Hey everyone! My PC is giving me a headache with a BSOD that shows the code Clock_Watchdog_Timeout. It freezes randomly and displays this blue screen. I'm not super tech-savvy, so I've come here for help. I thought replacing the thermal paste might help since old paste can mess with CPU readings, and it did reduce the frequency of the crashes, but they still happen. This usually occurs when something's loading. Once, I also got a WHEA UNCORRECTABLE ERROR code. I'd appreciate any advice on what could be wrong or what I should check! Just a bit of background: my custom-built PC is 4 years old, runs an Intel i7 11700k with an RTX 3060ti, and has 16GB of RAM. I've scanned for malware with both MalwareBytes and Avast, but nothing unusual showed up. Thanks in advance!
1 Answer
It sounds like you might have a hardware issue, especially with the CPU or a PCIe device if you're getting both the WHEA and Clock_Watchdog timeouts. The Clock_Watchdog error usually means a CPU core is stuck. For a clearer understanding, you should check the dump files from your crashes since they can give you more detailed insights. If you're not sure how to find them, I can help with that!
Yes, overheating could definitely cause these blue screens! Given those temps, your cooler might be failing. If it's old, it might be time for an upgrade. Good thermal management is key to avoiding these types of crashes.
Thanks for the tip! I noticed when I monitored the CPU that it was hitting high temperatures like 60 degrees Celsius while idle and up to 96 degrees when playing games. Could that overheating be linked to the BSOD? I recently replaced the thermal paste but wondered if I might need to get a new cooler.