Remaining uncertainty about the problem you're facing.
Remaining uncertainty about the problem you're facing.
I received all the parts needed for my PC build on Christmas, and assembled it with my dad the same day. Unbeknownst to us, the motherboard wasn’t turning on even though the PSU was supplying power—we confirmed this with a voltmeter. After some investigation, we discovered that the front panel connectors providing power could be damaged, which resolved the issue temporarily. However, roughly four days ago, multiple BSODs appeared. A driver update, not the main one, seemed to trigger the crashes. We reinstalled it and stopped the errors. Around then, several games—Fortnite and those using Easy Anticheat—began corrupting. After trying different RAM sticks, running MemTest64 revealed a faulty stick (details in another post). Last night I played with just one stick, and Sea of Thieves also crashed mid-game. This morning every game launched with “graphics driver crashed” messages. A fresh Windows install was attempted, but it still triggered the same error after about 20 minutes before rebooting. Now we’re stuck—what’s happening? Could it be the motherboard? Is this RAM really unreliable? Did we end up with two defective units? Any guidance would be invaluable. My PC specs are listed in my profile.
Windows generates minidump files when multiple BSODs occur, stored in C:/Windows/Minidump. These can be accessed by tools such as WinDbg, available in the Windows App Store. You can open the minidump in WinDbg and use the command "!analyze -v" to uncover details about the BSOD causes. A helpful guide on handling WinDbg is available: How to Read Mini Dump Files in Windows | Dell US
You may have already tested two different RAM kits. This could point to a BIOS problem, especially with the Ryzen 7000 series, where memory compatibility issues are common and often resolved via BIOS updates. If you haven’t updated your BIOS yet, that would be the next logical step. If a BIOS update doesn’t resolve the memory problems, it might indicate an issue with the motherboard itself or the SSDs, which could also stem from faulty drives. Memory corruption is usually caused by bad or failing drives, though it can sometimes relate to the memory as well. I’d start by applying a BIOS update and then proceed accordingly.
I’ve already looked for it, but nothing turned up. My dad and I decided to go with a fresh CPU and MOBO bundle from microcenter, which should arrive this Saturday. We lost confidence in that MOBO after it would turn on, so we’re keeping an eye on the new one.
And also, I performed two separate tests on the SSD to assess its condition, and both results were normal, which makes me question if the issue lies elsewhere.
I can't review past crashes from this new setup, and because it hasn't failed yet (just corrupted after installation), I don't believe it's possible.
It wasn't a bad choice. ASUS has had some quality control problems recently, especially with the 7000 series Ryzen. Did you end up getting a different brand this time?
Well, it seems the latest model is definitely a higher-end version compared to the original, so it’s likely better tested (though it could still be a matter with the board). I’m not expecting any more problems with this new version. Unless there’s something else going on. Still, I’m optimistic for you.