BSOD/crashes. IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

[Windows7Blues]

Okay, so I've decided to forego the aftermarket cooler and go for a new mainboard, as I have been getting crashes at idle and at sub 62C temperatures (I can't explain how I got up to 81C though). Worse comes to worse, I build a new system around the new mainboard. I am thinking the Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 because it is not another Asus, it supports the new AM3+ CPU as well as my current Phenom II X4. Most of the one star reviews are regarding not being able to POST, rather than crashes also. There may be more suitable boards, but I'll go with one similar to this in any case.

Just to run down, now that I have been collecting error messages using WhoCrashed over the last week, just in case any of these jump out at you:

MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (ntoskrnl.exe)

MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (ntfs.sys)

SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION (ntoskrnl.exe)

DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTION_VIOLATION (ntoskrnl.exe)

KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (ntoskrnl.exe)

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (ntoskrnl.exe)

MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (unknown module 00000000'00000000.sys)

WhoCrashed in its conclusion seems to blame unknown module 00000000'00000000.sys, despite that one only appearing once.

I can also keep it on all day and it will crash after 30 hours. Or when I run Prime95 it freezes in minutes (producing no dump files). It can run Prime95 for a few hours, but it seems to hasten or trigger the crashes, when compared to the longer wait time for crashes when at idle.

I'll also buy a tube of AS ceramic and some ISO. But I just want to make sure that buying a new mainboard is the right move here.

 

[writhziden]

That seems like a good step. Just make sure you apply the thermal cooling properly on the processor with the new board. Best wishes it resolves the problems.

 

[Windows7Blues]

Okay, 157 days later, I have replaced the motherboard with an AS Rock 970 Extreme 4. Also put in an SSD, runs great. Now I noticed when I took the CPU and cooler off to clean it, that there was a bit of dust under the fan that was on the CPU heatsink (

). Is this enough dust to cause the problems I mentioned (the blue screens, the freezing etc)? The board looked to be in otherwise great condition. Thermal pad looked okay, wasn't crispy or anything. EDIT: I should point out that the board in this photo is the new 970 Extreme 4, *not* the older board that I suspected I had problems with.

But here's another thing, the fan that was clipped onto the CPU heatsink was blowing air INTO the fins, not out of it. This is just the way it came in the box. What?!

Anyway, I'm just updating this just in case someone else finds it through Google. I'm going to give this old board to someone else who has a Phenom II X4 and see if they have any problems. If I remember, I'll report back on how they went in the long run.

EDIT: Same problems are actually occurring. The motherboard and hard drive was not the problem.