to be a known issue for Samsung 870 SSD's. Disconnected it, still crashes. Disconnect all other drives, still crashes.

Now I just formatted and installed W10, we'll see how it behaves. In the meantime I'm downloading memtest86 to run tonight. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Darkbreeze]

No need to go any further. If you have bad sectors, drive is done. I mean, get confirmation, but assume it's done.

 

[Serellyn]

No need to go any further. If you have bad sectors, drive is done. I mean, get confirmation, but assume it's done.

So, it seems to be fixed. But it was a different cause then you'd think (and I thought for that matter).

I removed the bad SSD and send it RMA. However, that was not the culprit...
After it crashed again I did a full memtest86, twice, with default and XMP profile, no problems found.
Crashed again, formatted and re-installed Windows 11. Installed drivers, steam, started a game and... crash.

At that point I just thought, well, only option left is to install Windows 10. So, I did that, and now I've been crash free for 3/4 days. There must be some drivers + W11 issues but that * is kinda crazy.

So, I won't transition to Windows 11 again any time soon.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I JUST experienced the same thing on my Ryzen 5600G/X570 system that is in my garage. I thought the problem was going to be the fact that I had used some G.Skill Trident Z sticks that were primarily Intel friendly timings however it continued to have problems with another set of sticks and with both sets even at the default baseline configuration without XMP enabled.

It was running Windows 11, latest BIOS, latest drivers, etc. I thought just for the heck of it I'd put Windows 10 back on because I had briefly run Windows 10 on it initially and didn't have any issues. So I did a clean install of Windows 10 and haven't had any more issues with it restarting or errors since. The only thing it can really be is simply different drivers between the two OS versions. IDK, but that's all I can think of. On the other hand, I've got several friends and clients with Ryzen systems I've built for them that I've put Windows 11 on that haven't had any problems and those systems are nearly identical to the one in my garage using 5600G but they all have B450 motherboards. Also my primary system with a 12700k has Windows 11 and hasn't had any problems either. Just one of those things I guess.

 

[Serellyn]

I JUST experienced the same thing on my Ryzen 5600G/X570 system that is in my garage. I thought the problem was going to be the fact that I had used some G.Skill Trident Z sticks that were primarily Intel friendly timings however it continued to have problems with another set of sticks and with both sets even at the default baseline configuration without XMP enabled.

It was running Windows 11, latest BIOS, latest drivers, etc. I thought just for the heck of it I'd put Windows 10 back on because I had briefly run Windows 10 on it initially and didn't have any issues. So I did a clean install of Windows 10 and haven't had any more issues with it restarting or errors since. The only thing it can really be is simply different drivers between the two OS versions. IDK, but that's all I can think of. On the other hand, I've got several friends and clients with Ryzen systems I've built for them that I've put Windows 11 on that haven't had any problems and those systems are nearly identical to the one in my garage using 5600G but they all have B450 motherboards. Also my primary system with a 12700k has Windows 11 and hasn't had any problems either. Just one of those things I guess.

Yeah, so weird though and too bad because I did like Windows 11 so far.

Anyway, thank you for all your troubleshooting suggestions. Have a good one.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Good luck man.