BSOD - Infrequent, browsing mostly. IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

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  1. Posts : 11,269
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
       #51

    It is possible the CPU was damaged by overheating. I have seen graphics cards become faulty after overheating, so I imagine the same is true of CPUs or any electronics. I would recommend that you see if you can get the temperatures down first, though. It'll cost a lot less if it is just an overheating issue and not a bad processor.

    If the processor is under warranty still, you could see if you can RMA it.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 76
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #52

    Okay.

    I reseated my cpu heatsink a few times, and as far as I can tell, its as in as its going to go. And it's been in properly installed I believe since the very first time (back in november) I applied arctic silver. I ran a few instances of burntest (since it seems 'quick'), and the temps were the same as before. When monitoring my idle temps with RealTemp, they to were the same as they had always been.

    So, I then moved on to reapplying the thermal paste, as the layer I had previously applied did appear slightly on the thick side to my eyes. Unfortunately I was unable to find my thermal paste (only had the arcticlean bottles), and had to order some more. And ofc, when it came, I was tidying and found my previous tube hidden away in a "safe place". Ah well.

    So, I just finished reapplying the thermal paste, and this time, I only put a 'very very small pea sized amount', and I opened up real temp, and left it for 10 mins or so, and the min temperature was around 29-30 degrees C, which was only a degree lower than what the minimum temperature previously has been. But obviously, that's not bad considering the paste hasn't had its 200 hour settling in phase, where I believe the temperatures usually reduce between 2-5 degrees C?

    So, I gave it a quick try with the intel Burn-test on the standard setting. And the maximum temperature only reached 73degrees, which, is a fairly good reduction from 81degrees. I'll probably give a go on the high setting, to see how it does there.

    Would you recommend a further reapplication to see if I can lower the temps further?

    All the best,
    Dan.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 11,269
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
       #53

    It sounds like you made good progress. I do not think it necessary to do more. How is the system behaving overall now that it is running a bit cooler?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 76
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #54

    Erm, well I've not noticed any real changes, it's running fine as before (it's always appeared fine apart from the unexpected blue screens, which as I say, are always infrequent and happen quite at random).

    Regarding blue screens, the last two I had, were on the 12th and 13th of june, so about two and a half weeks since the last occurrence. So it has been quite a good while since I last had one (There have been longer gaps before, but usually when my pc has experienced low usage), gaps of 2 weeks are not uncommon however.
    I'm pretty much expecting a blue screen any day now really haha. If it makes it past a third week and approaching a fourth week without a BSOD. I'll certainly be intrigued.


    On another note, I ran burn-test on high, and the max temp was 78degrees. On very high it was 83 degrees. Which is certainly better than before.

    One thing I may do is at some point is purchase an aftermarket cooler, and perhaps a better exhaust fan (it has always been my intention to do so, since although I don't plan to overclock, significantly reducing the temps of my computer would be quite satisfying, but I had always put it off on account of the BSOD's).

    I will of course not rush into anything, and I'll see how the recent reapplication of thermal paste affects the Blue screens, before I begin tinkering with something that doesn't need tinkering with.

    All the best,
    Dan.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 11,269
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
       #55

    Good plan not to break what isn't broken.

    Glad I could help, and I hope you are intrigued in a week or two.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 76
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #56

    Okay, just a quick check in. To date it has been about 4 and a half weeks since I last experienced a BSOD. Which is a pretty long time tbh!

    So, I mean, considering how long it usually lasts between BSOD's, I'd be tempted to think its fixed (although I'm reluctant to believe it so).

    If my BSOD's have in fact ceased; why is that? My computer knowledge is limited, but aside from reapplying the paste and lowering my CPU temps, the last 'fix' I tried, was to install the USB3 controller driver from the disk (recall the one on the website wasn't functioning properly for some reason). All the other things I tried were in aid of determining what the cause was?

    Is it possible you can shed any light on this, it does seem a bit of mystery (to me).


    But non the less, thanks again for you're continued patience and help!
    Dan.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 11,269
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
       #57

    You're welcome.


    Lowering the CPU temps often provides more stability. Having a system that overheats is prone to crashes because the system tries to prevent components from being damaged when they reach critical temperatures.


    That said, I am not ruling out the USB 3.0 steps, either. USB 3.0 is fairly new technology, and there is not a ton known about it at this time. Updating any drivers or software associated with it may very well fix some bugs due to the new hardware.

    karlsnooks found some interesting information about it just the other day:
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 76
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #58

    Thanks for the reply, and for the link. It was interesting, but I think ill need to read it a few more times to get a better handle of it.


    If it's all right, I think ill wait just one more week, and then If I don't have a BSOD, I'll mark the thread as solved. I suppose it doesnt matter if I understand quite how its fixed, as long as it has.

    Thanks again,
    Dan.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 76
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #59

    Okay, so it's been about 5 and a half weeks since my last bluescreen. Which is great! I've almost forgotten what a blue screen is. I guess now I'm pretty certain the issue is finished with, since I've never made it this long before without one, nowhere near.

    I'm going to mark this thread as solved, I'd like to thank you for your continued help and patience! You're a star.


    All the best,
    Dan.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 76
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #60

    Hello again writhziden, I'm not sure if this is the correct protocol, but for now I'll post here.

    Right, I've had three more blue screens yesterday (IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL). Which is the first time I've had them for 8 and a half weeks. Going back 4 or 5 months, I would've expected about 16 BSOD's in any 8-week period, so I really thought it had been fixed.

    Since we last spoke, I did install an after market cpu cooler, and it did do well to reduce my temperatures. I went down from 72C to 56C (IBT 5 mins on standard, and it maxed at 60C on Maximum). That was merely to spot the temp differences, not to stress test.

    You might not remember, but shortly after I completed my system back in November, I disabled turbo boost. Since getting my cpu cooler, I enabled Turbo-boost; since I figured I no longer need worry about what extra heat it might generate. As sure as I can be, enabling turbo boost is the only setting I have changed. I haven't done stress testing with Turbo Boost enabled, so perhaps it makes my system unstable. But the last of my three bluescreens occurred after I had disabled Turbo boost, thinking it to be the culprit (I've had it enabled a week).

    My BSOD's like usual, happened randomly whilst not at all stressing any components. #1: Opening a new tab in chrome. #2 Pasting something into program. #3 Just as I pressed shut down in the start menu.

    Any thoughts on this? Would you like to see the latest dump files?

    All the best,
    Dan.
      My Computer


 
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