Issues with System Stability Question about system stability problems.
Issues with System Stability Question about system stability problems.
Hello, sorry if this is not in the right section as this is my first post but there's quite a lot of potential issues and I think some could be linked. Overall my concerns are:
-Possible motherboard failure in terms of managing power to components, potentially the cause of black screen restarts
-USB Controller Issues with WiFi dongle
-BIOS version being all on Legacy instead of UEFI, some TPM errors also
This is quite a lengthy post because I'm having quite a lot of issues with my system and don't really know where to go from here, so I'll try to give as much info as possible.
Around 6 months ago I upgraded my GPU, PSU and Case and got a new 2TB nvme drive. The system was originally bought on ebay in 2020 and had a 1050ti, some old intel i5 processor and DDR4 ram, and then I swapped out the CPU, MOBO and RAM in 2023. My new specs are:
CPU: Ryzen 7 5800x
MOBO: ASUS B450M-A II, BIOS Version 4632, 5/28/2025
RAM: Corsair Vengance CMK16GX4M2B3200C16 (3600 Mhz, DDR4, 2x8GB)
931GB Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB (SSD) (Boot Drive)
465GB Seagate ST500DM002-1SB10A (SATA)
1863GB Samsung SSD 990 EVO Plus 2TB (Unknown)
Installation of Windows 10 from original user
PSU: Cooler Master MWE 750W Gold V2 Fully Modular
GPU: RX 7700xt
After I had installed all new components, I tried to move the OS from the 1TB SATA SSD to the 2TB nvme SSD using macrium reflect, but it told me the process failed. I've just sort of given up on moving it and the drive seems to be okay, but thought it was worth mentioning since I was changing stuff with the partitions at this time, although it seems normal to me.
After some time of using the system, I started getting black screens during gaming where my system would fully restart. At first it happened in graphically intensive areas, and then started just happening a lot on opening or closing games. I ran OCCT power tests, cinebench and 3dmark tests, trying to stress test the power supply, but I couldn't replicate the crashes at all. I turned off DOCP and PBO in BIOS and this seemed to bring some stability, but they still happened occasionally so I put my GPU on a slight undervolt and with all of this the issues are a lot less frequent, but still occasional and the timing seems inconsistent, as it happens with alt-tab in not intensive games like PEAK as well as big games like cyberpunk 2077.
Fast forward a few months, I notice my WiFi signal shows at 1-2 bars always despite the fact my other devices (and even my laptop using the same wifi dongle I use with my PC) are at good signal strength. I ordered another dongle and I still have stability issues, with the network just completely dropping out and windows not showing any networks to connect to.
I was trying to fix these issues and in the process came back to previous issues and noticed a few things about my BIOS and some things in the Event Viewer. I am aware that a lot of these will be caused by one issue and are nothing to worry about, but I'm going to lay them all out anyway.
My BIOS is set to legacy everywhere instead of UEFI, and I'm wondering if this could be causing issues since I have some TPM errors as well (although it seems these are potentially caused by Valorant?)
TP-Link Wireless MU-MIMO USB Adapter : Has determined that the network adapter is not functioning properly.
(This one literally just appeared once but this is the new adapter)
Secure Boot CA/keys need to be updated. This device signature information is included here.
DeviceAttributes: BaseBoardManufacturer:ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.;FirmwareManufacturer:American Megatrends Inc.;FirmwareVersion:4632;OEMModelBaseBoard: PRIME B450M-A II;OEMManufacturerName:ASUS;OSArchitecture:amd64;
BucketId: 33933d6a4b2de19c3e97746b9445032ecbfcc6fd69a77e59e0451f5709fbe6cd
BucketConfidenceLevel:
UpdateType: 0
HResult: The operation completed successfully.
(This one also just appeared after I put my BIOS settings back to default)
The AMDRyzenMasterDriverV31 service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified.
(Been happening since I stopped using Ryzen Master to undervolt my CPU (which i was doing on my old system for less noise, it was very stable with my old config)
The device driver for the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) encountered a non-recoverable error in the TPM hardware, which prevents TPM services (such as data encryption) from being used. For further help, please contact the computer manufacturer.
(This one has been there since I started checking the event viewer, but some reddit comments said that this was caused by Valorant)
The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.
(This happens every time the black screen occurs, and is followed by the TPM error)
I used to also get a cache hierarchy error but it no longer appears after some fiddling but to be honest I can't remember what I changed to get it to go away.
Other notable information:
I was originally concerned that I had damaged the VRMs by overtightening because I unscrewed the heatsink slightly absent mindedly while putting in the new SSD, so wondered if pressure could be uneven on VRMs. HWInfo doesn't show me any temperature sensors for VRMs though so I can't verify. I know this is maybe stupid but the errors have definitely been less common now that it's colder weather and general room temperature is cooler, but just a thought and I would guess it doesn't have an impact.
Overall, I think there's possibility of there being something up with my motherboard which is causing the USB controller to not handle the wifi dongle well, along with other issues like TPM and the restarts. I would consider getting a new motherboard, CPU and RAM on an AM5 platform but with RAM prices as high as they are at the moment, I don't really want to. I'm happy to give any other information if needed but I think that should be everything.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
Before proceeding, you should reinstall the operating system following any changes to your motherboard or platform. You’ll need to rebuild your bootable USB installer and remove all drives except the one you intend to install the OS onto. Install all required drivers using the latest versions in an elevated command during offline mode. Since you mentioned enabling CSM, it’s best to start over with UEFI activated, and follow the steps outlined for formatting and reinstalling the OS, ensuring TPM and Secure Boot are enabled.
Installation of Windows 10 from original user
After purchasing a used system, it’s important to wipe the drive clean to avoid unknown data.
Second, the B450 chipset was introduced around the same period as the Ryzen 2000 series processors. These chipsets had weak VRM performance, especially on budget or older motherboards. The Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series tend to consume more power compared to the 1000 and 2000 series models. Given this, your current CPU may not be compatible with the Asus B450M-A II board.
Third, PSU: Cooler Master MWE 750W Gold V2 Fully Modular
The power supply is six months old but new.
Fourth, having the OS installed on the 860 Evo drive is advantageous. If your system is intended for gaming, consider using the Samsung 990 Evo as the game drive, though this slot only supports PCIe3.0x4 rather than the higher speeds of PCIe4.0x4 or PCIe5.0x2.
Thank you for your response. I believe you validated many of my initial ideas, and I realize I may have been somewhat careless when purchasing the PC second-hand. At the time, I had limited knowledge about the CPU/MOBO, so I might have overlooked reinstalling the OS. I was also hesitant to proceed. I should have mentioned that the 860 Evo Drive was a later purchase; the original system came with two identical 2,500GB hard drives, and I simply replaced the first one while transferring the OS to the SSD. This happened before any changes to the motherboard or CPU.
Yes, the PSU was bought new in early June from Amazon. Regarding the current situation, should I erase the entire system or just the C: drive containing the OS? There are numerous files I wish to retain, and I’m not confident about the process or how to perform it safely using free tools.
As for the WiFi USB problems, although minor, could they stem from a motherboard issue or configuration errors? If the problem continues, I think replacing the motherboard would be the best option since it’s clearly struggling with my current setup.