Hey everyone! I've recently started having a frustrating issue with my Windows 10 Home PC. Every time I launch Apex Legends, my system crashes and I get a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Sometimes, I get security warnings for files that shouldn't even be an issue when I play VRChat, which also uses Easy Anti-Cheat. All other games and apps function perfectly, so I'm really confused about why this is happening. The only changes I made recently were downloading a game called The Finals on Steam and a few MP4 files from Google Drive. I haven't installed any sketchy software or visited any questionable sites right before this started.
Just to add, sometimes the screen freezes and turns into a static image, requiring me to restart the PC. Here are the BSOD error codes I've encountered:
- CORE_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT
- DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION
- KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE
- CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT
My specs are:
- Windows 10 Home 22H2
- Ryzen 7 3700X
- Gigabyte B550 Aorus Elite
- 64GB 3200MHz RAM (XMP profile enabled)
- RTX 3080 10GB LHR
- 970 EVO Plus C drive
I've tried several troubleshooting steps, including updating my BIOS, GPU drivers, and chipset drivers, reinstalling Apex, verifying game files on Steam, and running system health commands. Still no luck! I would love any advice on how to move forward with this issue and keep my gaming experience smooth. Thanks a ton!
3 Answers
Given the Clock_Watchdog_Timeout error, it's likely a CPU issue. It means a core is getting stuck, which can happen with Ryzen processors under certain conditions. Check that you have no overclocking set up and try disabling Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) in the BIOS, just to see if that helps. It could also be a memory issue, but since other games run fine, it’s probably the CPU acting up specifically with Apex Legends and Easy Anti-Cheat.
You might want to try disabling your Windows Security settings temporarily. I know it's not the safest route, but it could help pinpoint whether security software is causing interference with Apex Legends and your system freezes.
It sounds like you're experiencing some serious issues with your system! First off, make sure to grab your minidump files from the Minidump folder in C:Windows. They're crucial for diagnosing BSOD problems. If you're able to get into Windows or Safe Mode, check for those files and upload them using a reliable file-sharing service like MediaFire or Catbox. This will give us more information to work with to figure out what's going wrong!
Added the dump files. Thanks for the tip!
I’ve confirmed no overclocking except X.M.P, and I've tested many other games without issues. This seems to be exclusive to Apex Legends and possibly linked to Easy Anti-Cheat.