BSOD with Z790 Dark Hero and RTX 4080 Super

[PepeGameHub]

I need some help please. My gaming desktop that I built around April of this year, started crashing with BSODs after the 16th of July.

My setup is:

Board: Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero

Power: ROG Thor 1200W Platinum II

GPU: Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 Super OC edition
CPU: Intel Core i9-14900F 

RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 64gb (2x32gb)

SSD 1: Samsung 990 PRO SSD 2TB

SSD 2: Samsung 990 PRO SSD 4TB

OS: Windows 11 Home

On the 16th, I had to temporarily move to a new apartment, so I installed the wireless antenna that came with the motherboard. Prior to this, I always had a wired connection to my router so I never used it. The motherboard came with a usb stick with drivers in it, which I hadn't installed until that date since everything was working fine and I didn't need the wireless antenna.

I don't know if those drivers in that stick are related, but it is the only thing I have done different on the PC itself. 

I noticed a few of my games crashing while midplay, but I thought that maybe it was the game. However, then I played movies in either Netflix or Prime, and the video would close by itself. After opening the video back up, then I got my first BSOD. I've seen about 4 different messages so far, but 60% of them are PAGE FAULT IN NONPAGED AREA. While some others like SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED, and SYSTEM SERVICE EXCEPTION.

Anytime that I would play a video, it seemed to give me a BSOD. 

I decided to check my drivers. All Windows seemed to be up to date, and I checked Armoury Crate (Asus program) for drivers. There were a lot that were out of date, so I decided to update them all. However, it installed 2 and the rest of them failed. When I tried to install them again, they would no longer show as an update available. As if all drivers were up to date, even though the message showed that 10 of them failed. 

I decided to update the GPU by itself, so I went to the Asus website and downloaded the latest driver for my GPU, but it also failed to install. I then went to the Nvidia website and downloaded the drivers from there, but also failed to install. 

I decided to use DDU under safe mode, and NVCleanstall, but it also failed to install the nvidia drivers. 

Then, I made the decision to just reset the computer back into new since I only have games, and they are all on Steam. However, when trying to reset through the Windows 11 System options, it would not restart at all. So, I brought up the advanced options while restarting manually and tried to reset it through there. The problem is that after clicking on reset, it would go to resetting, but after 1%, it would go back to the reset screen, as in stuck in a loop.

I was able to boot back into the PC, and ran mdsched to check the memory, but no errors were found.
Since I still had the original thumbdrive from Microsoft with Windows 11 on it, I decided to wipe both SSDs again, and install Windows with the thumbdrive. While installing, it would work until it started installing the updates section, and then give me a BSOD. I tried taking the 2tb ssd out, and still getting BSODs. Swapped the 2tb for the 4tb ssd, and still the same BSODs. Took one RAM out, still the same. Swapped it for the other RAM, still the same with BSODs. 

I flashed the BIOS to the latest version 1402
Ran a CPU test with the BIOS Memtest86 options, and no errors were found at all.

Tried taking the GPU out, and plugging my hdmi direclty into the motherboards port, but I get no video output at all. Checked a lot of online forums, including here, and they mention that under System Agent (SA) Configuration, I need to select iGPU, but I do not have that option present at all. 

I downloaded Ubuntu, and installed it on my laptop (different PC), and was able to boot up to it just fine. However, on this desktop, it freezes and it won't load.

At this point, I don't know if my issue is with the motherboard or the graphics card. I do not own a second one of either, so I can't really test them that way. I can use the graphics card to get into the BIOS, so i guess it works to an extent if that card is the one at fault. I do not see the GPU at all in the BIOS settings options though. I can see my RAM, SSD, CPU, and even fans, but I can't see the GPU in there. Shouldn't I be able to see it there?

Please help me. I have ran out of ideas on what to do. I am attaching pictures to thread.

Ubuntu fails to installI don't see my GPU anywhere with the other harwareArmoury crate faills on updatesNvidia fails to installWindows fails to installCPU passes with no errors

[ns4wiki]

I had a very similar issue to yours. I replaced motherboard, ram, graphics card, ssd, did updates of firmware, adjusted values...

Try turning off all of your processor's E cores in your BIOS settings. That worked for me to get things working and I determined my processor was faulty. Was able to return it and get a replacement since I had just built the unit. Hope this fixes your problem

[PepeGameHub]

I turned off all of the E cores, but nothing changed for the better. I still can't install a Windows or Ubuntu with a USB. 

I now have a new problem come up, to where I can see the SSD cards in the BIOS EZ mode information screen, but I can't see them in diskpart, nor the BIOS SSD Secure Erase.

I am leaning more towards a defective motherboard. What do you think?Can't see either of my 2 SSD anymoreTurned off E coresI can see the SSD on this screenI can't see the SSD here either

[dennys2009]

You have a CPU: Intel Core i9-14900F with a cut-out video core, as indicated by the F index.
Have you read articles about the problem with the 13th and 14th generation processors? That they fail and degrade? The 1402 BIOS had to be installed as early as possible, but now most likely you need to change the processor. Write to intel or if there is still a store warranty, contact there.

[PepeGameHub]

Could you please elaborate on why you think the processor is the one going bad? 

The memtest86 passed without a single error. And I turned off the E cores as ns4wiki had suggested, but nothing changed.

I have new issue now, where I can't even see the SSD when I try to install either Ubuntu or Windows, so I thought that maybe the motherboard is going bad. 

[dennys2009]

Are your SSDs installed in slots M2.1 and M2.2? If so, they work directly from the processor. If you want to make sure the CPU or motherboard is to blame, move the SSD to a slot working through the motherboard chip, these are connectors M2.3, M2.4, M2.5.

If Windows sees them during installation, then most likely the motherboard is healthy, and the processor is to blame. Why am I thinking about the CPU, because there are many user complaints about crystal degradation and failure of high-end processors of the 13th and 14th generations. Look for articles about this on the Internet.

[PepeGameHub]

Thank you for the reply dennys2009. I had one SSD on M2.4 and the other on M2.5, but I also tried M2.3 and M2.2, and I get nothing. It doesn't matter which SSD I try on which port, I still can't see it when I try to install Windows. 

I reached out to Asus support and opened a ticket for the motherboard. Hopefully we either find a solution soon, or get it replaced. 

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello @PepeGameHub ,

Based on your description, if you have concerns regarding the CPU, you can refer to the [Intel] July 2024 Update on Instability Reports on Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen Desktop Processors discussion thread.
If you have concerns about the motherboard hardware, please send it in for further hardware inspection, and feel free to DM me with the serial number of your motherboard, RMA number, and detailed context at any time.

Thank you.

[PepeGameHub]

Jiaszzz_ROG,

I read the thread that you attached, and I don't see how my issues could be related to the CPU. However, I followed the instructions on that thread and made sure to select the Intel Base Profiles with Intel Fail Safe, but I still cannot see either of my 2 SSDs when I try to install Windows.

When I did a MemTest86, the CPU passed without a single error. Even after applying the changes you noted above, I still can't see the SSD. Do you still believe that the problem is with the CPU and not the motherboard?

[PepeGameHub]

Jiaszzz_ROG,

Disregard my last post about the SSD not being seen. I found the issue for that problem. The issue was that Intel Rapid Storage Technology was turned on, and it was seeing the SSD as Raid and not NVME.

I am now able to see the 2 SSD again, but I keep getting BSODs while trying to install Windows. They are mainly:
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED