PC Processors

[NulsRammy]

"I’m adding my post to the processor category, which seems more appropriate, and I’d also like to mention that my PC has never had a blue screen, if that can provide an additional clue to help solve the issue."

Hello everyone, my name is Rammy, I'm 32 years old. I've invested in a high-end PC, but this so-called powerful machine doesn't seem very cooperative. I'm experiencing black screen crashes followed by reboots, as well as freezes that require a hard reboot. I've been struggling with this issue for 4-5 months now (currently bald from pulling my hair out). Here are the details:

PC Configuration:

Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7950X3D

AIO: Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB

Motherboard: MSI B650 Edge WiFi

RAM: Corsair 16GB x 4 (64GB DDR5 at 6000 MHz)

Graphics Card: Tested with multiple cards (NVIDIA 3080, NVIDIA 1050 Ti, AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX)

Power Supply: NZXT 1200W (replaced a Corsair 1000W)

Storage Drives: Corsair 2TB NVMe, 4TB SSD, 2TB SSD, 2TB HDD, and a 10TB HDD

Operating System: Atlas OS (Windows 11 alternative; freezes also occurred on Windows 11)

Issue: Frequent, random freezes and black screen crashes, even after performing the following tests.

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Tests Performed:

1. Processor:

   • Tested with OCCT for multiple sessions, approximately one hour each, without any crashes. Temperatures were within safe limits.

2. Motherboard:

   • Replaced the initial motherboard with a new, identical MSI B650 Edge WiFi. The issue persists.

3. RAM:

   • Each RAM stick was tested with MemTest86, running for 7 hours without any reported errors.
   • RAM was also tested using the built-in BIOS memory test, with no errors detected.

4. Graphics Cards:

   • Tested with different GPUs: NVIDIA 3080, NVIDIA 1050 Ti, and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. The freezes persist regardless of the GPU used.
   • All GPUs were tested in another PC and functioned correctly, ruling them out as the source of the issue.

5. Power Supply:

   • Tested with two power supplies: NZXT 1200W and Corsair 1000W. Both were also tested on another PC without any crashes.

6. Storage Drives:

   • All storage drives (NVMe, SSDs, and HDDs) were tested with CrystalDiskInfo, which reported their health as "Excellent" or "Good."

7. USB and Network Ports:

   • Only the keyboard and mouse are connected via USB. Multiple USB ports were tested, just in case.
   • Tested Wi-Fi as an alternative to Ethernet, but the issue persisted.
   • All network and USB ports appear to be functioning normally.

8. Windows Installations:

   • Even with a fresh installation of Windows 11 (or Atlas OS), the freezes continue regardless of configuration or adjustments.

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Additional Observations and Clues:

Despite exhaustive testing, the problem remains unsolved.

I heard a loud "click" before a crash on a few occasions. Could this be related to the AIO pump or an HDD?

During freezes or crashes, the only relevant information in the Windows Event Viewer is Kernel-Power ID 41.

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Conclusion:

I'm seeking additional ideas or solutions from the community on how to resolve these freezes under Windows or Atlas OS.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions—you’re my only hope.

[johnnyenglish]

Do you have XMP/DOCP/EXPO enabled?

Try running it at default speeds and see if it crashes.

Good Luck

[NulsRammy]

Hello, thank you for your response. I forgot to mention that I am indeed using AMD EXPO 1 and the memory context restore enabled, but even without it ('default'), it still freezes!

[kerawill1122]

Hello Rammy,

Thank you for providing such a detailed breakdown of your issue and the extensive troubleshooting steps you’ve already performed. It’s clear you’ve gone above and beyond in testing various components, which makes pinpointing the exact cause a bit more challenging.

The “Kernel-Power ID 41” event does suggest a power-related issue, but as you’ve already tested both a new power supply and various hardware components, it’s likely something deeper in the system's configuration or hardware interaction. Here are a few additional suggestions that could help narrow down the problem:

1. Check AIO Pump: The "loud click" you mentioned could indeed point to an issue with the AIO pump, potentially causing intermittent cooling or power disruption. You might want to monitor pump performance using software or manually check the pump's connection to the motherboard, ensuring it's functioning properly.

2. BIOS Update & Settings: Double-check that your motherboard BIOS is up to date, as certain firmware revisions can resolve stability issues, especially with high-end processors like the 7950X3D. Additionally, try resetting the BIOS to default settings, as custom overclocking or power settings could be causing instability.

3. Check Event Viewer and Reliability Monitor: While the Kernel-Power event is a common clue, other logs in the Event Viewer or the Windows Reliability Monitor may provide more specific insight into what's failing during these crashes. Sometimes, drivers or hardware components conflict in subtle ways that aren’t immediately obvious.

4. Test with Minimum Configuration: To eliminate any potential conflicts, test with just the essential components—CPU, one stick of RAM, GPU, and the OS drive. This will help rule out any external devices or peripherals causing the issue.

5. Test with Another Operating System: Since you’ve tested both Atlas OS and Windows 11, have you tried a clean installation of a different version of Windows (such as a regular Windows 11 build or even Windows 10)? This might help rule out OS-specific issues.

6. System Logs during Crash: The next time a crash occurs, try to capture any error codes or behavior before the crash, as this might provide more specific information about what is failing, especially related to the hardware or drivers.

It’s unfortunate that the issue has persisted despite the comprehensive troubleshooting. I hope these suggestions help point you toward a solution. Please keep us posted on your findings—community feedback might help uncover something new.

Good luck, and I hope your system stabilizes soon!