I've got a system that I built in 2022 with pretty solid specs including an Intel i7-12700K, an RTX 3070 GPU, and 32GB of RAM. It's generally been pretty stable, except for one PSU failure under heavy load, which was similar to what I'm experiencing now. Lately, I'm facing hard crashes just seconds after booting into Windows 11. It strikes without any applications running, leading to an immediate power-off without any BSOD. The initial crash happened while I was trying to switch audio outputs. The second time was when I opened a log file to search for crash events. It's been up-to-date and unplugged for a week due to painting, although I cleaned everything thoroughly before booting it up. The weird part is that I can run a Linux live USB and stress test the system without a hitch, even reaching CPU temps of 110-115C without crashing. This has got me at a loss. I'm suspecting the AIO cooler may be at fault, but why would Windows 11 crash under these circumstances while Linux manages just fine? I'm also wondering if it could be a motherboard issue considering the sound device's problems. I'd love to hear any thoughts on potential causes, aside from a faulty AIO or PSU, as I'm checking those out too.
4 Answers
It's definitely strange that Linux handles high temps while Windows crashes so quickly. I seriously doubt it's a cooling issue if you're able to push it hard without problems in Linux. Have you tried changing any BIOS settings? Sometimes settings can get tweaked that affect performance in Windows but not in Linux.
Have you looked into the crash dump files? They can provide crucial information on why Windows is crashing. If you manage to boot into Windows or can access Safe Mode, check the C:WindowsMinidump directory for any dump files. You can upload them to a file sharing service to share with others for more precise troubleshooting.
Have you tried running your system in a Windows PE environment from a USB stick? There are diagnostic tools included that can perform stress tests and help figure out what's causing Windows to crash. Hirens Boot CD or Medicat are great options for this kind of testing.
It sounds like your Samsung drive could be the culprit, especially since you’re seeing issues only in Windows. I had a similar issue with my 2TB 980 Pro where it would freeze up randomly in Windows but worked fine in Linux. It might be worth testing your drive's health further or trying a different SSD just to rule that out completely.
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