BSOD on Skylake build - During startup / Installation of Windows 10


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #1

    BSOD on Skylake build - During startup / Installation of Windows 10


    Specs
    Motherboard: ASUS Z170 Pro-Gaming
    CPU: I5-6600K
    RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 2666MHz (CMK16GX4M2A2666C16R)
    GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC GAMING ACX 2.0+
    Storage: Samsung 850 EVO 250GB

    My system is about 5 months old and its was running perfectly fine for a few months at stock speeds (No overclock) with fresh Window 10 install (Not upgraded from Window 7/8). A few months ago, I began experiencing BSODs on startup that leaves the system stuck in a boot loop.

    BSOD messages I received include:
    IRQL not less or equal
    System service exception

    I was able to boot into safe mode on several occasions and thinking that this was a software/driver issue and not a hardware problem, I decided to reinstall Windows 10. However, when reinstalling, my system will BSOD as it starts to boot from my USB installation media. The same BSOD happens even when I took out non-essential cards such as GPU and my wireless adapter.

    During troubleshooting, I also ran Memtest86+ overnight for over 10 passes and ended up with no errors.

    Recently, I managed to install Windows when I configure the CPU (via UEFI BIOS) to use only one of its cores. In fact, everything seems ok whether I use 1/2 or 3 cores. It is only when I use all 4 cores that the startup BSOD loop appears.

    I have attached the crash dumps from BSODs that I get when all 4 cores are active so hopefully someone can enlighten me on what’s wrong with my rig. Although my rig is technically “working” right now, I still want to identify the root cause of this and utilize all 4 cores on my CPU. XD

    Any help would be much appreciated.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 14,901
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2

    Most of them aren't exactly specific pointing to something.
    However, this part sounds like a faulty CPU (core).
    Recently, I managed to install Windows when I configure the CPU (via UEFI BIOS) to use only one of its cores. In fact, everything seems ok whether I use 1/2 or 3 cores. It is only when I use all 4 cores that the startup BSOD loop appears.



    Diagnostic Test

     CPU TEST


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

    Note   Note
    If you're overclocking anything, please stop it and set everything back to default while troubleshooting

    warning   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.

    If either of the test shows an error, there is no need to run the other test as it shows a faulty CPU.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Update
    I followed up on axe0's suggestion to run stress tests on the CPU and everything worked fine on 3 cores.
    In the end, I decided to RMA my CPU to see if I can fix this issue once and for all.
    With a replacement CPU, my system has been running stable at stock settings for a couple of weeks now.

    Conclusion
    Issue was probably caused by CPU hardware failure that affected one of the cores only.

    My thanks to axe0 for the timely and accurate diagnosis of the cause of my BSOD.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #4

    Austerity said:
    Update
    I followed up on axe0's suggestion to run stress tests on the CPU and everything worked fine on 3 cores.
    In the end, I decided to RMA my CPU to see if I can fix this issue once and for all.
    With a replacement CPU, my system has been running stable at stock settings for a couple of weeks now.

    Conclusion
    Issue was probably caused by CPU hardware failure that affected one of the cores only.

    My thanks to axe0 for the timely and accurate diagnosis of the cause of my BSOD.
    Wow. All I can say is thank you. I have been having this exact problem with a new i7 6700k build. It was fine for a week but then just blue screened every boot. I think it was triggered by an overclock using ASUS built in AI tweaker, but I let it do it automatically so it shouldn't have caused any problems. I had already sent back my motherboard but the vendor found nothing wrong in tests. Memory always tested fine.
    I've only just been able to boot for the first time after disabling one of the cores but it seems stable so far. Absolutely brilliant. Now I can send my CPU back and I know what the problem was!
    Cheers again! This has already cost me hours upon hours of diagnosis so I cannot thank you enough for writing these posts.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #5

    Absolutely same problem on my one month "old" system..
    So is it only CPUs fault or the ASUS MB may be causing CPU core fault as well?
    How is it working after some time with new CPU?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #6

    Worsty said:
    Absolutely same problem on my one month "old" system..
    So is it only CPUs fault or the ASUS MB may be causing CPU core fault as well?
    How is it working after some time with new CPU?
    Unfortunately I do not know. I am using an ASUS Pro Gaming z170. What about you? I did notice with the new CPU that the motherboard was pushing 1.43v as the core voltage by default when the CPU went into "turbo" mode. My understanding is that this is way too high. The temperature of my CPU was going up to 100 degrees and throttling the performance. So it is possible that the motherboard caused some hardware damage by over-volting my CPU.
    I would recommend checking the core voltage with a programme such as CPU-Z when the CPU is under stress. If higher than 1.3 I would suggest manually editing the core voltage in BIOS to 1.2 and see how that works. I have mine running on 1.95. It now tops out at around 70 degrees under 100% load.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #7

    sancezzio said:
    Unfortunately I do not know. I am using an ASUS Pro Gaming z170. What about you? I did notice with the new CPU that the motherboard was pushing 1.43v as the core voltage by default when the CPU went into "turbo" mode. My understanding is that this is way too high. The temperature of my CPU was going up to 100 degrees and throttling the performance. So it is possible that the motherboard caused some hardware damage by over-volting my CPU.
    I would recommend checking the core voltage with a programme such as CPU-Z when the CPU is under stress. If higher than 1.3 I would suggest manually editing the core voltage in BIOS to 1.2 and see how that works. I have mine running on 1.95. It now tops out at around 70 degrees under 100% load.
    Thank you!
    I have same specs as you do, im abroad at this moment i can't test anything but as i was writing previous post i assumed its one of the cores fault but then i asked my relative to try boot up with just one core active, and the problem persisted so not sure if its really the same problem here, i might try reduce the voltage if its to high as u recommend but earlier i had bios in default settings so not sure what voltage is "default". Anyway I'll be giving the PC back to retailer next month, they will be able to replace the "organs" and hopefully see what is going on...
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #8

    +1 thanks to axe0 and Austerity . I was experiencing many BSOD's and Stop Codes on a new PC build using a 6700K. It had a couple crashes at the beginning, then was fine for a week, and then was nearly nonstop crashing, even when attempting Windows 10 fresh install. I swapped out for a different processor of the same model and problem solved, after many frustrating days of troubleshooting both software and hardware, and nearly replacing every other part in the PC before figuring out the CPU was at fault. Makes you wish for more specific Stop Codes, for sure.
      My Computer


 

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