BSOD with repeated 0X00000124 errors

[Bazman76]

Can't seem to identify any pattern to it the machine just crashes often after several hours of use. Then will restart first time and run for 7eral more hours. Occasionally I do get 2 or more crashes back to back but this is the exception rather than the rule.

Zip File attached.

Thanks in advance!

One thing though my gut feeling is that it's the graphics card. My PC is about 1y old and I went to clean it, it was very dusty inside even inside the slots where the Graphics card sits. I cleaned it as best I can and this has drastically reduced the number of crashes I am experiencing. However they still occur often enough to be annoying. Unfortunately I don't have a spare graphics card to test this theory properly.

 

[x BlueRobot]

[COLOR=Red]BugCheck 124[/COLOR], {[COLOR=Blue]0[/COLOR], [COLOR=SeaGreen]fffffa800d53f028[/COLOR], be200000, 5110a}

Probably caused by : GenuineIntel

0: kd> [COLOR=SeaGreen]!errrec fffffa800d53f028[/COLOR]
===============================================================================
Common Platform Error Record @ fffffa800d53f028
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Record Id     : 01ce8b99aea652e4
Severity      : Fatal (1)
Length        : 928
Creator       : Microsoft
Notify Type   : Machine Check Exception
Timestamp     : 7/28/2013 19:02:52 (UTC)
Flags         : 0x00000000

===============================================================================
Section 0     : Processor Generic
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ fffffa800d53f0a8
Section       @ fffffa800d53f180
Offset        : 344
Length        : 192
Flags         : 0x00000001 Primary
Severity      : Fatal

Proc. Type    : x86/x64
Instr. Set    : x64
Error Type    : [COLOR=Red]Cache error[/COLOR]
Operation     : [COLOR=Red]Generic[/COLOR]
Flags         : 0x00
Level         : 2
CPU Version   : 0x00000000000206a7
Processor ID  : 0x0000000000000000

===============================================================================
Section 1     : x86/x64 Processor Specific
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ fffffa800d53f0f0
Section       @ fffffa800d53f240
Offset        : 536
Length        : 128
Flags         : 0x00000000
Severity      : Fatal

Local APIC Id : 0x0000000000000000
CPU Id        : a7 06 02 00 00 08 10 00 - bf e3 9a 1f ff fb eb bf
                00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
                00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

Proc. Info 0  @ fffffa800d53f240

===============================================================================
Section 2     : x86/x64 MCA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ fffffa800d53f138
Section       @ fffffa800d53f2c0
Offset        : 664
Length        : 264
Flags         : 0x00000000
Severity      : Fatal

Error         : [COLOR=Red]GCACHEL2_ERR_ERR (Proc 0 Bank 8)[/COLOR]
  Status      : 0xbe2000000005110a
  Address     : 0x000000020b330fc0
  Misc.       : 0x000000d080004086

There appears to be a generic error within the Level 2 cache, therefore I would suggest running some CPU tests:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-hardware-stress-test-prime95.html

Enable "Round off checking" before the test (see first post below tutorial).

Run the Small FFTs, Large FFT's and Blend Test for a few hours each.

Note: Do not let the temperature exceed 80*C, immediately stop the test if this temperature is reached.

Update BIOS (if possible):

0: kd> [COLOR=SeaGreen]!sysinfo machineid[/COLOR]
Machine ID Information [From Smbios 2.6, DMIVersion 38, Size=3562]
BiosMajorRelease = 4
BiosMinorRelease = 6
BiosVendor = American Megatrends Inc.
BiosVersion = 0606
BiosReleaseDate = [COLOR=Red]06/27/2011[/COLOR]
SystemManufacturer = System manufacturer
SystemProductName = System Product Name
SystemFamily = To be filled by O.E.M.
SystemVersion = System Version
SystemSKU = To be filled by O.E.M.
BaseBoardManufacturer = ASUSTeK Computer INC.
BaseBoardProduct =[COLOR=Red] P8Z68-V[/COLOR]
BaseBoardVersion =[COLOR=Red] Rev 1.xx[/COLOR]

Check for any potential BIOS updates for your motherboard, which can often resolve many hardware issues, please ensure you update with the BIOS directly intended for your motherboard, otherwise you could completely corrupt your BIOS and make the motherboard unusable.

Remove:

Start Menu\Programs\Norton
Start Menu\Programs\Norton 360

Norton is known to cause BSODs with Windows 7, please remove the program completely with the Norton Removal Tool, and then install and run full scans with these free and proven alternatives which work best with Windows 7, due to their compatibility and lightweight nature on system resources.

Install and perform full scans with:

• Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware download
• Microsoft Security Essentials | Protect against viruses, spyware, and other malware

   Information

Remember to install the free version of Malwarebytes not the free trail; untick the free trial box during installation. MSE is the most lightweight and compatible with the Windows 7 operating system

You can also view this thread for a complete free and lightweight security protection combination:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/206705-good-free-system-security-combination.html

 

[Bazman76]

Thanks x BlueRobot. I started with the CPU stress test. Immediately the test started the temperature as measured by "speccy" climbed from 46 to about 85 it seemed to be stabilising there, but I stopped the test as per your advice.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Okay, remove the side panel and then attempt to run the test again.

 

[Bazman76]

Grrr still overheating took longer to climb above 80 and settled around 82 but still running too hot.

 

[x BlueRobot]

What's the condition of all the fans? Are they still working correctly? Have you tried removing both panels?

 

[Bazman76]

That's both panels removed although the size of the plate that the motherboard is attached to, makes the removal of the second panel a little redundant.
But it's removed anyways.

The fan on the PSU and the fans on the case are turning.

As I look at them now (not heavy CPU load) they appear to be turning quite slowly (will they speed up under load?)

Don't think I've really examined the fans before so the current speed may be perfectly normal. But relative to the fan on my desk it seems rather sedate.

I just tested it under load and the fans don't react at all?

 

[x BlueRobot]

The fans should speed up when under load, and how does the test run now?

 

[Bazman76]

The ambient temperature is lower but basically it still creeps up to 85 (at which point I turn it off).

Takes longer now than it did earlier but it still gets there!

Fans remain at the same sedate pace throughout.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Okay, let's try the Intel tests, they're much shorter but supposedly more intensive, so hopefully the test will complete before the temperature increased too high:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/220743-cpu-stress-test-using-intelburntest.html

 

[Bazman76]

OK I ran the standard and high tests:

standard: average temp 72 high 77 time taken 76s
high: average temp 80 high 86 time taken 193s

Not sure about running very high given that in high it was already running mid 80s at some points on some of the cores?

Just to say the tester said that the tests were passed in both cases and indeed the PC remained responsive throughout.

Again the fans spun at the same speed throughout.

 

[x BlueRobot]

I'll give it a go, do you have desk fans or something to point at the case?

 

[Bazman76]

OK did it passed:

average temp:90
highest temp:93
time taken 391s

 

[x BlueRobot]

Okay thanks, we need to be able to run the Prime95 tests though.

The temperature should be okay, if it stabilizes just above 80*C.

 

[Bazman76]

arghhh it kept climbing took a few minutes but ended up mid 90s at which point I felt I had to stop it.

This is using the HwinFo64 rather than speccy to read the temperatures.
HwinFo64 seems to give higher temperatures in general than speccy

 

[x BlueRobot]

Have you tried CoreTemp? Let the computer cool down for a while, and then try the test later.

 

[Bazman76]

OK tried it quickly CoreTemp and HwinFo64 give the same results temperature wise.
I also tried running the prime95 again quickly again and found that it went back to 95C, before I got cold feet and turned it off.

However CoreTemp also lists the max possible temp for my processor which is 98C.
It does however say the core should be kept at least 15-20c below that!

CoreTemp also has a feature where it will shut off when a given temperature is reached.
Do you think it would be OK to run it with the safety set to 97C?

Assuming the above idea is OK, how long should I leave the computer to cool down? Should it be overnight or is 5 mins enough??

 

[x BlueRobot]

I would least give it an hour, which test are you running? In my opinion, I would try the Small FFT's first.

I wouldn't let it go near the maximum temperature, are you using the stock fans and heatsinks? Have you checked the thermal paste for the CPU?

 

[Bazman76]

The temperatures recorded were using small FFT's.

The computer is as I received it, it was built by overclockers and I have not changed anything, apart from taking the panels off .

I have not tested the paste, indeed I am not sure how to test it. But the computer is less than 18 months old?

Seems to me that the most obvious suspect if overheating is to blame is that the fans not speeding up when the CPU is under load. (Although I am no expert!)
But also just to be clear the crashes I originally posted about, occurred when the PC was not under load.

 

[x BlueRobot]

To check the thermal paste, you would need to take out the CPU and then check it - Applying Thermal Paste - iFixit

The dump files seem to point towards a error with the Level 2 Cache, but it' always best to run stress tests to confirm it, unless you have or know anyone you could borrow a CPU from to swap with?

Do you know if the anything is overclocked?