I built a brand new PC in December, and for the first couple of weeks, everything was running smoothly. But then I started getting 'critical process died' BSOD errors unpredictably—sometimes during boot, gaming, or even just browsing. I replaced my original 850w PSU with a 1000w one, and it seemed to fix the problem for a couple of weeks. However, the BSODs returned, primarily during boot. Recently, I replaced the PSU again after a tech shop indicated the 12v was faulty. It worked fine for a short time, but I encountered the same BSOD on startup today. The crash often happens while loading my Windows profile; I can see my desktop, but the system crashes shortly after. I've rebuilt the PC multiple times, updated all drivers, and even installed new RAM alongside the PSU. All performance tests pass without any issues, but getting the system past the boot stage is becoming a challenge. I've reinstalled Windows several times with no effect. I'm really out of ideas and need some suggestions. Here are my main specs: GPU - AMD 7900 XTX; CPU - AMD Ryzen 7 7700X; Mobo - MAG B650 Tomahawk Wifi; RAM - G Skill F5-6000 DDR5 4800 16GB x2; SSD - WD BLACK SN770 STB.
3 Answers
Generally, instability like this often points to BIOS issues or incorrect settings. Make sure you're using the latest BIOS version for your motherboard. Also, double-check the settings; sometimes, minor tweaks can lead to stability.
It sounds like your CPU might be the culprit, especially since you've replaced the PSU and RAM already. Have you run any diagnostic tests specifically on the CPU? Sometimes they pass basic tests but still have underlying issues. It's worth looking into.
Have you checked the RAM speed settings in BIOS? You mentioned it's running at default 4800 with no EXPO enabled, so it might be worth adjusting those settings or seeing if there's a BIOS update available that could improve stability.
I haven't updated the BIOS yet, but I'll definitely look into that! I hear BIOS settings can greatly affect stability.
I've done some tests on the CPU that came back fine, but I guess there's always a chance something could still be wrong. How would I really confirm a CPU issue?