Troubleshooting new build, gaming crashes

aebome · Jul 13, 2015

I’ve just built a new system, my first in a while, parts listed below. Since building on 7/10, it has consistently crashed when gaming. First, several crashes to desktop occurred, “[insertgamehere].exe” is not working correctly, etc. Steam then says it is installing the game, gets to 1%, says steam servers are busy, Steam Sync occurs.

Second, several Blue Screens have happened; 1 while downloading Arkham Knight, 2 while playing Sniper Elite 3 (maybe once with V2).

After that, more crashes to desktop like above continue to occur. No more blue screens though (yet, at least).

Oh I did boot up Monaco once, to the menu, but that was it. No issues with that.

Can anybody give me some guidance on what the issue could be or any possible fixes? As mentioned below, I’m running Win10 Insider preview, which may be part of the problem, but I just don’t know. I feel likely that it is the issue, due to troubleshooting described below (I think RAM/GPU issues are unlikely, and issues with other parts probablywouldn't be limited to gaming).

I just want to make sure I don't have a hardware problem, and see if I can find and try any fixes I have haven't thought of yet.

All my error logging/troubleshooting is below. [Edit: I also have the .dmp logs from the three blue screens as well, which I can make available if needed.]

System Config (assembled 7/10):
CPU: Core i5-4590 (stock cooler)
Mobo: AsRock H97M-itx/ac, BIOS 1.50
Mem: GSkill RipJaws 2x4GB 1600mhz, 7-8-8-24, XMP profile
GPU: EVGA GTX 970 SSC ACX2.0+
SSD: OCZ Arc 100 240GB, firmware 1.01
HDD: Western Digital Black 2.5in laptop HDD (holding docs and Steam)
PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower TDP-0550M
Case: Thermaltake Core V1 (1 200mm fan, 2 80mm fans)
OS: Windows 10 Insider Preview, Slow Ring, Build 10162. yes, I know it’s a preview, and it could very well be the cause or contributing to the problems outlined below. Just knowing that would be helpful!

NVidia Driver: 353.30 (Windows 10)

General temperatures of system (monitoring using GPU-Z, CPUid Hardware Monitor, and RealTemp)

-CPU Idle: ~28C
-CPU Gaming: ~56-61C
-GPU idle: 36C
-CPU Gaming: 76-78C

BLUE SCREEN ERRORS
7/10/2015:

Blue Screen error unknown (wasn’t looking at first, only caught end before reboot.)
Computer was idle, Steam was running, downloading Arkham Knight.
----this is the only error that has ever occurred when not gaming-----

7/11/2015:
Blue Screen error: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGE_AREA (dxgmms2.sys)
Playing Sniper Elite 3

Blue Screen error: SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
Playing Sniper Elite 3 (possible V2, using for troubleshooting)

CRASHING TO DESKTOP ERRORS

Sniper Elite 3, Sniper Elite V2, and Insurgency have all crashed to the desktop multiple times. The first two days (multiple times in SE3, ~2 times in SE2, 1 time in Insurgency) I didn’t know I could look at event viewer, so no logs of those crashes.

Sniper Elite 3 Crashing to Desktop: SniperElite3.exe has stopping working correctly

EVENT VIEWER LOG
7/12/2015 (x3 of same error, after 1-15 minutes of gameplay)
Faulting application name: SniperElite3.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x54865ae3
Faulting module name: Steam2.dll, version: 2.0.2117.156, time stamp: 0x52fd784f
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x001612f9
Faulting process id: 0xfec
Faulting application start time: 0x01d0bcdbb74a0d77
Faulting application path: D:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common\Sniper Elite 3\bin\SniperElite3.exe
Faulting module path: D:\Games\Steam\Steam2.dll
Report Id: 88d8b105-56e4-4ff7-9b81-58cf9aedf795
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:

7/11/2015 and 7/12/2015 (x2 of error, only looked at event viewer on the 12th). Audio dropout.
Faulting application name: AUDIODG.EXE, version: 10.0.10162.0, time stamp: 0x55920bd3
Faulting module name: RltkAPO64.dll, version: 11.0.6000.432, time stamp: 0x5571365f
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0000000000193388
Faulting process id: 0x1c5c
Faulting application start time: 0x01d0bce01c64cd6a
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\system32\AUDIODG.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\RltkAPO64.dll
Report Id: b7d242ae-26d3-4390-abaa-52c8e387137b
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:

After turning off steam overlay:

Faulting application name: SniperElite3.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x54865ae3
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 10.0.10162.0, time stamp: 0x5591fe01
Exception code: 0xc0000374
Fault offset: 0x000d5cac
Faulting process id: 0x1bac
Faulting application start time: 0x01d0bce01c301a58
Faulting application path: D:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common\Sniper Elite 3\bin\SniperElite3.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: fddbeed6-0ba9-483e-ba06-f0c225dfee2b
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:

Sniper Elite V2
7/12/2015 (after 10 minutes of gameplay)
Sniper Elite Crashing to Desktop (SniperElite2.exe has stopping working correctly).
Faulting application name: SniperEliteV2.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x537f671a
Faulting module name: Steam2.dll, version: 2.0.2117.156, time stamp: 0x52fd784f
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x001612f9
Faulting process id: 0x1f44
Faulting application start time: 0x01d0bcdd000bb75d
Faulting application path: D:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common\Sniper Elite V2\bin\SniperEliteV2.exe
Faulting module path: D:\Games\Steam\Steam2.dll
Report Id: 313ce320-56bf-4c3b-b789-3c25d27abf96
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:

TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS TAKEN

Put SE3, SE2, Insurgency in Windows compatibility mode for Win8, also tried Win7 for SE3. Maybe no Blue Screens after this? Still crashing to desktop.

Fully uninstalled NVidia drivers (had the full driver suite, plus Geforce Experience, at first). I reinstalled using new download, only installed the driver and Physx.

Ran Sniper Elite 3, Sniper Elite V2, and Arkham Knight built-in benchmarking tools. All finished, no crashes.

Ran Unigine Heaven Benchmark to test for GPU stability. Ran on 1080P, Ultra Quality, Extreme Tessellation. Avg FPS 56.6, Score 1425, max GPU temp 77C. No crashes.

Following up on steam forums re: Sniper Elite 3, tried deleting both sniper elite .exe’s from the bin folder (mantle and normal) and the steam_api.dll and steam_api64.dll from the main sniper elite folder. Verified local files.

Ran Memtest86+ and Windows Memory Diagnostic, both completed with no errors.

I have turned off the Steam overlay, after finding reference to it causing steam2.dll crashes. Still crashes.

vrumor · Jul 13, 2015

Did you move the OS drive over from another PC without re-installing Windows?

aebome · Jul 13, 2015

vrumor,

I did not move the OS. It was a fresh install of the Win10 Preview. All the parts are new, purchased over the last couple of weeks, and is the first build they have seen.

vrumor · Jul 13, 2015

Try installing a game and running it off the SSD and not the laptop drive.

Rogue Leader · Jul 13, 2015

First thing I look at with random errors like that is memory. Now memtest ran fine and it will even if you have the wrong memory. Did you check the exact model numbers against this list? In addition are those stock ram timings as well?

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H97M-ITXac/?cat=Memory

aebome · Jul 13, 2015

If I am not mistaken, that will require moving my entire steam folder to the SSD, correct? (as per: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7710-tdlc-0426). I'm at work today, so that will have to wait until tonight to test, which I will do.

Both SSD and the HDD have good SMART reports. Is there anything else that could be contributing to this?

vrumor · Jul 13, 2015

Id try another PSU as well, ThermalTake for the most part sells poopy PSUs.

aebome · Jul 13, 2015

Rogue Leader,

My kit is F3-12800CL7D-8GBXM, and does not appear to be on the list. However, it is very similar to F3-12800CL7D-8GBXH, which is. My RAM is rated to run its specs at 1.5v, and while the listed kit has slightly better timings, but is rated for 1.6v.

My RAM is running at its rated timings using the XMP profile that was available in the motherboard UEFI menu. So if that is "stock," then yes.

Should I try running it at the default timings selected by the motherboard without the XMP profile enabled? I think it default to 1333mhz, not sure on the timings.

aebome · Jul 13, 2015

vrumor,

I don't have another PSU to try. I also did my research on the PSU, and while certainly not top of the line, it's not a piece of crap either: http://www.hardocp.com/article/2015/05/15/thermaltake_toughpower_gold_550w_power_supply_review/9#.VaPMHF9VhBc.

Additionally, if it didn't fail during the Unigine Heaven test, I have my doubts that it is the PSU.

vrumor · Jul 13, 2015

PSU issues can manifest themselves in all kind of weird ways. Eventually youll have to trouble shoot everything to find your issue.

aebome · Jul 13, 2015

vrumor,

Yea I know, but I'd like to see if I can eliminate possibilities before having to RMA/replace the PSU.

Rogue Leader · Jul 13, 2015

aebome :

Try the defaults and see how it runs (for stability). If it works right its very possible the RAM timings are why it doesn't work under XMP and you need to match up the specific model RAM to the board.

aebome · Jul 13, 2015

Rogue Leader,

I'll try the defaults tonight. If its stable at 1333mhz, do you think running it at rated speed with loosened timings would keep its stability (like 8-9-9-27)? I guess I'll just have to see what shakes loose.

Rogue Leader · Jul 13, 2015

aebome :

I think considering the issues you have had so far, if it will run stable at what the board wants to run at then thats probably what you're stuck with unless you want to return it and get the right set. I mean I guess it wouldn't hurt to try it, but with loser timings the voltage needs to go up, which the RAM may not like (although it is G.Skill). At this point with stability issues you shouldn't have to do that just to get it to work, because then if and when you decide to overclock the system you'll be fighting a new battle.

aebome · Jul 14, 2015

Rogue Leader,

You may have been right on the RAM timings, despite it populating the XMP profile. I put it back on the motherboard default, and it ran Sniper Elite 3 for a couple hours no problem. I had been getting errors within 20-30 at most before. I tested it in multiple gaming sessions last night, the first several short, then one longer one at the end. At the very end of that session, as I was getting ready to quit, it crashed again to desktop. But it happened at a really weird place, with a ton of the screen, right when I died and right as I pressed ESC to quit.

Anyway, I'm going to run it at the default a couple more nights to see if it stays stable, or if I have more crashes. If it stays stable, I'll play with the settings manually. I'll update after that.

Rogue Leader · Jul 14, 2015

Cool, I hope this is the solution.

aebome · Jul 20, 2015

Rogue Leader,

I have done more testing and have gotten the system totally stable. An update to Win 10 build 10260 (supposedly RTM) may have helped, but I think the XMP profile just isn't stable with my board, as you guessed. I ran at the default for a couple of days, and had no problems. I then played around with the speed and timing, and found that slightly looser timings at 1600mhz was stable (they are still tighter than most 1600mhz kits). So that is what I am running. I don't really care about OCing, I just wanted a decent stable build, and now I've gotten it to that point. No crashes since my last post, and I've tested a lot.

Thanks for the help!

Rogue Leader · Jul 20, 2015

Hey man glad it worked out. If you wanted to be adventurous I'd say get your hands on the exact ram model they recommended. However other than maybe gaining a few points in a benchmark you probably wouldn't notice the difference. May as well not waste the time/money.

Enjoy!

Troubleshooting new build, gaming crashes

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