Hey everyone, I've built my PC a few months back using mostly new parts, with just the GPU and one SSD being used. After about two months, I started experiencing random crashes, which I initially brushed off since they happened only every week or two. However, it's gotten worse; now it crashes at least once a day, with most showing the error IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. BlueScreenView pointed to ntoskrnl.exe as the culprit, but I don't have the logs anymore.
I first thought it was my used GPU causing the issues, but removing it didn't help. I've also run MemTest86 and Windows memory diagnostics, which both reported no errors. After testing my RAM sticks separately, one stick caused immediate crashes while the other seemed fine. Unfortunately, after reinstalling Windows, I'm still facing crashes even when using what I thought was the good stick.
At this point, I just want my system to be stable. Here are my specs:
- Corsair Vengeance DDR5 2x8 GB
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Samsung EVO 2 TB, Mushkin Vortex 1 TB
- AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT
- ASUS B650-E WiFi
- BIOS version 3067
3 Answers
Since you mentioned that after wiping the drive and performing a clean install via USB the crashes still occurred, it indicates that the issue may not solely be software-related. It might be worth testing your RAM further or considering any potential motherboard issues. Sometimes BIOS updates can also help resolve these sorts of stability problems.
To get a better understanding of what's causing your BSODs, you should start by checking for dump files. If you can access Windows normally or through Safe Mode, check the folder C:WindowsMinidump for any crash dump files. If you find some, zip the folder and upload it to a reliable file sharing site. This provides valuable insights for troubleshooting.
Also, ensure that your dumping settings are correct. You might want to configure it to create small memory dumps as they provide just enough info without overwriting previous files. Here's a guide on how to set it up: [Create Minidump on BSOD](https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5560-configure-windows-10-create-minidump-bsod.html).
It seems like you've already done some solid troubleshooting. Given that the good RAM stick still leads to crashes, you might also want to try running the system with different configurations—like testing each RAM slot to see if one is faulty. Additionally, keeping your BIOS up to date can help, especially since you mentioned having the version 3067.
That sounds like a good plan. I've had success with dump analysis in the past, so definitely give it a shot.