I've been dealing with an annoying IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) repeatedly over the last few days. Everything was running smoothly a few weeks ago, but now I'm at a loss as to what caused this sudden issue. I've already tested my memory using memtest86 and the Windows memory test, and both came back clear. I even swapped RAM sets, toggled XMP on and off, and ran all the usual troubleshooting commands like DISM, sfc, scandisk, and chkdsk without any resolution. I also updated my BIOS, but that didn't help at all. I've tried looking into the dump files, but I really don't know what to make of them lol. Here's my setup: ROG Maximus Z790 Hero, RTX 4070, Intel i9 13900k, and 32GB of G.Skill RAM (2x16GB at 7200 and also tried with 2x48GB at 6800). PS: I'm running Windows 11. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It sounds like you're in quite a bind! First off, have you checked for dump files? They're important for a proper analysis of BSODs. You can find them at C:WindowsMinidump if you can boot into Windows or Safe Mode. Pack them into a zip folder and share them on a file hosting site like Mediafire or Catbox since Reddit can be fussy with uploads. Also, having multiple dump files is better for diagnosing, so if you can, follow the guide to change the dump type to Small Memory Dump as well. Good luck!
Considering you have an i9 13900k, there's a chance you're running into Intel's stability problems. Even if you've updated your BIOS, it might not solve deeper CPU issues. The logs suggest that there might be requests made at a high interrupt level that can't go through. If the problems are persistent, a Windows repair or even a fresh install could help isolate if it's software or hardware behind the BSODs.
That's a good point! Would intensive load tests like Prime95 showcase any instability in the processor? I'm leaning towards the idea of reinstalling Windows too, but that's a pain.