Micro-Freezing/Various BSODs/Display Driver Crashes

[InfernoxCJC]

Hello again Tom's!
It seems I always have some issue or another don't I? I guess I am just unlucky :-(

This is a follow up to an earlier thread of mine that has recieved little input, likely do to a poor choice of Sub-Forum. I have since delved deeper into the issue.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2834535/micro-freezing-windows-seemingly-appeared-blue.html

SYSTEM
---------------------------
OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (Clean Install)
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K (Stock)
RAM: 16GB Kingston Hyper-X Beast 2133MHz (Running At 1600MHz)
MoBo: ASUS Z97-A
GPU: MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G (x2)
PSU: Corsair RM850
Storage #1: Samsung 850 EVO 250GB (OS)
Storage #2: Samsung 850 EVO 250GB (Games)
Storage #3: WD Black 1TB (Media)

Simply put I began experiencing Micro-Freezes in Windows while conducting various tasks, the issues was very obvious while audio was playing due to the "buzz" that would occur as the audio hung. I have since reinstalled Windows and am still experiencing issues.

Throughout my analysis today I have encountered various BSODs:
- PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
- DRIVER_IQRL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
- KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

I am also experiencing numerous recoverted Display Driver crashes while conducting my tests along with the continued dropping of audio as reported in my previous thread.

Due to the issue seemingly mostly presenting itself during multitasking (Spotify and a Game running for instance) I have been testing the system by running an Intel Extreme Testing Utility Memory Test while also playing an MP3 file (Everything Is Awesome! in case you were wondering =P)

Each time I have conducted the one hour test I have encounted a BSOD or Display Driver Crash inside of thirty minutes bar one which occured with less than ten minutes remaining.

So far, in an attempt to isolate the cause I have:
- Taken out each RAM Stick individually
- Seated the single Stick in slot B2 rather than A23
- Removed each GPU individually
- Powered each GPU with the others Power Cable
- Removed my second Monitor

The test I am currently conducting has involved using a new Power Cable for the single GPU I have installed (still with a single RAM stick installed) along with using a different Surge-Protected Extension Lead and mains socket. This test has been ongoing for forty minutes and has yet to encounter any of the above issues. I have been unable to isolate the PSU as the problem due to not having any others available to me.

If anyone could be of assistance I would be incredibly grateful as I am coming to the end of my ideas and really need my PC up and running again.
Conor

 

[InfernoxCJC]

UPDATES
---------------------------
System passed my most recent test [new Power Cable for the single GPU I have installed (still with a single RAM stick installed) along with using a different Surge-Protected Extension Lead and mains socket] and I will now proceed to reinstall my second GPU and run the same test.

System past my next test. Same procedure but with both GPUs installed (new Power Cable for each) and I am now proceeding to conduct another test with both sticks of RAM installed.

Audio dropout remained during the last test (both GPUs) - no visible system errors, just the audio dropout around half an hour in, hitting the Realtek Audio Driver test kicked the speakers back into life. When they "die" the green LED indicator on the volume wheel dims. The speakers are not powered by the PC so to me that could imply a seperate fault with the speakers themselves.

 

[InfernoxCJC]

Running with both sticks of RAM resulted in a crash within five minutes. Reverting back to a single stick resulted in the same. It seems I may have just missed the Display Driver crashes in the previous three tests I believed to have been successes.

I have subjected my RAM to an overnight HCI MemTest pass in the BIOS which resulted in 300% coverage with no errors as well as a 600% coverage within the OS, again with no errors.

At this stage I am out of ideas as to what to try. I suppose RAM, PSU and Motherboard are all still possibilites but I have no spares available to test with. IN theory a software problem is still possible despite the reinstallation of Windows. I don't know how to test for this as Intel Extreme Tuning Utility does not run in Windows Safe Mode.

Please help, I am totally stumped at this stage.

 

[InfernoxCJC]

Updating to the latest Nvidia Beta Drivers and reverting to the previous Nvidia Game Ready Drivers failed to resolve the Display Driver crashes during the tests. Both were a full Clean Installation using CCleaner, Driver Fusion and DDU.

Please, someone, I am totally lost now.

 

[Gizmo247]

[strike]Have you ensured the motherboard BIOS and graphics card firmware are up to date?[/strike]

 

[InfernoxCJC]

I am beginning to suspect that a recent update to Windows 10 itself may be causing this issue.

I was initially under the impression I had some kind of Hardware failure on my hands but, as I scroll through the Windows 10 Sub-Forum I am seeing more and more instances of the same BSODs and a couple instances of the audio hangs.

I fully updated Windows 10 (bar Hardware Drivers) when I reinstalled Windows so this could indeed be the case, I really don't want to reinstall again (my poor SSD =P) especially without being certain this is the issue nor which Windows Update is the cause should it be.

Has anyone heard anything of the like?

 

[InfernoxCJC]

Running verifier.exe in the Command Prompt doesn't seem to be bringing up any Dump Files unless both BlueScreenView and I are being blind.

At this stage, since no one seems to have a clue I guess I am going to have to pop down and have a word with my local PC Repair store, though I doubt they'll be able to suggest much more than I have done - short of buying new components anyway.

 

[InfernoxCJC]

After reinstalling for a second time, not allowing it to connect to the internet (no Windows Update) and only installing the latest Nvidia Game Ready Drivers and Intel Extreme Tuning Utility, the system has successfully passed two Memory Stress Tests of 1hr and 1.5hr respectively.

To me this points to a software issue of some kind surely?
I am hesitant to install any additional software at this stage for fear of the issue arising once more.

To me, the possible causes are:
- A program that has worked fine for in excess of two months and now has developed a bug (unlikely?)
- A Motherboard Driver from the ASUS Website
- A Windows Update.

For me a Windows Update seems the most likely due to the way the problem arose so suddenly without the installation of new software.
My question is now of course, how likely is it that I am correct and if I am, what can I do seeing as Windows will force updates on me as soon as I connect to the internet?

 

[InfernoxCJC]

On my most recent Windows 10 installation I have seemingly successfully completed all available Windows Updates and installed my Nvidia Drivers without encountering any BSODs, hangs or Display Driver Crashes.

This means that my prime subject for the reason behind my issues were my Motherboard drivers as that just seems more likely than a program cauing these problems as such I have come to a crossroads, do I install these Drivers and risk the issue reappearing and not being solved by a simple uninstallation of the drivers or do I just ignore them? As such I have to ask.

These are the Drivers in question:
- Intel Management Engine Interface
- Intel Chipset Software (Windows installed a version of this already)
- Realtek Audio
- Intel LAN
- Intel Rapid Storage Technology

What functionality do these drivers offer above what Windows installs natively? My audio and internet connection are working as normal for example and to the best of my knowledge, IRS is only compatible with Intel Drives but I could be mistaken there.

Thanks