Red screen of death?

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Luke_Live

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I often get BSOD's on my PC. They come frequently and then fix themselves after a while and I can go about my business and not worry. However, they always come back. This time they are different. I was playing Overwatch with some friends and I got a BSOD. However, this BSOD was red and had no error message. I restarted my PC and it worked fine for the rest of the week. Then a week later I got another "Red screen of Death", restarted and it was all good. Today I got one while playing Civilization 6 (I don't know if what i was doing at the time of the red screen matters, but I include it anyway). I restarted, and got another one. I would like to try and fix this problem, but if I have to buy any new parts for my PC then it is unlikely to get fixed.


My specs:
CPU - AMD FX-8350 8-Core Processor @4.00 GHz
CPU Cooler - Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
GPU - XFX RX 480 8GB GDDR5
RAM - Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB PC3-12800 DDR3
HDD - Western Digital Blue 1TB
SSD - SanDisk Internal SSD 120GB
PSU - Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Simi-Modular ATX
Motherboard - Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard
OS - Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
 
Solution
10tacle
Do you have a store with a good return policy like a MicroCenter or Best Buy? I would at this point swap the PSU out before anything else. If you get the same error(s) then you know it's not the PSU and you can return that to the store using whatever excuse you want (I do not recommend abusing that if you are a regular customer for PC hardware testing...exactly why I keep multiple builds and hardware around).
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10tacle

10tacle

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These kinds of things are hard to diagnose and resolve without a lot of trial and error. The first thing I'd look at is the power supply (Corsair's CX line is not an upper tier quality for power users like gamers). I'd see in CPU-Z if the +12v and +5v readings were fluctating beyond the standard 5% ATX spec allowance. If so, then that's your issue.

Next, I'd start running stress tests that specifically target the CPU and GPU independently all the while monitoring temps. I would also look at memory tests in this mix as well to make sure you aren't having a failure there. If the problem does not occur in these stress tests, then you know it's a possibly software issue like a corrupted driver. If that is the case, you may need to do a clean re-install of the OS or at the very least run a driver sweeper like CCLeaner and re-install the latest Catalyst drivers from scratch.
 
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Luke_Live

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Nothing on my current build is overclocked. My old graphics card was, but i have since replaced it.
 
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Luke_Live

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saddly no. And I would like to confirm it is PSU before I go out and buy another. But if it is low quality I could upgrade it if I find a good PSU (fully modular cause screw semi) for a good price. (I'd prefer to stay under 100$)
 
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alceryes

alceryes

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As @okcnaline said, check for minidumps. Checking PSU is also a good idea.
Run a full chkdsk on the boot drive (chkdsk /f). After chkdsk fixes errors run a system file checker (sfc /scannow). If you have been getting these BSOD's and red screens for a while the OS could be damaged.

If the above doesn't fix the issue, a full wipe and reinstall of the OS may be in order.

 
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Luke_Live

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I have done a clean install before and it fixed it for a little bit. I do think it is my PSU. How would I go about checking my PSU. (sorry, as I am fairly new to this PC stuff. Especially troubleshooting.)
 
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Luke_Live

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https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n6e4cwnj2p7uzid/AADCl9YO7vN930RGpjaCH4yta?dl=0
 
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Luke_Live

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How would I go abut testing the PSU? and which version of CPU-Z should I donwload. (I saw some that had MSI, etc on it. I don't know which one I should install.
 
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10tacle

10tacle

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Just use the classic version on the left side under "Download" and not "Download Custom" where all those others are (64-bit version). You monitor your PSU voltages (min/current/max) when running a stress test. Of course if you get a crash, that does no good as the data saved in CPU-Z to analyze will be wiped out.

 
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Luke_Live

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How do I start a "stress test"?
 
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10tacle

10tacle

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You have to download them and run them. For the CPU, there's AIDA64 and the older Prime 95 as well. Prime 95 doubles as a good memory tester using the "blend" option. Then there's OCCT which can also test the GPU. Then there's gaming stress tests that do both CPU and GPU like Unigine's Heaven. I use all the above on my new builds.
 
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Luke_Live

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Okay I'll try to find one, and run it when i get a chance.
 
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Luke_Live

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I have been sitting here doing misc tasks and nothing has happened. Launched a random game (GTA V) and got a blue screen this time. Here is the minidump from that blue screen. I forgot what the message said, i was being distracted by my sister asking to use my pc :/

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u1xn850lsipydmw/041017-20890-01.dmp?dl=0
 
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10tacle

10tacle

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Do you have a store with a good return policy like a MicroCenter or Best Buy? I would at this point swap the PSU out before anything else. If you get the same error(s) then you know it's not the PSU and you can return that to the store using whatever excuse you want (I do not recommend abusing that if you are a regular customer for PC hardware testing...exactly why I keep multiple builds and hardware around).
 
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Luke_Live

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I was going to upgrade to a modular power supply anyways, even if this isn't the problem. (https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Modular-Warranty-Supply-210-GQ-0750-V1/dp/B017HA3RGE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1491856811&sr=8-5&keywords=power+supply+750+gold). At one point in time I had a crap ton of BSOD one after the other, and I was forced to do a clean install of windows. Some people thought it was my mobo or cpu. Could I test them with a stress test to be sure, or would i need to do something else to test those. (also could you maybe supply a link to a stress test that you think is best?)
 
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10tacle

10tacle

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Well at this point a stress test would be futile. I wouldn't do anything else with it right now until I got that PSU swapped out. You may be putting further stress (read: damage) on your other components *if* that's the real issue here. Just to be safe, I'd keep that PC off until the power was swapped. My opinion.
 
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Luke_Live

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Sadly, its the only pc in the house, and that isn't really possible seeing that the power supply wouldnt come for a while, even if i ordered it right now. Which i want to do, but money is REALLY tight. I have had a problem before where my 16 pin connector was not fully plugged in. and after i plugged it in all the way i had no problems for a while. I will go and see if that is the case in a few min. thanks a lot with the help so far :)
 
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Luke_Live

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So i wanted to see if it was my graphics drivers causing the problem. I launched Playerunknowns battlegrounds to see if it would crash. It didn't. So I kept playing cause I'm bored (bad Idea i guess). I got another "red screen". But a different shade. This time it was more of a maroon color. (https://images.discordapp.net/.eJwNxsENwyAMAMBdGAAbGzDNMhUiiKRKCgrOq-ru7b3uY-7rMIvZVMdcANZ9ln6tdmq_cqu29d6Omsc-beknZNVctrO-dQIR-UjiRYg4MUcHjM6FB8YUJLH_JwKhE_QOn4RBAtvXaOb7AwEkIuw.fpMbUpN5yj72iR9p0oVOhQOQamE?width=263&height=468)

And after the maroon screen was gone, i gota BSOD with the error clock watchdog timeout. I guess I'll take your advice and not do many stressful things to the pc (@10tacle) but no use at all isnt possible. (for tonight maybe, but after that, no). I will order the psu I linked above, and im getting my friend to come help me install because messing with my pc makes me anxious as all hell. :p
 
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