System instability and game crashes issue.
System instability and game crashes issue.
I constructed this machine last month, and from the very beginning I faced recurring system issues. Initially, it would stutter heavily when powering up from sleep, followed by BSODs. After researching potential reasons, I suspected GPU driver problems, so I used DDU and reverted to a driver released in May. The issue persisted, but the system remained stable outside of games as long as I didn’t put it into sleep mode. Last week, I upgraded to the newest driver for the Battlefield beta, yet stability didn’t improve.
In stress tests, I perform well, with CPU and GPU temperatures consistently under 70°C. However, in gaming, instability appears frequently. I can play for extended periods without issues, but randomly I encounter crashes when launching new game sessions. For instance, games such as Baldur's Gate 3 cause severe stuttering, and I struggle to save progress in Crusader Kings 3 without fearing a system freeze that would require a hard reboot. On the other hand, basic tasks like browsing or streaming work smoothly.
Specifications:
CPU: Ryzen 7 9800X3D
GPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240
GPU: RTX 5070 Ti 16GB (MSI Ventus)
Motherboard: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi (Bios 7E51v1A65)
RAM: 64GB (2x32GB) G.SKILL Trident Z5 Neo DDR5-6000
Power Supply: Super Flower Leadex III 1000W Gold
Storage: SABRENT 1TB NVMe (boot), SK hynix P31 2TB NVMe, WD Blue 6TB HDD
Operating System: Windows 11 Pro (version 24H2 Build 26100.4946)
I’ve carried out several troubleshooting steps. I completed multiple 3DMark stress tests with temperatures consistently below 70°C and no crashes. SFC/DISM checks were clean. Using DDU and reinstalling the GPU driver resolved the problem. I also tried an older Nvidia driver (May 2025) and the latest version, but issues remained.
Disabled PCIe power-saving mode and switched to the Ultimate Performance power plan. BIOS was left at default settings without overclocking. Removed RGB/overlay software. The Event Viewer logged BSODs related to driver power states. These events occurred only when I didn’t sleep or hibernate.
Note: I used some AI tools to help format this content. If that’s an issue, let me know.
Then it would trigger a BSOD. Please share .dmp files for us to examine. The host mentioned files were available on DropBox or similar services, and I’ll forward a link here in the discussion.
I perform well under stress tests; my CPU and GPU temperatures remain under 70°C, but games cause noticeable instability.
Could you tell me what operating system you’re using? Where did you obtain the installer for it? Could you provide a list of all game titles that led to this instability? Where were the installers for those games sourced from?
MOBO: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi (Bios 7E51v1A65)
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-X870...FI/support
At the moment, the BIOS you have is outdated; it should be updated to version 7E51v1A67. Ensure your motherboard’s chipset drivers are current, then update the BIOS accordingly.
Clean GPU driver installs are recommended.
For best results, run DDU in Safe Mode to clear all GPU drivers (intel, AMD, Nvidia), then manually install the preferred driver via an elevated command—right-click the installer and select Run as Administrator—to check if the issue improves.
Also, please share your monitor’s model and its connection setup with the discrete GPU.
Here are the two most recent .dmp files. These are quite old—over 20 days since I last let the system hibernate—so this shouldn’t be a problem.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5sof...ey...huee3pn411&st=bem1ws11&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/obrk...ey...b2azgxylg1&st=9bcc65r2&dl=0
My operating system is Windows 11 Pro (version 24H2, build 26100.4946), downloaded from the official Windows website. I obtained the download links from the Windows Update upgrade page on my laptop and saved them to a USB drive.
I have consistently used DUU in safe mode, just as you mentioned, but I should have been clearer—I’m sorry for any confusion.
All of my software comes from Steam, including games and tools like 3DMark for stress testing. The titles I’ve played on this machine are Baldur’s Gate 3, Crusader Kings III, Call of Duty, Battlefield 6 beta, Starfield, Stardew Valley, and Total War: Warhammer III. The instability appears as slowdowns, lagging, and occasional freezes—similar to buffering videos on YouTube or system crashes in extreme cases. However, there are no visual artifacts, and while stability is inconsistent, I can usually run for a week or more without major problems.
My monitor is an LG UltraGear 27GL850, connected via DisplayPort cable to my graphics card.
I’ve been advised not to update motherboard drivers unless necessary, but I suppose that’s the case. I’ll go ahead and update them.
I understand my issues seem a bit strange, and I’m not always good at explaining everything.
I’m getting really frustrated, so I’m genuinely hoping you can help me out. If you need more details, just let me know. Thanks.
Always use the latest chipset driver from AMD, particularly if you face instability. A BIOS update might also be beneficial.
The issue seems related to RAM. As driivinfast247 mentioned, turning off Expo could provide clues. If the system stabilizes with Expo disabled at the default setting, it suggests your motherboard struggles with the RAM clock speed and Expo profile timing. It could also stem from an XMP kit in the RAM package (Intel) rather than Expo, causing suboptimal voltage and timing for an AM5 setup. For instance, XMP profiles typically operate at 1.35 V, whereas Expo profiles often need 1.4 V. Disabling Expo should help clarify the problem.