New build nightmare...
New build nightmare...
I apologize for the book, y'all, but I need an adult. So, it's been a hot minute since I've pulled the trigger on a new build, and I think the new GPU may be borked, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything. Here is the system: Ryzen 5 9600x 32GB (2x 16Gb) Patriot Viper Elite 5 DDR5 6000 CL30 (Now 32GB (2x 16Gb) Corsair Vengeance 6400 as of today - see below) Be Quiet Pure Rock 3 Asus TUF B650M-E Asus ROG Strix 750w Gold PSU Asus TUF 5070 Ti OC 2T Samsung 980 Pro M.2 + 2 T Crucial Sata + Patriot p500 Lite 500G M.2 Win 11 Education Edition 64 bit (Like Pro but free through school) The build went without a hitch. I started without the GPU and had no issues installing Windows and downloading games on Thursday. The GPU arrived in the mail yesterday. I installed it, got it working, installed the drivers, and was able to play some Cyberpunk 2077 at Max Settings with RT on - it was fantastic. The only issue I encountered was that Windows would boot to a black screen / no video output after the BIOS splash screen and spinning wheel. I seemed like it was defaulting to the iGPU for some reason, so I disabled it in the BIOS and also turned off Fast Boot in Power Options (because that's a thing, apparently), and the issue was resolved. The only additional BIOS settings I adjusted were enabling Re-Bar, EXPO, and activating Asus's auto OC mode for the CPU. Fast forward to today - I was working on some schoolwork and got a random BSOD (PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA). It seemed to be a memory issue to me, so I dialed back EXPO to EXPO II (I read that it's more reliable when memory is flaky). It was fine, but then Windows started acting strangely, followed by another crash (I missed the reason). I adjusted some more memory settings with different EXPO profiles, thinking that was my problem, so I disabled EXPO entirely; however, I was still having issues. I assumed it was trash RAM (I got it free with the Newegg Memorial Day sale, bundled with something in my cart) - so I bought a kit of Vengeance from my local Best Buy. Slapped that in, and it was immediately acting better. EXPO enabled, no issues at 6400 - all good. I finally went to boot up a game to play tonight, but it froze up and the screen went black again, just like it did before with the iGPU conflict issue. I was able to access the BIOS and Windows recovery tools without issue, but as soon as the system booted, I encountered a black screen. I then: Re-enabled the iGPU Re-Imaged Windows Re-Seated Ram Re-Seated GPU Powercords Cleared CMOS None of it worked until I pulled the GPU, and it booted without issue. I got excited and thought it was a seating issue or driver issue with the GPU on my end, so I uninstalled the drivers and reinstalled the GPU. Then I was met with a login screen with flashing artifacts... My temperatures are all fine - the CPU is hovering around 30-32 °C idle. I can still access the BIOS and Windows recovery mode without issues, but that's about it. SO - did I just get Lucy with a bad GPU? I checked the card itself - it's brand new and has only been inserted twice, wasn't dropped, and there's no visible damage on the contacts, PCB, or anything else. Or is it potentially my MOBO PCIE socket? I don't understand how I was just playing a game yesterday, but all of a sudden, it decided to die today? I guess I've been too fortunate with good hardware in the past, and I think it's something I'm doing wrong. Thanks in advance
The Patriot kit performs reasonably well, probably not due to defects right away. Your new RAM seems more prone to problems because 6400 CL32 is likely running in 2:1 mode rather than 1:1, which introduces instability and degraded performance. Consider lowering the memory speed to 6000 CL30 or switching to the CL36 version if available—it offers a much better experience. It's also possible the GPU is faulty, but that's uncertain at this stage. First, update your BIOS, as it can significantly impact GPU compatibility. If you're using the latest BIOS, try rolling back a few revisions to see if issues resolve, though newer versions aren't always reliable.
remove the RAM and wipe its fingers with pure alcohol (hand sanitizers often contain oil and moisturizers) likewise for the GPU and CPU. Once done, lower the PCIe speed of the GPU to Gen 1 to verify if the issue persists, inspect the CPU pins for any faults, and clean the gold contacts under the CPU using alcohol as well. These steps are typically my initial actions when dealing with a PC that shows wired symptoms but I can't pinpoint the exact problem yet.
Visit C:\Windows\Minidump to see if any minidump files exist. If present, return to the Windows directory and transfer the Minidump folder to the Downloads folder (use your desktop if needed). Compress the copied folder and include it in a post. Please adhere strictly to instructions since Windows doesn't allow file manipulation there.
Ya, well, that's something you should never ever do... I guess you reverted that (and confirmed it)? Oh yeah and revert to your previous patriot ram, as Corsair vengeance is again something you should never ever do (lol) Overall I doubt it's a GPU issue, rather some borked settings (and unlucky hardware choices)
Thanks for the guidance! I realized the problems were two separate ones. Upon closer inspection, the Patriot M.2 SSD had a metal sticker acting as a heat sink, and its end was touching the exposed PCB—possibly causing a short. Once I removed it, the GPU artifacting stopped. After reconnecting everything and cleaning the contacts, I got a fresh BIOS. The BSODs related to page faults kept happening; it turns out the Patriot Viper RAM kit wasn’t reliable. It passed initial tests with memtest, but failed consistently on the first run. TL;DR: Use the bootable version of memtest and verify for shorts.