Windows continues to boot despite a recent installation.
Windows continues to boot despite a recent installation.
My friend's PC has been experiencing BSOD (CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED) situations. It happens occasionally in games, sometimes while using Chrome and during YouTube viewing. We've tried various solutions: changed thermal paste, reinstalled NVIDIA and Intel GPU drivers with DDU, used the Intel driver updater, updated all drivers via PC app, performed fresh installs of Windows 11 and 10. The thermal issues are normal for a laptop with these specs (Millennium ML3 2019 i7 9750H GTX 1660Ti). The PC has been functioning well for two years before this started, and now it restarts after BSOD and sometimes needs a full restart. It seems the problem is random, so any advice or new fixes would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Messenger.mp4
His friends' computer is urging him to choose a genuine operating system, specifically a Linux distribution rather than anything related to Microsoft.
You used a specific thermal paste and applied it correctly. Some widely used pastes don’t perform well when applied directly to laptop CPU dies. This means the paste didn’t adhere properly or reached the right temperature zones. To test, download ThrottleStop from the provided link, check the log file, and run a game for an extended period. Include screenshots showing the FIVR and TPL windows to help identify your settings.
I used mx-4 thermal paste for my laptop as well. I'm sending the ThrottleStop logs and screenshot soon, probably within the next 1 to 2 hours. Thanks!
The system runs with a -50 mV reduction on both the CPU core and cache. If you're experiencing BSOD issues, reset the undervolt to zero first. Do you recall if this adjustment was made in the BIOS? With ThrottleStop enabled, open the Unlock Adjustable Voltage section and reset the Offset Voltage to 0 mV for both core and cache. Next, the thermal throttle temperature is currently set to 82°C, which is below Intel's recommended 100°C. Reducing this will lower performance and may trigger throttling or stability problems. In the ThrottleStop Options, you can adjust this setting if it isn't locked. It's acceptable to keep PROCHOT Offset between 0 and 3, but avoid setting it to 18 unless necessary. The system is likely using the Windows Power Saver plan; revert it to the default Balanced plan. The 9750H model has a TDP of 45W, with MSR and MMIO turbo limits capped at 35W—this can also affect stability. In the TPL settings, uncheck the Disable Controls box and set PL1 to 45W and PL2 to 60W. Set the turbo time limit to the default 28 seconds. Clear the MMIO Lock option in the top-right corner to remove this secondary restriction. This limit isn't essential. Change Power Limit 4 from 80 to 0, as this is unusual. These numerous throttling adjustments seem confusing; it appears the BIOS defaults to these values. Gaming laptops with Intel CPUs are built to handle temperatures above 90°C. Changing BIOS or ThrottleStop settings to force throttling prematurely is risky. Let the CPU manage its own cooling—thermal throttling should occur at 97°C or higher, not 82°C. MX-4 is unsuitable for prolonged laptop use. Investigate alternatives like Honeywell PTM7950 or a higher-quality thermal paste that doesn't degrade quickly. This is the core concern.
Hi, for the -50mv I noticed after it began booting, it wasn't behaving as expected—it didn't match the default settings. For other components like the 82C thermal throttling, it worked normally. Thank you for your assistance; we'll review everything you mentioned and see what we can do. I was hoping to use Intel XTU, but it seems some restrictions prevent changes on my PC. It ran smoothly there.
I mentioned it could be a RAM problem and suggested using MemTest64 for the initial stress test lasting an hour. It crashed during the first run but worked afterward after a reboot.