Installed a new RAM module, but now experiencing GPU crashes.
Installed a new RAM module, but now experiencing GPU crashes.
Hey there, I just bought a 16GB RAM module (Team T-Force Vulcan Z 16GB, 2x8GB, 3600MHz CL18 DDR4 Grey) to upgrade my current setup. After installation, the system starts up and runs smoothly until I try a game. It crashes consistently after 2 to 10 minutes, often accompanied by a Direct X Error (attached screenshot). Games like BF6 work fine, but Valheim sometimes does too—Steam, Discord, and Firefox usually run in the background, though not always. The PC stays on and works after each crash, which restarts it once or twice. I returned the original RAM and got a replacement, but the problem continues. My GPU drivers are up to date; I’ve reset and reinstalled the AMD auto driver update tool repeatedly, but it still prompts for an install (see attached photo). Even after updating the BIOS to 7C94v1Mm, the issue remains. I removed the new RAM and the system functions normally again. My partner has a nearly identical setup—her graphics card is a PowerColor Radeon RX 5700 XT Red Devil 8GB—and hers works perfectly with a fresh 16GB module. My hardware specs: Windows 11 Home (25H2, 64-bit), BIOS 1.M0 AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, MSI MAG B550M, Samsung 970 EVO NVMe SSD 1TB, Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB, 3600MHz CL18 DDR4, XMP 1), Cooler Master MWE Gold 750W. Any assistance would be really appreciated. Let me know if you need more details.
I observed that the AMD crash defender was leading to crashes. It appeared in the Windows event viewer each time. You can turn it off. Also, verify if Windows updates are installing driver updates. Windows might install an unstable driver after a stable one is applied. You can also disable Windows driver updates. Additionally, steer clear of Windows preview updates.
Have you attempted accessing Device Manager, deleting the GPU drivers, then reinstalling them with a custom setup? Consider performing a clean installation to erase previous versions. Also, you might run a memory test to check the hardware functionality. Try using XMP-free settings.