Always IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL BSOD; occurs strictly when gaming

Over the past few months, I have been experiencing this BSOD at random times whenever I'm gaming. It usually happens after an extended period of time (at least 30 minutes), and it seems to happen for any game.

The BSODs I experience are always the same. IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. Never anything else. And BlueScreenView always points to ntoskrnl.exe, which implies that it's very likely video driver related.

I have continually updated my drivers whenever the BSOD happens, to no avail. Thus, I can only assume that the issue goes beyond the GPU driver. I'm convinced that my GPU is dying (degrading/deteriorating); it's almost three years old, which may be causing these BSODs.

The minidump can be analyzed here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kv0tp30xa8b9ego/062019-13984-01.dmp?dl=0

If somebody could analyze the minidump and tell me what the culprit could be, that would be great. Thank you very much!

Update:
BIOS (PRIME Z390-A Driver & Tools | Płyty głowne | ASUS Polska)
Chipset drivers (check in Intel Driver & Support Assistant Intel(R) Driver & Support Assistant)
Windows 10 to version 1903 (https://support.microsoft.com/pl-pl/...date-assistant)

See BSOD - Posting Instructions:

BSOD - Posting Instructions

MrPepka said:

Update:
BIOS (PRIME Z390-A Driver & Tools | Płyty głowne | ASUS Polska)
Chipset drivers (check in Intel Driver & Support Assistant Intel(R) Driver & Support Assistant)
Windows 10 to version 1903 (https://support.microsoft.com/pl-pl/...date-assistant)

Hello MrPepka, thank you for your reply!

1) I updated my BIOS a few months ago upon asking for advice from others, after I was already experiencing this particular BSOD. However, I would like to avoid doing so again, because when I updated it that time, it almost bricked my motherboard. The update would go through, and then the computer would turn completely black and freeze, but remain running. I forced a restart with my fingers crossed, and it ended up working out, but it was a very frightening moment. I only want to update my BIOS again as a very last resort. Plus, this BSOD only happens after gaming for prolonged sessions, so it's an isolated issue and I want to try other things first.

2) Okay, I'll try updating this one. Strangely, nobody in the past has pointed out this particular driver before, so may I ask how you came to this result?

3) I actually updated W10 to this build before, but it would cause stuttering (i.e. the computer would freeze every 30 seconds). I rolled back W10 to a previous build upon advice, and it fixed the stuttering. I don't mind trying it again now, I suppose. Perhaps it's been fixed.

1. After updating the BIOS, did you restore the default settings in it or pull out the CMOS battery? If not, try it. Maybe it will help
2. Drivers for the motherboard chipset should always be up to date as they improve compatibility with components
3. After updating Windows 10 to 1903, did you install 2 updates to this system via Windows Update?
You can also do this:
Run msconfig, select "Boot" page, select option "Advanced options", and check option "Debug". Accept changes and reboot computer. The next run Driver Verifier, select "Create custom settings (for code developers)", check "Special Pool", select "Select driver names from a list", and check all drivers except Microsoft drivers. Accept changes and reboot computer. When a failure occurs, please send me a full memory dump

See BSOD - Posting Instructions:

BSOD - Posting Instructions

BSOD - Posting Instructions

MrPepka said:

1. After updating the BIOS, did you restore the default settings in it or pull out the CMOS battery? If not, try it. Maybe it will help
2. Drivers for the motherboard chipset should always be up to date as they improve compatibility with components
3. After updating Windows 10 to 1903, did you install 2 updates to this system via Windows Update?
You can also do this:
Run msconfig, select "Boot" page, select option "Advanced options", and check option "Debug". Accept changes and reboot computer. The next run Driver Verifier, select "Create custom settings (for code developers)", check "Special Pool", select "Select driver names from a list", and check all drivers except Microsoft drivers. Accept changes and reboot computer. When a failure occurs, please send me a full memory dump

1) At the time, after I updated the BIOS and it bricked, eventually after some panicked Google searches, I found a fix for it and I managed to get my system running again, with the BIOS successfully updated. It's back to the safe settings.

2) I tried Intel's Driver & Support Assistant, but it stated that there are no updates available.

3) At the time, when I updated it to 1903, I also made sure to run Windows Updates a few times to make sure it was completely up to date and had no other updates available.

4) I'm already running Driver Verifier (upon advice from Microsoft Support), and I'm currently on my 10th hour in, with no BSODs yet. It's still running, so I'll let you know if a BSOD occurs.

If it's any helpful, I did a FurMark test of my GPU for an hour as well, and it was stable.

zbook said:

See BSOD - Posting Instructions:BSOD - Posting Instructions

Oh sorry about that. I just thought you needed the minidump. I have attached what you've requested.

Attachment 237890

1) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
2) sfc /scannow
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
4) wmic recoveros set autoreboot = false
5) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

6) Make sure that there is no over clocking while troubleshooting.

7) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
chkdsk /r /v
This may take hours to run so plan to run overnight.
Run on all drives using the syntax: chkdsk /r /v C: or chkdsk /r /v D: changing the drive letter to the applicable drive.

C:\Windows\system32>chkdsk /r /v
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Cannot lock current drive.

Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another
process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be
checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)

Type: Y
reboot


8) Use the information in this link to find the chkdsk report in the event viewer. Copy and paste into notepad > save to desktop > post into the thread using one drive or drop box share link:
Read Chkdsk Log in Event Viewer in Windows 10 Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
Read Chkdsk Log in Event Viewer in Windows 10


9) For any BSOD:

a) run the V2 log collector to collect new log files

b) open file explorer> this PC > C: > in the right upper corner search for: C:\Windows\memory.dmp
> if the file size is < 1.5 GB then zip > post a separate share link into the thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive

10) Run HD Tune (free version) (all drives)
HD Tune website
Post images into the thread for results on these tabs:
a) Health
b) Benchmark
c) Full error scan


11) Run Sea Tools for Windows
long generic test
Post an image of the test result into the thread
SeaTools for Windows |
Seagate
How to use SeaTools for Windows | Seagate Support US