yes, i need help! random bsod driving me nuts

brotherdeluxe · 30 May 2016

hi

i tried interpreting these dump files myself to work out my woes, but no, no, no...i give up and am not ashamed to ask for help!

there are 30 dmp files, but i don't want to bother someone to go through them all, but i suppose there might be a pattern shows up across a range of them.

it happens randomly. i can be doing anything or nothing and bsod. usually i'm just browsing or doing light tasks. sometimes bsod a few times a day and sometimes a few days with no bsod at all. frustrating to know there's something not right, but no idea what and it might even be an easy fix i can make myself.

any help, much appreciated. thanks.

axe0 · 30 May 2016

Hi brotherdeluxe,

Welcome to the 10forums :)

The 0x124 can be quite difficult to diagnose, it is a hardware error that is reported by the CPU. The report is 1 of the few interesting things we can find in the dumps. 0x124 rarely provide enough information to say what is the cause with certainty so we mostly have to guess based on the report revealed in the dumps.

I have analysed a few dumps, they say that there are write errors in the L0 cache of the CPU. As the core and the bank are mostly the same it is very possible that the CPU is the cause, but I would like to be sure that nothing else is the real cause as the CPU is seen as a stable component.
Please note, software tests aren't 100% proof, it is possible that a component is faulty even if software tests say it isn't.

Code:

===============================================================================
Section 2     : x86/x64 MCA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ ffffe00175f18138
Section       @ ffffe00175f182c0
Offset        : 664
Length        : 264
Flags         : 0x00000000
Severity      : Fatal

Error         : DCACHEL0_WR_ERR (Proc 5 Bank 1)
  Status      : 0xff80000000000124
  Address     : 0x00000007980fc280
  Misc.       : 0x0000000000000086
===============================================================================
Section 2     : x86/x64 MCA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ ffffe001efb26138
Section       @ ffffe001efb262c0
Offset        : 664
Length        : 264
Flags         : 0x00000000
Severity      : Fatal

Error         : DCACHEL0_WR_ERR (Proc 5 Bank 1)
  Status      : 0xbf80000000000124
  Address     : 0x000000019208d8c0
  Misc.       : 0x0000000000000086
===============================================================================
Section 2     : x86/x64 MCA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ ffffe000194fe138
Section       @ ffffe000194fe2c0
Offset        : 664
Length        : 264
Flags         : 0x00000000
Severity      : Fatal

Error         : DCACHEL0_WR_ERR (Proc 4 Bank 1)
  Status      : 0xbf80000000000124
  Address     : 0x00000001b6984b00
  Misc.       : 0x0000000000000086
===============================================================================
Section 2     : x86/x64 MCA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ ffffe0008833a138
Section       @ ffffe0008833a2c0
Offset        : 664
Length        : 264
Flags         : 0x00000000
Severity      : Fatal

Error         : DCACHEL0_WR_ERR (Proc 5 Bank 1)
  Status      : 0xbf80000000000124
  Address     : 0x000000010408bd00
  Misc.       : 0x0000000000000086

STOP 0x124 Troubleshooting

Read carefully before proceeding.

Warning

If you're overclocking your system, revert back to stock clocks now.

Note

Test the system once the overclock is removed before continuing with the steps outlined below.

Part One: CPU Stress Test
Part Two: MemTest86+ RAM Diagnostic
Part Three: Hard Drive Diagnostics
Part Four: GPU Stress Test

ONE

CPU TEST

Run Prime95 and/or IntelBurnTest to stress test your CPU. Prime95 - Stress Test Your CPU - Windows 10 Forums & CPU - Stress Test Using IntelBurnTest - Windows 7 Help Forums

Warning

Your CPU temperatures will rise quickly while under this stress test. Keep a keen eye on them and abort the test if overheating occurs.

Make a photo of the result and post it.

TWO

RAM TEST

Run MemTest86+ to analyse your RAM. MemTest86+ - Test RAM - Windows 10 Forums

Note

MemTest86+ needs to be run for at least 8 complete passes for conclusive results. Set it running before you go to bed and leave it overnight. We're looking for zero errors here. Even a single error will indicate RAM failure.

Make a photo of the result and post it please.

Addition:
If errors show up you can stop the test, remove all sticks but 1 and test this single stick in each slot for 8 passes or until errors show, switch sticks and repeat.
If errors show up and you see them a lot later, no problem, the errors don't affect the test.

THREE

HDD TEST

Run SeaTools to check the integrity of your HDD. SeaTools for DOS and Windows - How to Use - Windows 7 Help Forums
Run following tests

Short Drive Self Test
Short generic
Long generic

If the short generic fails, no need for the long generic.

Note

Do not run SeaTools on an SSD as the results will be invalid.

Post screenshots/photos of the test results

Run chkdsk
Disk Check - Windows 7 Help Forums
Upload the chkdsk log

Chkdsk Log in Event Viewer - Read in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Run HDTune to

scan for errors, no quick scan but full scan
check the health,
benchmark.

It may take some time, but please take the time you need to perform it properly.
When above is done please make screenshots of the following

the error scan,
the health,
the benchmark incl. following
- transfer rate,
- access time,
- burst rate,
- cpu usage.

FOUR

GPU TEST

Run Furmark to stress test your GPU. FurMark - GPU Stress Test - Windows 10 Forums

Note

Run Furmark for around 30 minutes.

Warning

Your GPU temperatures will rise quickly while Furmark is running. Keep a keen eye on them and abort the test if overheating occurs.

Make a photo of the result and post it.

brotherdeluxe · 30 May 2016

hi axe0

thanks for replying and at least suggesting it might be the cpu; that's something. i have attached results of intel burn in test and furmark (memtest and seatools weren't required - see below).

i'm familiar with these tests, having used them before for testing overclocks and stability.

i am running the cpu at stock speeds, save for the mild auto over/underclock which the board itself can apply via a tpu and epu switch (i've not had problem with this before, though that's not to say it's not become a problem over time). i could've made everything flat stock, but i wanted to run the tests in the same state as i use the pc.

i ran the intel burn in test at high with no problem.
i'm not using a separate gpu - just the built in 4600 graphics. one test froze (no bsod though) and a second one ran until i manually stopped it after about 30 mins.
i already ran memtest at the weekend, as i thought the ram might be the culprit. i let it cycle through all the tests over about 11 hours and there were no errors; however, there was a note about hammer flip errors or something - i did google it, but didn't find anything useful or even that understandable! i also ran the dedicated hammer test on each stick and two did show the same 'note', but no actual errors. i put all the ram back, possibly in different slots than they had been in, ran the dedicated hammer test over about 24 hours and no error showed up at all - not even a 'note'.
i'm running an ssd, so didn't run seatools. i have a different ssd with win 8.1 installed and when i used that to see if bsod happened, i did get a couple - though i was wiping the drive and reinstalling 8.1, did it a few times and both bsod happened during the installation of updates.

i'm wondering, could it be the power supply? i have a corsair rm650 and haven't suspected any problems with it, but just curious if that could be a source. then again, with my particular bsod error, as you say, it's not exactly giving a definitive answer.

thanks again for giving the benefit of your advice.

axe0 · 30 May 2016

Please note that 11h for 32GB is NOT enough to finish 8 completed passes straight for your amount of memory, it could take up to 2 days to complete 8 straight passes with MemTest86+.

Please check your SSD for firmware updates.
Please run HDTune & chkdsk & upload the log + screenshots of HDTune and chkdsk.
Please boot in your BIOS, note the 3.3v, 5v and 12v values and post them.

Please remove ASUS software as far as possible that it doesn't cause problems with devices, software from the motherboard manufacturer (or laptop) is known for causing BSODs.

Please fill in your system specs

Please follow this tutorial and download the tool. The tool will give you detailed information about your system specs, please fill in your system specs more completely including PSU, cooling system & other used stuff. Please note that the PSU, cooling system and other used stuff are not mentioned in the tool.

How to fill in your system specs:

brotherdeluxe · 31 May 2016

i've attached screens of hdtune and chkdsk - no errors reported.
asus software isn't installed presently.
voltage readings:
i watched the figures for some minutes
3.296 (did notice it infrequently flick up to 3.312)
5.000 (did notice it infrequently flick up to 5.040)
12.192 (seems steady)
system specs updated.

thanks

axe0 · 31 May 2016

asus software isn't installed presently.

Could you then please check if any ASUS folder is present in the program files or program files (x86) folders, left behind folders make it look like the software is still installed.