No clarification provided about recurring crashes across different games...
No clarification provided about recurring crashes across different games...
My cousin has a problem with his son's gaming PC that I thought I'd discuss here. I'm trying to assist but haven't identified the root cause yet. The Windows 11 version he uses is genuine, and none of his other tech experts can solve it either. Could someone here help?
Tyler built his own gaming PC this summer. It’s quite capable, but it experiences crashes during certain games, though not others. I’ve searched online and found several potential solutions, but none have resolved the issue. Here’s a summary of what he’s tried:
The games that cause crashes:
- Fortnite: Randomly crashes within the first 15 minutes, mostly during gameplay.
- Rainbow Six: Similar to Fortnite, but less often.
- Call of Duty Vanguard and Warzone: Crashes immediately when launching.
Games where it doesn’t crash:
- Valorant
- Madden 23
- Red Dead Redemption 2
He’s confirmed the temperatures are normal and hasn’t overheated the system. Since Red Dead Redemption 2 is an open-world game, it shouldn’t cause overheating, yet it still crashes. I believe the problem might be related to Windows 11 itself, but we’ve explored all available online fixes except a clean install of Windows 10.
He’s tried the following:
- Disabled fast startup
- Turned off automatic restart
- Updated drivers
- Set power configuration to H-off
- Ran troubleshooting utilities
- Disabled sleep mode
- Performed hardware checks
- Installed the latest Windows update
Details about the PC:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X (8 cores)
- Storage: 2TB Samsung SSD
- RAM: 32 GB Corsair Vengeance
- Graphics: GForce RTX 3050
- Power Supply: Corsair HX Series HX1000
- Cooler: Corsair liquid cooled ICUE H150i Elite Capellix
- Fans: Two intake, one exhaust, plus three on the CPU cooler
- OS: Windows 11 Pro, version 21H2, build 22000.1042
- Motherboard: Gigabyte X570 AORUS Elite
He’s hoping this information helps someone else or clarifies what might be going on.
Has anyone verified the RAM with memtest86+? This can be executed from a separate USB drive or CD or other bootable files. It operates its own system, yet doesn’t install or alter anything on the main machine. You might want to run it during the night if feasible.
You might also test one RAM module at a time. For instance, if there are four modules, you could individually stress-test each one using something that frequently causes crashes.
It appears the component selections are decent, and possibly this is software-related, but such issues are often due to RAM or power supply failures. Either memory or power supply could lead to unpredictable crashes in various applications. A single faulty driver might be the culprit; you could try stress-testing tools that let you isolate one part at a time, like running just SSD tests or video benchmarks.
It makes sense to consider thermal aspects. It seems unlikely to be the main issue, but keep in mind that some devices may have minor hot spots—like a small bubble in the thermal paste—that could affect performance. This wouldn’t help much, but if you suspect it, carefully reapplying thermal paste might resolve the problem.
One more point I’ve encountered is a bent CPU pin. CPUs usually have many power delivery pins, and if one is damaged or misaligned, the system may not immediately show failure symptoms until higher power demands arise. If you reapply thermal paste, inspect all pins on both the CPU and socket sides closely—even in a ball-grid array, a tiny contaminant could disrupt connection without breaking the pin.
Most users don’t have a backup power supply, but if you do possess one rated adequately, swapping it out could help determine if the issue persists. The power supply doesn’t need to be physically installed in the chassis at this stage.
I'll demonstrate his response. He's in a different state, so I'm communicating via Facebook. I need to inquire about the PSU as well.
it would be useful to see what the crash dumps reveal, i am nearly certain the error is an access violation, and i have experienced this problem myself. if you ever discover a solution or at least understand the reason behind these random frustrating crashes in some games but not others, i would appreciate it.
Search for the crash dumps produced by CoD games, Fortnite and R6S online, as they are likely stored in game files within the install directory or in Appdata. Once located, debug them using available tools; if unsure, refer to online guides. Generally, downloading and installing Windbg (X64) will simplify the process.