I've recently built a PC, and while it ran fine with less demanding games, I've started experiencing unexpected reboots during more intensive gaming sessions. The restarts happen randomly—sometimes after just 20 minutes, other times up to 3 hours into the game. When I check the event viewer afterward, I see a fatal hardware error reported by the processor, specifically a Machine Check Exception with a Bus/Interconnect Error. Sometimes the error refers to memory as well. I'm getting event IDs 46 or 18.
So far, I've reseated the RAM and run several tests—OCCT for power, memory, and CPU+RAM for an hour each, plus memtest86. Temperatures appear normal; my CPU maxed out at 70 degrees Celsius under full load for an hour. I know some have suggested turning XMP and PBO off, but they seem to be off already. I've also been hesitant to adjust any voltages as I'm unsure what to do. Returning my CPU isn't an option, so any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
Can you give more details about your power supply? It's a critical component, especially with demanding setups. If you’re using an RM850e, how old is it? If it’s from your old build, it might not be as robust under heavier load. Proper wattage and functionality can really impact system stability during gaming.
To help us diagnose, what are your full specs? It looks like you've got a Ryzen 9 5950X and a 6750XT, along with a MSI MAG B550 MAX WIFI and the RM850e PSU. That’s pretty powerful, but knowing all the parts can help us understand any incompatibilities or issues.
Have you made any changes to your CPU settings, like undervolting or using curve optimizers? Sometimes those tweaks can lead to instability if they’re not set up properly. If you haven't adjusted anything in the BIOS after building, that might be fine, but it’s good to double-check any defaults that could contribute to the issue.
I didn’t change any BIOS settings since I built the PC. I thought it might be safer to leave them as they were.
It's crucial to check your dump files for more information on these errors. If you can boot into Windows normally or Safe Mode, look for crash logs in C:WindowsMinidump. If you find any, zip them up and upload them to a file sharing site. This can help pinpoint the culprit behind those unexpected reboots. If you’re not sure about how to collect them, I recommend checking out some online guides for setting up minidumps properly. That way, you can catch all the necessary info!
I’ve got the Corsair RM850e as well, and I had it for about a year. It should be solid, but sometimes older PSUs can start failing. If you have the means, testing with another power supply could be worth considering.