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I am experiencing a frequent BSOD (upwards of 6 times a day). I've been doing some testing and I think I may have locked it down. I would appreciate some guidance on the next step to take.

My Specs

  • OS: Windows 7 Ultimate
  • Motherboard: AMD 990FXA-UD3
  • CPU: AMD FX-8350
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580
  • RAM: 8GB DDR3 1333
  • Audio Driver: Realtek 64bit

What I've Witnessed
So far I've noticed that it doesn't happen when logged into my wife's user profile. This initially led me to believe it was related to software running on my profile. I've further noticed that anytime I have RaidCall (a VOIP) open on my profile I eventually get the BSOD regardless of who is the active user.

What I've Tried
I've re-installed RaidCall and my audio drivers. I've ran a chkdsk, virus scan, and defrag. I've activated windows driver verifier for all 3rd party drivers. I've rain AIDA64 Extreme Edition (trial) and received a hardware failure alert after stress-testing for 6 minutes.

Resuts
The BSOD that happened after driver verifier was running didn't give any valuable information. I was at work when it happened, but my wife reports that it mentioned a driver failure, but did not give any information about the driver. I had to stop verifier so she could use the computer. The next BSOD I got was also while I was at work, but this time it said "unrecoverable hardware failure".

Conclusion
I'm thinking thinking this is a problem with my motherboard. I've had mobo-related BSOD problems in my last 3 computers so it wouldn't surprise me. Is there anything else I can try before trying to see if the manufacturer will honor their warranty? Thanks! ^_^

Update 1
I got another BSOD. It was another "uncorrectable hardware error" this time. No RaidCall, no audio happening at all. Perhaps those things were just coincidence. In any case, my minidump directory was empty when I checked it which is most unfortunate, but one did appear after this most recent BSOD. Here is the link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44699367/082013-26020-01.zip

Update 2
BSOD again (followed by a freeze w/o BSOD ~4m later. Dump link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44699367/082013-22120-01.zip

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  • Have you tried removing the software/drivers you believe to be culprit to test to make sure that's what's causing the issue? What about pulling a memory dump for the BSOD to definitively see what driver is causing it?
    – user201262
    Aug 21, 2013 at 3:11
  • upload the dmp files from C:\Windows\Minidump (as zip) to your skydrive/dropbox and insert a link here. Aug 21, 2013 at 3:57
  • @magicandre1981 I was about to say that the dump directory was empty, and indeed it was. Then I got a BSOD as I was about to reply. Updated original question w/ link.
    – Drexl
    Aug 21, 2013 at 4:30
  • @moses I've not tried removing RaidCall yet, although I've stopped using it. I did remove the audio driver so we'll see what changes. I've used both of those for a long time though with no problems, and this most recent BSOD (see above) makes me think it may not be related after all.
    – Drexl
    Aug 21, 2013 at 4:36
  • I just tried using WinDbg to view the crash dump. I downloaded the latest symbols for Win 7, but it says my Kernel symbols are wrong. :(
    – Drexl
    Aug 21, 2013 at 4:46

1 Answer 1

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You have no driver issue, you have a L1 Cache issue with your AMD FX CPU:

You get this Bugcheck/BSOD:

Bug Check 0x124: WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff557321%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

The WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR bug check has a value of 0x00000124. This bug check indicates that a fatal hardware error has occurred. This bug check uses the error data that is provided by the Windows Hardware Error Architecture (WHEA).

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                        Bugcheck Analysis                                    *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR (124)
A fatal hardware error has occurred. Parameter 1 identifies the type of error
source that reported the error. Parameter 2 holds the address of the
WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure that describes the error conditon.
Arguments:
Arg1: 0000000000000000, Machine Check Exception
Arg2: fffffa8009387028, Address of the WHEA_ERROR_RECORD structure.
Arg3: 00000000bc800010, High order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.
Arg4: 0000000000100149, Low order 32-bits of the MCi_STATUS value.

Debugging Details:
------------------


BUGCHECK_STR:  0x124_AuthenticAMD

CUSTOMER_CRASH_COUNT:  1

DEFAULT_BUCKET_ID:  WIN7_DRIVER_FAULT

PROCESS_NAME:  Steam.exe

CURRENT_IRQL:  f

ANALYSIS_VERSION: 6.3.9431.0 (debuggers(dbg).130615-1214) amd64fre

STACK_TEXT:  
nt!KeBugCheckEx
hal!HalBugCheckSystem
nt!WheaReportHwError
hal!HalpMcaReportError
hal!HalpMceHandler
hal!HalHandleMcheck
nt!KxMcheckAbort
nt!KiMcheckAbort
0x0



FAILURE_BUCKET_ID:  X64_0x124_AuthenticAMD_PROCESSOR_CACHE

FAILURE_ID_HASH_STRING:  km:x64_0x124_authenticamd_processor_cache


===============================================================================
Common Platform Error Record
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Record Id     : 01ce9e238a2c44a9
Severity      : Fatal (1)
Length        : 928
Creator       : Microsoft
Notify Type   : Machine Check Exception
Timestamp     : 8/21/2013 4:22:25 (UTC)
Flags         : 0x00000000

===============================================================================
Section 0     : Processor Generic
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ fffffa80093870a8
Section       @ fffffa8009387180
Offset        : 344
Length        : 192
Flags         : 0x00000001 Primary
Severity      : Fatal

Proc. Type    : x86/x64
Instr. Set    : x64
Error Type    : Cache error
Operation     : Data Write
Flags         : 0x00
Level         : 1
CPU Version   : 0x0000000000600f20
Processor ID  : 0x0000000000000006

===============================================================================
Section 1     : x86/x64 Processor Specific
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ fffffa80093870f0
Section       @ fffffa8009387240
Offset        : 536
Length        : 128
Flags         : 0x00000000
Severity      : Fatal

Local APIC Id : 0x0000000000000006
CPU Id        : 20 0f 60 00 00 08 08 06 - 0b 32 98 3e ff fb 8b 17
                00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
                00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 - 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

Proc. Info 0  @ fffffa8009387240

===============================================================================
Section 2     : x86/x64 MCA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Descriptor    @ fffffa8009387138
Section       @ fffffa80093872c0
Offset        : 664
Length        : 264
Flags         : 0x00000000
Severity      : Fatal

Error         : GCACHEL1_DWR_ERR (Proc 6 Bank 0)
  Status      : 0xbc80001000100149



BiosVersion = FA
BiosReleaseDate = 10/23/2012
SystemManufacturer = Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
BaseBoardProduct = 990FXA-UD3



[CPU Information]
~MHz = REG_DWORD 4018
Identifier = REG_SZ AMD64 Family 21 Model 2 Stepping 0
ProcessorNameString = REG_SZ AMD FX(tm)-8350 Eight-Core Processor           
VendorIdentifier = REG_SZ AuthenticAMD

As you can see you have L1 Cache Error when writing data to the L1 Cache. I can see that there is a BIOS update to Version FC, maybe this fixes it. Also run CPU stress test tools to see if the CPU is damaged. Also monitor the CPU temperature. Maybe this is the cause.

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  • Now that you mention it the processor was overheating a lot and crashing my computer in the past, but I was told that this particularly processor has a history of running hot so I just under-clocked it a bit which seemed to fix it. Apparently the issue goes deeper than that. I believe it's still in manufacturer warranty so I'll look into that. Thank you very much! ^_^
    – Drexl
    Aug 21, 2013 at 18:17
  • 1
    In case anyone finds this post in the future I'd like to add that upgrading the BIOS ended up resolving it. I've not had a BSOD for over 3 days. I'm going to bring the clock speed back up to normal and see if the overheating issues are resolved as well. I'm guessing they will be.
    – Drexl
    Aug 25, 2013 at 2:13
  • nice to hear that the BIOS update fixes it :) Aug 25, 2013 at 5:40
  • Drexl: Echoing magicandre's comment - and upvoted your question. THANK YOU for coming back and saying that an answer fixed your problem! Oct 7, 2015 at 0:56

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