ntoskrnl.exe BSOD Randomly every few days

Broken Hyoid · 19 Jun 2014

Hi,
I recently built my PC(one month roughly). About a couple weeks after I built it I got 2 BSODs in a row in the same day, I ignored it thinking it was a one off. And for a while that seemed to be the case. I got another BSOD however a few days later. Then for 1-2weeks the BSODs went dormant again making me think it was a random bug. However on monday of this week my PC had about 7-8 BSOD restarts, some happening within 10minutes of each other while others happened after a few hours. I had no idea how to fix this problem after google searching and looking at solutions for this ntoskrnl BSOD. However the next day my PC was fine, as it was the next, and the next...until today, where I just experienced a BSOD. I really do not know what it wrong. Nothing comes to mind when I think of what I am doing when the BSODs happen, they happen completely randomly, watching YouTube videos, browsing the internet. I do not know what to do and am really stuck and appreciate any help.

NOTE: the attached file only shows the last 2 BSODs(one from today and the last one from monday) however I can confirm there were many more on Monday as well as before that.

Boozad · 20 Jun 2014

Code:

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
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Use !analyze -v to get detailed debugging information.

BugCheck 124, {0, fffffa8007acf038, 0, 0}

Probably caused by : AuthenticAMD

Followup: MachineOwner

Your other logs are showing signs of hardware errors although I'm not picking up exactly what. Follow the trouble shooting steps below.

If you're overclocking your system, revert back to stock clocks now.

Run Prime95 to stress test your CPU. Hardware - Stress Test With Prime95

Warning

Your CPU temperatures will rise quickly while under this stress test. Keep a keen eye on them.

Run MemTest86+ to analyse your RAM. RAM - Test with Memtest86+

Note

MemTest86+ needs to be run for at least 8 passes for conclusive results. Set it running before you go to bed and leave it overnight. We're looking for zero errors here. Even a single error will indicate RAM failure.

Run SeaTools to check the integrity of your HDD. SeaTools for DOS and Windows - How to Use

Run Furmark to stress test your GPU. Video Card - Stress Test with Furmark

Note

Run Furmark for around 30 minutes.

Warning

Your GPU temperatures will rise quickly while Furmark is running. Keep a keen eye on them.

Broken Hyoid · 20 Jun 2014

Hi, thanks for the reply, it is much appreciated. I see you have said the cause is probably ''AuthenticAMD'', I am not sure what this means, but since only 2 of my parts are AMD(cpu and gpu) I will test these first.

However before I start the tests I would just like to know what temperatures would be dangerous for the PC, For the GPU/CPU stress tests. I have HWMonitor so I can monitor them easily during the test, and I know my CPU(FX6300 6 core) is not that popular so probably would not go that high on temperature. But just to be safe can you tell me if the temperature hits a certain threshold I should stop the test? Or should I keep it going no matter what unless the PC auto shuts down due to high temperature/BSOD. Same for GPU(amd R7 260X). Thanks.

Boozad · 20 Jun 2014

I've asked an experienced overclocker to drop in and talk to you about temperatures. He'll be along soon.

essenbe · 20 Jun 2014

Hi Broken Hyoid, I'll help if I can. I am pretty much an Intel guy, but I'm reasonably sure the Max on all the 6000 series on CPUs is 70C and the 260X is 84C. However, remember your temps are being read by software which is notoriously wrong, so my advice is don't trust it too much. Look at it as a guideline when you watch temps. My policy is to not go within 10C of my max, and lower if I can. What CPU cooler are you using? If you are using the stock cooler, watch temps real close. Neither AMD nor Intel stock coolers are very good. Also, do you have a reference GPU card? They tend to get hotter than the non reference cards because the non reference cards usually use other cooling configurations. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Are you overclocked on either one?

Broken Hyoid · 20 Jun 2014

essenbe said:

Hi Broken Hyoid, I'll help if I can. I am pretty much an Intel guy, but I'm reasonably sure the Max on all the 6000 series on CPUs is 70C and the 260X is 84C. However, remember your temps are being read by software which is notoriously wrong, so my advice is don't trust it too much. Look at it as a guideline when you watch temps. My policy is to not go within 10C of my max, and lower if I can. What CPU cooler are you using? If you are using the stock cooler, watch temps real close. Neither AMD nor Intel stock coolers are very good. Also, do you have a reference GPU card? They tend to get hotter than the non reference cards because the non reference cards usually use other cooling configurations. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Are you overclocked on either one?

Hi essenbe,
My GPU is a non referenced, sapphire product. I haven't personally OC'd it but it came OC'd out of the box(by sapphire) if that makes sense. The CPU isn't OC'd either. The cooling system on both things are stock cooling systems, and the case itself is being cooled by 3x 12cm fans running at full speed all the time(via molex). Normally the CPU fluctuates between 25-40 degrees(usually around 30, but 20 is the lowest I have seen it go and 45 the highest)

Thanks for telling me the temperature max. estimates, however if the temperatures do reach that high, should I end the stress test, or let it run its course? And if it does reach that high, does that mean the CPU or cooling system is at fault? Or is overheating normal for stress tests. Sorry if these seem like obvious questions, I am new to the whole BSOD troubleshooting thing, and just want to make sure I have all the right information before starting these tests, rather be safe than sorry. Thanks.

essenbe · 20 Jun 2014

All stress tests by nature, are designed to stress the component and make it run as hard as possible. This, obviously makes temps rise rather quickly. However, if the test makes your temps get too high, stop the test. Do not let the temps get dangerously high under any circumstances. Heat is the biggest killer of PC components. So, to answer your questions, Stress tests of any kind will cause the heat to increase rapidly and will stress the component to test stability, but do not let the temps get too high. Stop the test before then. If it does get that high, it normally means the cooling system is at fault or the thermal paste was not applied correctly, in the case of the CPU.

Broken Hyoid · 21 Jun 2014

Ok, thanks a million for clearing that up for me, I will do the tests and post the results here as soon as I can.

essenbe · 21 Jun 2014

Just let us know.

Broken Hyoid · 22 Jun 2014

essenbe said:

Hi Broken Hyoid, I'll help if I can. I am pretty much an Intel guy, but I'm reasonably sure the Max on all the 6000 series on CPUs is 70C and the 260X is 84C. However, remember your temps are being read by software which is notoriously wrong, so my advice is don't trust it too much. Look at it as a guideline when you watch temps. My policy is to not go within 10C of my max, and lower if I can. What CPU cooler are you using? If you are using the stock cooler, watch temps real close. Neither AMD nor Intel stock coolers are very good. Also, do you have a reference GPU card? They tend to get hotter than the non reference cards because the non reference cards usually use other cooling configurations. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Are you overclocked on either one?

Hi, as per the tutorial that was posted earlier, I ran furmark to stress my gpu, however even though it was said to run it for around 30minutes, my gpu went to 80 degrees Celsius and rising within 2 minutes of the test. Does this mean my GPU/Cooling system is messed up, and it may be the reason for BSODs? Or is this normal for FurMark and I should carry on with the test for 30mins. I was afraid of the temp being too high, as per your advice stopped the test. It wasn't a random spike of temperature either, it was steadily going up. Should I continue doing the other tests, or this conclusive of a faulty GPU? Thanks.