Random BSODs on a brand-new PC (ntoskrnl.exe)

[rslembo]

Ran HWinfo for 30min with Prime95 (blend), couldn't get a crash again.

CPU temps are scary.
Hitting over 100º C.
Can't tell how the system did not freeze.
Well fixed Intel's BOX Cooler.

Should RMA the RAM tomorrow?
Would leave me without the machine for some time.
Maybe monday?

 

[carwiz]

Core 1 started throttling at 104C and even shut down a number of times. The CPU fan was responding but couldn't get high enough rpm to keep the temps down and the "system-3" fan was lumbering along without doing much of anything. The CPU fan maxed out at 2566 from a low of 1844 and "system-3" fan maxed out at 1247 from a low of 1236. I can only guess that the system-3 fan is a chassis fan. You certainly need to move more air through the cabinet. I would check your BIOS settings and adjust fan speeds if your system allows it. Many default settings are too low for a high powered system.

 

[Vir Gnarus]

In addition to carwiz's pristine incite, even with poor airflow within the chassis it still shouldn't increase in temp for the CPU that fast nor that high. I suspect the CPU cooler has been installed improperly, such as a bad thermal paste application or the heatsink is not sitting correctly. You'll want to remove it, clean everything up of thermal paste, and re-seat the cooler.

Though honestly, I have a bad feeling that your CPU (and perhaps even mobo) may have already been done in by the stress it's had to endure. Even if you happen to fix the cooling issue the symptoms may still persist, meaning the heat has taken its toll.

 

[rslembo]

System 3 is a chassis fan, came along with the Carbide 500R.

Just took out the CPU cooling BOX and installed it again, just to be sure it was properly installed.
Stock cooler, thermal paste, heatsink..

Still getting the same temperatures at prime95, though CPU Fan speed increased to a maximum of 2733 RPM.
Maybe it's just that poor quality thermal paste that came along, I don't know..

Still waiting the next system crash.

 

[rslembo]

So it finally crashed.
Weird it took so long...

Attaching data.
HWinfo was running, the .csv goes inside the folder also.

Thanks!

 

[carwiz]

FAULTING_IP:
nvlddmkm+bd5d8
fffff880`049605d8 488b9200020000 mov rdx,qword ptr [rdx+200h]
EXCEPTION_RECORD: fffff88003bfd0b8 -- (.exr 0xfffff88003bfd0b8)
ExceptionAddress: fffff880049605d8 (nvlddmkm+0x00000000000bd5d8)
ExceptionCode: c0000005 (Access violation)
ExceptionFlags: 00000000
NumberParameters: 2
Parameter[0]: 0000000000000000
Parameter[1]: ffffffffffffffff
Attempt to read from address ffffffffffffffff

At this point it's hard it's hard to put a finger on a single fault except the heat. I don't know if it's a side effect of Prime or not at this point. Windows entered a ACPI Kernel Power fault state because of several more throttling events but this time on Core 0. It could be that Prime happened to be running on that core this time. I don't know if the invalid memory access (Nvlddmkm) is occurring because of faulty drivers or the hardware is breaking down due to heat. I suspect the heat since most addresses, invalid or not, will have something in them rather than all "f" or 0. It's obvious in the logs that the processor is shutting off the core for periods before the crash. This is a normal function of the processor during high heat.
I respectfully disagree with prior statements about not needing case cooling air movement. It does little good to recirculate hot air in the cabinet. That's like blocking the radiator of a car and expecting it to get cool air from the engine compartment. The Processor hit 86+ watts on numerous occasions during Prime and, no doubt, the reason for the throttling temperatures. The purpose of the case fan is to draw cooler air into the case from vents and exhausting heated air from the case. It's pretty obvious that the case fan is not controlled and runs at a fairly constant speed. Either the BIOS fan control parameters are incorrect or it's a single speed fan that can't keep up.

 

[rslembo]

I don't know about temperature this time.
I was only surfing the internet using Waterfox.
Checked temperatures few minutes after the crash, it was on a constant variation from 45º to 50º C.
Prime95 was not running this time.
The very first BSODs that happened to the system were on idle, and had never stressed the CPU at that point.
This specific error had never happened before.
Whatever, my mind is all messed up with this computer.
Thanks for the help guys.

 

[rslembo]

Just had another BSOD.
Data attached.
Thanks

 

[Vir Gnarus]

The last two crashdumps are rather inconclusive. We'll need Driver Verifier on in order for the crashdumps to be worthwhile.

 

[rslembo]

Got it.

DV was on.
HWinfo was logging, .csv goes with the folder.

Playing BF : BC2

Ran lot of Furmark' stress test earlier, all ok.

Data attached.

 

[rslembo]

Another BSOD.
DV on.
Forgot about start logging HWinfo, sorry..

 

[carwiz]

Turn off Windows automatic updates or set it to "Let me decide" until this diagnostic is finished. Do the same for Drivers. When the Intel Management Engine Interface returns as an update, right click on it and select "Hide". You don't ever want to load this again.

Uninstall Intel Management Engine Interface. (Again) Be sure to re-start.

I don't know what I was looking at before. Must have been the old file.

 

[rslembo]

Windows updates are already manual.
Doing the same for drivers you mean this link right?

Just could not find where to Uninstall Intel MEI. (found it at devmgmt)
What's the problem with that?

Thanks!

edit:

Intel MEI is being installed automatic at reboot.
Even with manual Drivers option (if I followed the right tutorial)
Should I check to remove device driver when uninstalling it? (did that)

An exclamation mark for PCI simple communication controller is being shown.
Intel MEI appeared at Optional Windows Update, hid it.

 

[carwiz]

From the Control Panel, open Programs and Features (or Add/Remove Programs from the index). See if it's listed. It should be something close to "Intel Management Engine Interface". After removal, it should ask you to restart. On restart, it should be removed from the startup programs.

MEI has hooks all over the place. Do not just remove the device driver. Un-Install it from the Programs and Features list of Installed Programs.

 

[rslembo]

Programs and Features was clean, no Intel MEI item listed.
Just the exclamation mark for PCI simple communication controller is being shown.

Were any of the dump files related to it?

 

[carwiz]

It was showing up in the MSINFO. (shown below) If this is the old version, we need the complete BSOD package run everytime you provide a dump. Trying to chase old and new files is a wild goose chase. My poor Spanish language skills makes it hard enough already. I don't know anything about the PCI error. I have no information on it.

 

[rslembo]

Those are actual files.
I always run the tool for BSOD complete package every time uploading a new dump.

Got 2 more BSOD an hour ago, uploading the data.
DV is still on.

Would you like me to download the English language pack and use it from now on?
Would it help?

The exclamation mark for PCI is the Intel MEI..
I got it's driver downloaded from Gigabyte, and when I search computer for the missing driver, it tries to install, then I cancel.

 

[rslembo]

Uploading new dumps.
I may send RAM and CPU for RMA tomorrow.
Thanks!

 

[carwiz]

Do the bug checks begin right after starting the PC or after the system has run for a while?

The last couple of dumps were page pool and allocation errors in memory. I know you tested the individual modules but have you tried running with just one module? You might also try cleaning the memory module connections and slots. Use canned air to blow out the slots and alcohol on the modules. Make sure NO dust or lint remains in/on either. When setting the modules, re-seat 2-3 times to insure the connectors are wiped.

While you're in there, make sure none of the heat sink paste is on the motherboard.

 

[Vir Gnarus]

Verifier itself didn't actually catch anything, but one thing I noticed was the Nvidia 3D control panel item showing up a lot. Do you have a 3D setup? If not, have you considered uninstalling the 3D portion of the Nvidia drivers if possible, or at least disabling them?

Other then that, the only other item I see frequently coming up is some Pokemon Tradein application. Unfortunately even the DV crashes aren't showing anything of worth, which kinda leads me to believe that we aren't dealing with a software problem but a hardware problem, which has been my suspicion since the beginning.


Btw, carwiz, pardon the miscommunication. I never meant to say that having proper airflow inside chassis wasn't necessary, I just meant to say that the CPU shouldn't really start heating so rapidly under high load if the temperature issue was from improper airflow. Having bad airflow will only exacerbate the issue further as well as carry its own set of problems, but I didn't believe the quick increase of temp on the CPU was attributed to it, since poor airflow would gradually increase the average CPU temp as the ambient air heats up.