PC shows blue screen even when performing simple operations
PC shows blue screen even when performing simple operations
Over the last few months I've faced increasing BSOD problems on my PC, and they're growing more common. It's become so severe that I couldn't even watch YouTube on one screen while browsing on another. The most troublesome situation occurs when playing Counter Strike 2—it takes a few minutes before it suddenly freezes. That's why I performed a full reformat. After that, I downloaded a driver update tool, which seemed to resolve the problem for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, the issue has started recurring again. Interestingly, I can play Battlefield 1 without too many problems. Overall, I suspect a hardware fault and thought it would be best to seek advice on how to properly diagnose the situation. Should I gradually test each component by replacing them one by one over several days to identify the cause? Are there any diagnostic tools that people recommend for faster troubleshooting? Below is a summary of the issues I've encountered:
Pre-reformat:
* Frequent BSOD
* CS:GO and CS 2 would freeze the computer, requiring a restart
* BSOD appeared even while doing simple tasks like browsing YouTube
Post-reformat:
* Fewer BSODs but they are increasing again
* Still experiencing issues when browsing YouTube
* CS 2 freezes, but now I can open Task Manager to terminate it without restarting the PC
* Occasionally, the computer turns on with nothing visible on the monitors (HDMI and DisplayPort), showing a "No signal display port" message. This issue seems to resolve itself after a day.
It might be related to dying like a HDD, a worn-out PSU not providing enough power, power-saving settings possibly set to balanced or economy mode instead of peak performance, possible overclocking issues, excessive heat buildup, or an active overclock remaining enabled. That GPU I owned previously has experienced failure, and the make is unknown.
Interesting. Thanks for the update, everyone. After checking the reliability monitor, I found some details:
Problem Event Name: LiveKernelEvent
Code: 141
LKD_0x141_Tdr:6_IMAGE_nvlddmkm.sys_Pascal
Looking into it, it seems connected to the GPU. I’ll keep procmon open while testing. It might be that my GPU is nearing the end of its life.
@RaidHobbit
Regarding your question – the GPU model is Gigabyte.
*Edit* – I just ran another test while playing BF1, and the only odd thing was the GPU was at 100% all the time. I’m not sure why or if that’s typical, but it didn’t cause a blue screen. I’ll continue testing to see if I can trigger an issue again. I think replacing the GPU might be necessary. Any advice on suitable GPUs for my Mobo?
If your GPU remains stuck at 100% consistently, it’s probably the main reason for the BSODs. It could be shutting down when it hits the critical temperature from heavy usage or it might be lagging significantly, causing your system to crash.
Your GPU may have failed, there could be a driver problem, or it might have been affected by malware. The high-end cards from the 10** series have seen many reports of failure. You shouldn’t push your GPU beyond its limits with the games you’re running, so this isn’t the main cause.
Gigabyte is fine; the issue seems more related to the product line rather than the brand itself.
Your CPU isn’t expected to be a bottleneck for gaming at the moment, meaning it shouldn’t be the reason for these problems.
If you’re purchasing a new GPU, make sure it’s compatible with your monitor’s resolution.
GeForce 4060s:
It’s quite affordable right now, costing around £280 to £290. They work well in 1080p with ray tracing enabled, but shine better at higher resolutions when ray tracing is off. For 4K or higher, you’ll likely need a 4070 or 4080.
If ray tracing isn’t your preference (most games haven’t adopted it yet) and you’re after better resolution, you might still find a 2080 or 3080 on Amazon or eBay. However, these options will probably be more expensive than the GeForce 4060. There are also newer 3060 models available that offer 1440p with ray tracing disabled.
GeForce 4070/4080:
The 4070s are currently around £580, and I haven’t checked the 4080s recently, but they’ll be costly.
Thank you both for your time and guidance in resolving this matter. I think I’ll go with the 4060. It’s a bit disappointing to have to discard the 1080ti, though the older model performed well.