Solved Computer Crash While Gaming

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chrysstreet

PCHF Member
Mar 2, 2018
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Recently i've started getting constant crashes while gaming, they are completely random too, it seems.

My screen suddenly gets filled completely with vertical lines of random colors and a very loud - and unpleasant - sounds plays (not in the hardware, but trough the speakers), shortly after, the computer shuts down and restarts by itself, when i turn it back on, Windows says i had a blue screen, even though i never sawone.

This only happens when i'm gaming, and while sometimes it may happen after 5 minutes, other times it can take up to 12 hours of constant gameplay, and sometimes it doesn't even happen at all.

Also, it doesn't discriminate, it happens on very old games that barely even use the computer's resources as well as in very heavy newer games. Though in some games i can sometimes play without getting a crash for 12 hours, while in others i am guaranteed to get one in less than an hour, in one game in particular (CSGO) it happens ONLY when i forget to set my Graphics Card's fan to 100% (which is odd considering when it does crash, the temperatures are usually around ~60ºC, which is regular for my graphics card, considering it used to work fine at 80~90ºC back in its prime)

So, it doesn't seem to be temperature related, i thought it was at first but then i started monitoring the temperatures and realized they were ok, and there are no changes when the crash happens. Just to make sure it wasn't temps i went completely overboard and tied two big fans to my PC, temperatures were very low and the crash would still happen.

I already cleaned the computer thoroughly, everything i could, checked plugs and screws, and added thermal paste where it was needed, but still no luck.

Honestly i have no idea what is causing it, i suspect it's some hardware-related problem (though i'd much prefer if it was software-related), but i don't know even know what to replace. Could be anything for all i know.

I was hoping to get some help on this issue.

As i already know it can be helpful in solving the problem (though i have no idea what to look for), i'll leave three of my most recent minidumps attached
 

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Welcome to PCHF chrysstreet,

We do not use rar on these forums so please upload the latest dmp files using the steps below;

1. Copy any dmp files from C:\Windows\Minidump onto the desktop.
2. Select all of them, right-click on one, and click on Send To> New Compressed (zipped) Folder.
3. Upload the zip folder using the More Options tab, Choose File then the Upload a File tab.

Download then run Speccy (free) and post the resultant url for us, details here, this will provide us with information about your computer hardware + any software that you have installed that may explain the present issue/s.

To publish a Speccy profile to the Web:

In Speccy, click File, and then click Publish Snapshot.
In the Publish Snapshot dialog box, click Yes to enable Speccy to proceed.
Speccy publishes the profile and displays a second Publish Snapshot. You can open the URL in your default browser, copy it to the clipboard, or close the dialog box.
 
Please also run this tool for Phillpower.



Sysnative Tool.

1. Download the Sysnative BSOD Dump + System File Collection App - save to Documents folder -
2. Run the app - Double-click on the downloaded EXE file
Output = new folder created in Documents + a zipped version -- SysnativeFileCollectionApp + SysnativeFileCollectionApp.zip
3. Upload the SysnativeFileCollectionApp.zip file for review.
 
OK, this will give your helper a bit more info to work off of. He is usually on in the morning. :)
 
Hi there @chrysstreet

Upon analyzing your dump files, it would appear you have a very serious hardware problem. All of your BSOD's have the exact same check code, which coincides with a hardware fault. The way you're describing it appears to be linked to the graphics card.

What PSU do you have in your PC?
 
I have a 500W PSU by C3Tech.

That's all i know about it, this computer is very old, it was bought 8 years ago on a budget.
 
No need for me to check the crash dmps as that has been done already so I will only comment on what is glaringly bad in Speccy.

Couple of questions, can I ask who installed Windows 7 ultimate on this computer, where did the software to install it come from and was it obtained legitimately, reason that I ask is because only one update is shown to have ever been installed and that was on the same date as the install some 14 months ago, this is a common sign of an unlicensed OS being used.


You are critically low on free storage space on the C: drive where Windows is installed.

For Windows to be able to run efficiently and to be able to update you need to have between 20 and 25% of the partition or drive available as free storage space at all times, if you don`t you risk Windows becoming corrupt or not being able to update which puts you at risk of malware attack.

Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
Computer type: Desktop
Installation Date: 21/01/2017 13:47:19


Hotfixes
Installed
21/01/2017 Update for Windows (KB2999226)

Partition 1
Partition ID: Disk #0, Partition #1
Disk Letter: C:
File System: NTFS
Volume Serial Number: B4D2F211
Size: 600 GB
Used Space: 579 GB (96%)
Free Space: 20,8 GB (4%)

Thanks to Mal and jmarket respectively for the additional support (y)
 
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The system was installed the last time i left my computer on maintenance, i bought an additional RAM stick and the guy also reinstalled windows and cleaned it up, is it legitimate? Probably not, i have yet to see a legitimate windows copy in this country outside a business or company, considering it costs as much as the minimum wage.

The update part was my fault though, when i first got the PC back it started to update but i just never bother with them so i waited for the one that was already installing and disabled Windows Update.

About the free storage, i never payed much attention to it, had no idea about the 25% thing, i already cleaned it a little bit and will keep that in mind in the future, could this be causing problems also?

I guess if it is hardware related then there is not much that can be done, the question is, can i be certain that the Graphics Card is the culprit? Is it safe to keep trying to play games on it, considering it will always cause these problems? Should i just scrap it?

I am afraid it may be some power or voltage issue, or maybe even the CPU or Motherboard, afraid that if i replace the Graphics Card the problem will persist and i'll just have wasted money on a part that was still good for use while the problem won't be solved at all.

I also have two other problems with BSOD that were solved by this forum's help, one is with Google Chrome, it will BSOD my PC for some reason, and another is with Windows Aero, which also BSODs my PC, i solved them by switching to Opera and turning off Aero respectively, the point being: Is this computer even worth trying to save?
 
phillpower2 said:
For Windows to be able to run efficiently and to be able to update you need to have between 20 and 25% of the partition or drive available as free storage space at all times, if you don`t you risk Windows becoming corrupt or not being able to update which puts you at risk of malware attack.
Click to expand...

@chrysstreet


I have written a guide to help clean up storage space, although hosted on another site....

Click here for guide.
 
Just one last question, is it safe to assume 100% that the culprit on the BSOD and crashing issue is the Graphics Card? If so i'm getting another one right now, i just need to be certain.
 
chrysstreet said:
Just one last question, is it safe to assume 100% that the culprit on the BSOD and crashing issue is the Graphics Card? I
Click to expand...
Impossible to say for sure but one thing that I can say with 100% certainty is that until Windows is fully up to date you have no chance of resolving your computer issues, I must also mention that until we can see an OS that is fully up to date we cannot help you any further, this because we are not allowed to help anyone that has obtained their software illegally, if your OS is not legit you will soon know because it will be picked up by Microsoft and you will not be able to download any updates at some point.

jmarket did mention that your crash dmps point towards a serious hardware error, only looked at the latest dmp and that points towards the AMD processor but at the same time it could be the GPU or the hard drive failing due to the lack of free storage space, some info on the Bug Check 0x124:
WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR that is flagged up in the crash dmps can be found here
 
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Okay, so first of all i would like to thank you all for the attention and help.

After your feedback and confirmations, i ran a couple of stress tests for CPU as well as GPU, it turns out that none of the CPU tests returned any errors, caused any crashes or bluescreens, while the GPU tests resulted in catastrophic failure (BSOD, PC freezing or turning off, artifacts) 100% of the time, usually within 10 to 25 seconds, so this leads me to believe that the GPU is indeed the culprit. Also, the problem i initially had (computer randomly crashing while gaming) escalated to the point where as soon as i leave a game's menu and the GPU really starts working, it crashes.

With that in mind i removed the GPU and ran the tests again with the Onboard Graphics Card, none of which resulted in failures or errors of any kind, which leads me to believe that no other part is damaged or faulty.

I have ordered a new Graphics Card (RX 560, 4GB) and a new PSU that can handle it, this time it is a 550w certified one by Corsair, which i believe is more reliable than my old one.

I have taken all of you guy's tips into consideration regarding Windows and Hard Drive usage and am sure to pay better attention to this stuff going forward.

Once again i'd like to thank you all for your support, without your help i wouldn't even have been able to identify it as a hardware problem. Since i already bought a new Graphics Card, and due to the problems with my copy of Windows, i guess this can be considered closed/solved.
 
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You are welcome chrysstreet and thank you for letting us know that you longer require assistance (y)
 
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