BSOD while randomly using computer after replacing motherboard + CPU

YpsiNine · 21 Nov 2014

Greetings,

Thanks for having me. I want to ask for help on a random BSOD experience I am having with my computer.

I am quite frustrated after replacing my motherboard and CPU since I'm experiencing random BSOD's now 3-5 times per week. My old motherboard (a Z87) was RMA'd so I figured I could upgrade the CPU at the same time, so now I am on the Z97 platform. Also, I am not overclocking the system, everything is running at stock speeds. This is on a fresh installation of Windows.

What I've done to try to fix it:

Ran Memtest86+ for 8 passes without any errors
Updated all drivers to the latest versions
Updated the motherboard BIOS to the latest version
Disabled the Atheros Killer on-board network card and using an Intel PCI-E card instead
Reading a lot on the net (forums etc) to try to understand where the problem is
Uninstalled Windows twice and did a fresh install both times, to no avail

Basically I am at a point now where I want to just throw the darn thing out of the window. I consider myself quite skilled with computers (I work as an IT-consultant) and so this is extra painful for me, not being able to solve this problem.

I am using the exact same hardware parts that I was using with the old motherboard + CPU and I never had a random BSOD on that system. The only difference with this system now, is the replaced motherboard + new CPU.

The .zip file contains only 1 dump file, but I've probably have had 50+ BSOD's since Windows was installed ~1 month ago. Sometimes the files are not created, and other times I've simply deleted them because the problem was obvious (like the Killer network card). The dump file in the .zip has the 7F bugcheck code (UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP), but other common bugchecks have been:

0A (IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL)
24 (NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM)
D1 (DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL)
1E (KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED)

...and almost all of them point to ntoskrnl.exe which is why I am unable to find the problem.

I am attaching the .zip file as per the instructions. Apologies for the long post.

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Martin

essenbe · 21 Nov 2014

YpsiNine, let's not throw it out the window quite yet. let's see if we can find out what is the problem. Please do a couple of things for me. There was not much to go on in your dump file. What it shows is a double fault, which normally is a bad driveror hardware. I am sure you know your settings in BIOS, if not make sure of what your sata controller is set to (IDE,AHCI or Raid). Get the manufacturer's specs for the ram, you will need the frequency, timings and voltage. Set your bios to optimized defaults, set your sata controller to what it is right now, set your ram to Manufacturer's specs for timings, frequency and Dram voltage, set your boot order, save and exit.

If you do not already have it, please install CPUz (CPU-Z CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting) and post screenshots (Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums) of the CPU, mainboard, Memory and SPD tabs. On the SPD tabs, you can select each Dimm Slot in the upper left of the tab, just post the Dimms populated with ram.

Also, please make sure your computer is set for small memory dumps
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174459-dump-files-configure-windows-create-bsod.html

That should set everything in order. Let's take a look at the set up and see if everything is as it should be.

Please also, hold down the windows key (the one with the flag) and press R, in the run box that opens, type msconfig and press OK. Please click on the startup tab and uncheck everything except Security essentials and Windows Sidebar press apply and OK. Reboot and see how you do.

I would also like to know your CPU Cooler, what your CPU temps are and your GPU temps. If you need software to read them, just let me know. Please use programs that will give you a constant reading of the temps. Also in BIOS please tell me the values of the +12V, +5V and +3.3V.

This may all sound elementary to you, and it is. But, it should give me an idea of a baseline of what we are looking at.
If you have any questions or want any explanations, feel free to ask. I don't mind explaining at all.

YpsiNine · 21 Nov 2014

essenbe, thanks a lot for your reply. Let's get down to it.

essenbe said:

YpsiNine, let's not throw it out the window quite yet. let's see if we can find out what is the problem. Please do a couple of things for me. There was not much to go on in your dump file. What it shows is a double fault, which normally is a bad driveror hardware. I am sure you know your settings in BIOS, if not make sure of what your sata controller is set to (IDE,AHCI or Raid). Get the manufacturer's specs for the ram, you will need the frequency, timings and voltage. Set your bios to optimized defaults, set your sata controller to what it is right now, set your ram to Manufacturer's specs for timings, frequency and Dram voltage, set your boot order, save and exit.

Done. The SATA controller is set to Raid (I am using a Raid 1 setup on my WD Red NAS drives). All RAM timings are running per manufacturer's spec (2133 MHz @ 9-11-10-27 2T @ 1.5V). Again to emphasize, this is the exact same timings used with the previous motherboard, and also Memtest86+ does not show any errors through at least 8 passes.

essenbe said:

If you do not already have it, please install CPUz (CPU-Z CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting) and post screenshots (Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums) of the CPU, mainboard, Memory and SPD tabs. On the SPD tabs, you can select each Dimm Slot in the upper left of the tab, just post the Dimms populated with ram.

Done. Here are the first 3 CPU-z items you asked for:
Attachment 341119

Then the SPD tabs:
Attachment 341120

essenbe said:

Also, please make sure your computer is set for small memory dumps
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174459-dump-files-configure-windows-create-bsod.html

Done. It was set to Kernel memory dump, so I changed it to small.

essenbe said:

That should set everything in order. Let's take a look at the set up and see if everything is as it should be.

Please also, hold down the windows key (the one with the flag) and press R, in the run box that opens, type msconfig and press OK. Please click on the startup tab and uncheck everything except Security essentials and Windows Sidebar press apply and OK. Reboot and see how you do.

Done. Let's see if it changes anything.

essenbe said:

I would also like to know your CPU Cooler, what your CPU temps are and your GPU temps. If you need software to read them, just let me know. Please use programs that will give you a constant reading of the temps. Also in BIOS please tell me the values of the +12V, +5V and +3.3V.

Sorry about not filling in my spec properly, I've added it now. It's a Cooler Master Nepton 140XL, which is a liquid cooler (for the CPU), I am also using Noctua case fans. Here are the temperatures, at idle (at load the CPU maxes out at about roughly ~70'C):
Attachment 341121

And then voltages (from BIOS, please look at the bottom of the picture):
Attachment 341122

essenbe said:

This may all sound elementary to you, and it is. But, it should give me an idea of a baseline of what we are looking at.
If you have any questions or want any explanations, feel free to ask. I don't mind explaining at all.

Thanks but so far I am following you. :)

Best,
Martin

essenbe · 21 Nov 2014

Make sure you have a folder in C:/Windows named Minidump. If you do not, create one. If you have another BSOD, please run the
https://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-help-support/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html again. Use option 2 and press the 'Grab All' button then give it time to do it's collection and let's see what it says.

YpsiNine · 21 Nov 2014

essenbe said:

Make sure you have a folder in C:/Windows named Minidump. If you do not, create one. If you have another BSOD, please run the
https://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-help-support/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html again. Use option 2 and press the 'Grab All' button then give it time to do it's collection and let's see what it says.

essenbe,

Yes I already have that folder. I will wait for the next BSOD, then run the program again as you instructed. Thanks!

essenbe · 22 Nov 2014

Would you check in BIOS and see what the CPU Voltage is set to please? The CPUz screenshot you showed really didn'y look right. That is way too low of a Vcore in that shot.

YpsiNine · 22 Nov 2014

essenbe said:

Would you check in BIOS and see what the CPU Voltage is set to please? The CPUz screenshot you showed really didn'y look right. That is way too low of a Vcore in that shot.

Hi essenbe,

As you can see in the CPUz screenshot, Intel Speedstep is in effect (when the computer is idle the speed and voltage is reduced). The voltage is set to 1.2V manually by me in BIOS, as you can see in the BIOS screenshot (1.208V).

essenbe · 22 Nov 2014

Where did you get the 1.2V? I understand it is reduced, but not to 0.17, I don't think. I believe it should be to 0.7ish.

YpsiNine · 23 Nov 2014

essenbe said:

Where did you get the 1.2V? I understand it is reduced, but not to 0.17, I don't think. I believe it should be to 0.7ish.

Hi essenbe,

I got it from the voltages screenshot I posted earlier (bottom left):
Attachment 341298

Are you saying the CPU is faulty? I feel that the voltages in CPUz are a bit dodgy when Speedstep kicks in.

Anyway, I left the computer on overnight, doing nothing in particular (no standby), and when I woke up there was a new BSOD message and Windows had restarted. It happened approximately 7 hours after I went to sleep.

I have attached the zip file using your previous instructions.

Best,
Martin

essenbe · 23 Nov 2014

Martin, the CPU is the last component in your computer I suspect. It is more than likely the Motherboard is not setting the voltages correct or one of the C states. I am really unfamiliar with your chipset and the MSI BIOS settings. However, would you post a screenshot of the bios page showing the CPU Voltages and settings where you change CPU voltages and also where the C states are. On my board, that is under advanced, CPU Configuration.

Please do me a favor. I am going to give you a tutorial link on using Intel Burn Test which is a CPU stress test and will stress your CPU extremely high. The only exception to the test are the monitoring programs suggested. I would like you to use Core Temp (Core Temp) having Core Temp, CPUz and Intel burn test open. Please run the test on standard and post a screenshot of it running with CPUz and Core temp open. I would like to see all 3 at the same time. When you are running it, keep a close watch on temps. They will get extremely high and it will happen very quickly. If the temps get too high, stop the test. But, you can skip the part about HW Info since you are not going to be using it. Core Temp will also tell you your TJ Max, which is the maximum temp your CPU can get before shutting down. Keep at least 20C below that. I am showing Core Temp open and have outlined the TJ Max for you. Yours will be different than mine, most likely. The tutorial is CPU - Stress Test Using IntelBurnTest

Attachment 341300

What I am most interested in is a number on Core Temp and the voltages on CPUz and some of the settings. The test itself will last maybe 3-5 minutes.

The dump file didn't give us a whole lot of info. This is what I got.

Code:

KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (1e)
This is a very common bugcheck.  Usually the exception address pinpoints
the driver/function that caused the problem.  Always note this address
as well as the link date of the driver/image that contains this address.
Arguments:
Arg1: 0000000000000000, The exception code that was not handled
Arg2: 0000000000000000, The address that the exception occurred at
Arg3: 0000000000000000, Parameter 0 of the exception
Arg4: 0000000000000000, Parameter 1 of the exception

Notice all the 'arguments' are 0, which means there is not much to tell. But I did get it to tell me this

Code:

*** WARNING: Unable to verify timestamp for e1q62x64.sys
*** ERROR: Module load completed but symbols could not be loaded for e1q62x64.sys

That is your Intel Ethernet driver

Code:

e1q62x64
start             end                 module name
fffff880`04c00000 fffff880`04c7c000   e1q62x64 T (no symbols)           
    Loaded symbol image file: e1q62x64.sys
    Image path: e1q62x64.sys
    Image name: e1q62x64.sys
    Timestamp:        Wed Mar 27 12:10:32 2013 (51532808)
    CheckSum:         00083E4E
    ImageSize:        0007C000
    Translations:     0000.04b0 0000.04e4 0409.04b0 0409.04e4

You can go to https://downloadcenter.intel.com/default.aspx and let it scan your computer and it should give you an updated driver and any other drivers supplied by Intel.

After you finish that, which is not very much, I am going to get you to do something else, but this post is long enough.

If you have any questions, ask away.