Question Sporadic, graphically distorted Bluescreen (BSOD) on Windows 10 machine, see screenshot attached - Which component to replace if at all?

[Risto48]

The Bluescreen occurs very sporadically on my Windows 10 desktop computer: Can be twice per day or with two months in between:

After it occured I have to do a hard reset. Checking the various Memory dump entries over time showed these entries:
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
APC_INDEX_MISMATCH

Key specs of the machine:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
RAM: 2 x 16 GB DDR4-3200
Graphics: MSI Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming X
OS: Windows 10 Professional

Hardware monitor programs show nothing remarkable, no high temperatures or alike.
My goal is to resolve this swiftly without risking any settings or data loss on the machine as I rely on it. So I need to decide which component to replace (first) and so I reach out to you here:


Is the most probable cause for this the graphics card, the RAM, the CPU, the mainboard, or instead no hardware but a windows issue?


My guess would be RAM because I also ocasionally see single programs crashing like the mail client or the browser while the OS remains intact. But the distorted graphics on the buescreen makes my suspect the graphics card.

Any help is very much appreciated!

 

[DaleH]

The Bluescreen occurs very sporadically on my Windows 10 desktop computer: Can be twice per day or with two months in between:

After it occured I have to do a hard reset. Checking the various Memory dump entries over time showed these entries:
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
APC_INDEX_MISMATCH

Key specs of the machine:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
RAM: 2 x 16 GB DDR4-3200
Graphics: MSI Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming X
OS: Windows 10 Professional

Hardware monitor programs show nothing remarkable, no high temperatures or alike.
My goal is to resolve this swiftly without risking any settings or data loss on the machine as I rely on it. So I need to decide which component to replace (first) and so I reach out to you here:


Is the most probable cause for this the graphics card, the RAM, the CPU, the mainboard, or instead no hardware but a windows issue?


My guess would be RAM because I also ocasionally see single programs crashing like the mail client or the browser while the OS remains intact. But the distorted graphics on the buescreen makes my suspect the graphics card.

Any help is very much appreciated!

I'd try another monitor before anything else. I've seen this kind of failure with a monitor. The GPU would be the next suspect, I'd think.

 

[Risto48]

I'd try another monitor before anything else. I've seen this kind of failure with a monitor. The GPU would be the next suspect, I'd think.

Hmm, I am skeptical. Monitor works fine and there is no correlation between the crashes and turning it on or off. Can you provide more info, please?

 

[DaleH]

Your pc also works fine, until it doesn't. Being skeptical doesn't help eliminate the monitor. Sorry, I can't provide more info, only the steps I would take if I were troubleshooting. Eliminate the easy things before jumping to conclusions. This would just be my approach if it were my problem.