Random BSOD while playing video games

Beltway · 03 Jun 2012

Hello, I've been getting the dreaded BSOD when playing video games. It happens at random. Sometimes I can play for a couple of hours with no problems and sometimes I'll not see a bluescreen for days. It only happens when playing games. Also, I'm not sure if it's relevant, but during the BSOD my speakers will emit a loud buzzing noise as well.

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit (OEM)
Intel Core i5-2500k CPU @3.30GHz
8GB RAM
AMD Radeon 6970

Hardware/OS is roughly 8 months old.

I'm hoping someone here can shed some light, since I'm not very good with this stuff. Please let me know if you need more information.

Thank you.

usasma · 03 Jun 2012

Running the last 10 memory dumps......

All are STOP 0x124 - looks like hardware to me.
More info on STOP 0x124 here: Stop 0x124 - what it means and what to try

Beyond that, start with the hardware diagnostics listed here: Hardware Diagnostics

The following info is just FYI, I've already addressed the issues that I saw in the above paragraphs

- Further info on BSOD error messages available at: http://www.carrona.org/bsodindx.html
- Info on how to troubleshoot BSOD's (DRAFT): http://www.carrona.org/userbsod.html
- How I do it: http://www.carrona.org/howidoit.html

3RD PARTY DRIVERS PRESENT IN THE DUMP FILES

Code:


amdxata.sys      Fri Mar 19 12:18:18 2010 (4BA3A3CA)
avgtdia.sys      Sun Jul 10 18:46:53 2011 (4E1A2BDD)
avgmfx64.sys     Sun Aug 07 23:41:46 2011 (4E3F5AFA)
avgrkx64.sys     Tue Sep 13 00:02:34 2011 (4E6ED5DA)
AVGIDSEH.Sys     Sun Jul 10 18:36:50 2011 (4E1A2982)
btath_rcp.sys    Thu Jun 24 02:17:21 2010 (4C22F871)
nusb3xhc.sys     Thu Jan 21 22:22:21 2010 (4B5919ED)
HECIx64.sys      Tue Oct 19 19:33:43 2010 (4CBE2AD7)
avgldx64.sys     Thu Oct 06 23:55:41 2011 (4E8E783D)
atikmpag.sys     Thu Apr 05 21:10:44 2012 (4F7E4294)
btath_bus.sys    Thu Jun 24 02:17:43 2010 (4C22F887)
btath_a2dp.sys   Thu Sep 16 07:34:42 2010 (4C9200D2)
btath_hcrp.sys   Tue Jun 29 05:30:43 2010 (4C29BD43)
btath_flt.sys    Thu Jun 24 02:17:38 2010 (4C22F882)
btath_lwflt.sys  Mon Sep 13 04:26:54 2010 (4C8DE04E)
Rt64win7.sys     Wed Dec 29 06:44:36 2010 (4D1B1F24)
atikmdag.sys     Thu Apr 05 21:48:25 2012 (4F7E4B69)
AVGIDSFilter.Sys Sun Jul 10 18:37:05 2011 (4E1A2991)
AVGIDSDriver.Sys Sun Jul 10 18:36:37 2011 (4E1A2975)
nusb3hub.sys     Thu Jan 21 22:22:18 2010 (4B5919EA)
AtihdW76.sys     Thu Feb 23 07:30:12 2012 (4F463154)
RTKVHD64.sys     Tue Nov 02 07:25:59 2010 (4CCFF547)
btfilter.sys     Fri Oct 22 02:40:47 2010 (4CC131EF)
atikmpag.sys     Tue Feb 14 21:13:12 2012 (4F3B14B8)
atikmdag.sys     Tue Feb 14 21:51:52 2012 (4F3B1DC8)
AtihdW76.sys     Tue Dec 06 04:14:25 2011 (4EDDDCF1)

Code:


Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\060312-14617-01.dmp]
Built by: 7601.17803.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.120330-1504
Debug session time: Sun Jun  3 02:46:47.528 2012 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 1:35:26.715
Probably caused by : hardware
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
PROCESS_NAME:  GameOverlayUI.
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE
Bugcheck code 00000124
Arguments 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`07ecb028 00000000`be200000 00000000`0005110a
BiosVersion = 1503
BiosReleaseDate = 03/10/2011
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz"
MaxSpeed:     3300
CurrentSpeed: 3300
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\060112-15194-01.dmp]
Built by: 7601.17803.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.120330-1504
Debug session time: Fri Jun  1 07:58:22.838 2012 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 7:11:07.024
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for atikmdag.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for atikmdag.sys
Probably caused by : hardware
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
PROCESS_NAME:  RaccoonCity.ex
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE
Bugcheck code 00000124
Arguments 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`0867b028 00000000`be200000 00000000`0005110a
BiosVersion = 1503
BiosReleaseDate = 03/10/2011
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz"
MaxSpeed:     3300
CurrentSpeed: 3300
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\053112-22276-01.dmp]
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for Unknown_Module_2f396a67`a3e9cfa3
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for Unknown_Module_2f396a67`a3e9cfa3
Built by: 7601.17803.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.120330-1504
Debug session time: Thu May 31 16:01:52.133 2012 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 22:19:39.320
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for Unknown_Module_2f396a67`a3e9cfa3
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for Unknown_Module_2f396a67`a3e9cfa3
Probably caused by : Unknown_Image
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
Bugcheck code 00000124
Arguments 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`0867b028 00000000`be200000 00000000`0005110a
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\052812-23166-01.dmp]
Built by: 7601.17803.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.120330-1504
Debug session time: Mon May 28 13:06:44.553 2012 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 0:55:04.641
Probably caused by : hardware
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
PROCESS_NAME:  mb_wfas.exe
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE
Bugcheck code 00000124
Arguments 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`08684028 00000000`be200000 00000000`0005110a
BiosVersion = 1503
BiosReleaseDate = 03/10/2011
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz"
MaxSpeed:     3300
CurrentSpeed: 3300
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\051112-14055-01.dmp]
Built by: 7601.17803.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.120330-1504
Debug session time: Fri May 11 10:36:17.614 2012 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 1:07:09.800
Probably caused by : hardware
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
PROCESS_NAME:  UDK.exe
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE
Bugcheck code 00000124
Arguments 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`07dc7028 00000000`be200000 00000000`0005110a
BiosVersion = 1503
BiosReleaseDate = 03/10/2011
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz"
MaxSpeed:     3300
CurrentSpeed: 3300
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\050912-16567-01.dmp]
Built by: 7601.17790.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.120305-1505
Debug session time: Wed May  9 18:41:52.067 2012 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 15:11:10.254
Probably caused by : hardware
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
PROCESS_NAME:  System
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE
Bugcheck code 00000124
Arguments 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`08641028 00000000`be200000 00000000`0005110a
BiosVersion = 1503
BiosReleaseDate = 03/10/2011
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz"
MaxSpeed:     3300
CurrentSpeed: 3300
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\043012-22230-01.dmp]
Built by: 7601.17790.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.120305-1505
Debug session time: Sun Apr 29 23:21:47.564 2012 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 5:16:21.377
Probably caused by : hardware
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
PROCESS_NAME:  Reckoning.exe
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE
Bugcheck code 00000124
Arguments 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`07eaa028 00000000`be200000 00000000`0005110a
BiosVersion = 1503
BiosReleaseDate = 03/10/2011
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz"
MaxSpeed:     3300
CurrentSpeed: 3300
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\042512-14492-01.dmp]
Built by: 7601.17790.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.120305-1505
Debug session time: Wed Apr 25 01:10:13.957 2012 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 3:07:01.144
Probably caused by : hardware
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
PROCESS_NAME:  PnkBstrB.exe
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE
Bugcheck code 00000124
Arguments 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`08626028 00000000`be200000 00000000`0005110a
BiosVersion = 1503
BiosReleaseDate = 03/10/2011
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz"
MaxSpeed:     3300
CurrentSpeed: 3300
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\042312-17160-01.dmp]
Built by: 7601.17790.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.120305-1505
Debug session time: Mon Apr 23 07:14:37.764 2012 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 1:19:44.951
Probably caused by : hardware
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
PROCESS_NAME:  PnkBstrB.exe
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE
Bugcheck code 00000124
Arguments 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`07dc8028 00000000`be200000 00000000`0005110a
BiosVersion = 1503
BiosReleaseDate = 03/10/2011
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz"
MaxSpeed:     3300
CurrentSpeed: 3300
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``
Loading Dump File [C:\Users\FUBAR\_jcgriff2_\dbug\__Kernel__\042212-15194-01.dmp]
Built by: 7601.17790.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.120305-1505
Debug session time: Sat Apr 21 19:51:21.034 2012 (UTC - 4:00)
System Uptime: 0 days 10:08:36.846
*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for intelppm.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for intelppm.sys
Probably caused by : hardware
BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_GenuineIntel
DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT
PROCESS_NAME:  System
FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_GenuineIntel_PROCESSOR_CACHE
Bugcheck code 00000124
Arguments 00000000`00000000 fffffa80`086a2028 00000000`be200000 00000000`0005110a
BiosVersion = 1503
BiosReleaseDate = 03/10/2011
CPUID:        "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz"
MaxSpeed:     3300
CurrentSpeed: 3300
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨``

Beltway · 04 Jun 2012

Thank you, usasma.

Yeah, I figured 0x124 was hardware (did some Googling before coming here).
I've previously run Furmark, some memory test program and Prime95. Everything appears to be working fine. No overheating and there's no dust inside. I spent a while today updating drivers.

I'm sure the CPU is overclocked but I have no idea how to, uh, unclock it... I'm going to need to hit Google again I think.
Trouble is even after I've done this, the BSOD is so bloody random I may have to wait days before I'll know if it's fixed. It's tough to enjoy a game when, in the back of your mind, you're thinking "This thing's going to blue screen in a minute..."

Thank you again for taking time to help.

usasma · 04 Jun 2012

According to the memory dumps you system isn't overclocked. This is what says that:

CPUID: "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz"
MaxSpeed: 3300 = 3.30GHz
CurrentSpeed: 3300 = 3.30GHz

TychoPsycho · 04 Jun 2012

I've been having the exact same problem for about 5 months now, I've been meaning to post about it but I guess I should start my own thread and post my dumps although it is a 0x0124 so I guess its hardware.

writhziden · 04 Jun 2012

TychoPsycho: You are correct; you should start your own thread to avoid creating confusion in this one. You will also get dedicated help that way and both problems will hopefully be solved faster. :)

Thank you for your understanding.

Beltway · 05 Jun 2012

Oops! Okay so it turns out I HAVEN'T run prime95, even though I have it on this machine.

Anyway, I ran it and watched the temperatures. They hovered around 80/81 but the test doesn't last 1 minute... I've run it a couple of times now and it always bluescreens in under a minute. I guess the CPU is the problem? Not sure what to do next. Guess I'm going to have to find out who built the machine (It was a gift) contact them and retrurn it.

Was hoping it was something I could eventually fix. Oh well. Thank you for all your help, usasma.

James7679 · 05 Jun 2012

When the test starts, does the test itself show any errors?

Yes, those temps are high. Your factory heat sink fan may not be mounted properly. We could tell you how to take care of that if you are interested?

Beltway · 05 Jun 2012

Oh, I figured around 80 would be normal for a stress test. The fan/heatsink is a Titan Fenrir EVO CPU Cooler. It's definitely working, it sounds like a bloody tornado.
I see no errors (they'd show up in red, right?). Just a bluescreen after about 40 seconds. Last couple of times the machine didn't last long enough for the CPU to even reach 80.
I stopped using Prime95. I feel like I'm damaging the machine since it kills it every time.

usasma · 06 Jun 2012

Prime95 stresses 3 things:
- RAM
- CPU cache
- memory controller

Depending on your CPU make and model the memory controller can be either on your CPU or on the mobo.
You have a i5 processor, so the memory controller is on your CPU

So, let's try Prime95 3 different ways:
- Small FFT's
- Large FFT's
- Blend

Run the tests in that order and run them immediately one after the other. Time how long it takes to generate errors, crash, or BSOD.

If Blend is fastest to crash, it's probably RAM. If it's either of the others, it's probably CPU.
If it's the second case, then try the CPU stress tests from here: Additional Hardware Diagnostics

Just FYI - a BSOD occurs to prevent damage, not cause it. It's safe to let it BSOD while we're troubleshooting. If hardware problems do occur, it's usually because the part was about to fail anyway.