PC keeps crashing

[SrSosio]

The power test run fine, but the GPU one gave an error:

Not sure what that error is though. I should probably send the GPU out for replacing the heat pads. I'm not sure the person who did it when I bought it, did the best job, though it's been working fine since now, a couple of years after.

[SrSosio]

I'm actually considering replacing it, tbh. Would a 9070 XT be a killer for my current setup? I'd like not to upgrade anything else if I can avoid it. If I have to replace many other things, I think I'd stick with the 3090 and have it checked.

I have:

Are these  good deals?

[The_Nephilim]

14 hours ago, SrSosio said:

The power test run fine, but the GPU one gave an error:

Not sure what that error is though. I should probably send the GPU out for replacing the heat pads. I'm not sure the person who did it when I bought it, did the best job, though it's been working fine since now, a couple of years after.

Did you see what the temps were at on the 3090? IT seemed to have crashed pretty quick did you try and rerun the test and see if maybe it was a glitch of sorts.. if you do run the temps does the fane seem to be spiining as well?

[LucShep]

On 6/15/2025 at 9:50 AM, SrSosio said:

The power test run fine, but the GPU one gave an error:

Not sure what that error is though. I should probably send the GPU out for replacing the heat pads. I'm not sure the person who did it when I bought it, did the best job, though it's been working fine since now, a couple of years after.

To me, that starts to look like power delivery issues on your RTX3090, either on the GPU itself (hardware or software related) or on the PSU side. 

The RTX3090 comes severely overvolted from factory and, also because there's double the mem modules compared to RTX3080/Ti, makes it really hot and power hungry.

Also, RTX3000 series are far more sensitive to different Nvidia driver versions than following RTX4000 series, it can aggravate how the GPU works (stuttering, instability, even erratic power consumption).

All this can be somewhat alleviated though. 


Having an RTX3090 (EVGA FTW Ultra) myself, there are two things that I found to be "must do" for it, and I would urgently recommend you to:
 

1. Install Nvidia 537.58 drivers (the best drivers for RTX3000 series, I think I've tried them all), even better if it's a clean driver version (no bloatware from Nvidia).
   You can get these from here:  https://mega.nz/folder/dQRX3AQI#9RmtXT0cTw45RsWxTQgYiw/file/JJ5kQAAC
   Uncompress (unzip) the package, then go to the folder with the extracted files, and run setup.exe to start the drivers installation.
   
   Before that, I'd strongly suggest to first uninstall your current Nvidia drivers with DDU: https://www.wagnardsoft.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5324
   This will ensure that your system is clean of any display driver left overs, before (re)installing Nvidia drivers.
   (SIDE NOTE: I prefer to use the portable version of DDU, it'll extract files to a directory of your choice - where you then go to run DDU, by 2x clicking in the executable)
   
   If you're not accustomated to this procedure with DDU, then you have a tutorial here: https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/uninstall-nvidia-amd-intel-gpu-drivers
   
    
2. Undervolt your RTX3090 - I'd suggest it to about 1830 Mhz core frequency @ 850mv.
   This is absolutely crucial, makes a world of difference (how it should always have been).
   
   For this, you'll need MSI Afterburner, irregardless of RTX3090 brand/model that you may have.
   You can download it (version 4.6.5 Final) from here: https://www.msi.com/Landing/afterburner/graphics-cards
   
   If you use EVGA Precision-X or Asus GPU-Tweak, then those must be pretered (i.e, no longer used) in favor of MSI Afterburner.
   MSI Afterburner will need then to always start with Windows, for the applied undervolt settings to be in effect.
   
   I left some pointers about it in a previous post HERE.
   There's also a quick video tutorial on how to undervolt the RTX3090 in HERE. 
    

I hope it can help somehow.
Sorry if it sounds like "too much info" or complicated. After the process you'll see it isn't.  
 

Edited June 18 by LucShep

[SrSosio]

7 hours ago, The_Nephilim said:

Did you see what the temps were at on the 3090? IT seemed to have crashed pretty quick did you try and rerun the test and see if maybe it was a glitch of sorts.. if you do run the temps does the fane seem to be spiining as well?

No, I didn't. But I'm running the test again now and after 4 minutes it's at about 50ºC. I'll leave it the whole hour, see what happens.

[SrSosio]

Edit: just after I finished posting the above line, my PC crashed, at about minute 4:16, 62.28ºC. Didn't hear the fans spin up, but that doesn't mean they weren't working, though I'll make sure they do. The program says they were working:

I'll try what @LucShep suggested, see if that improves anything. My next step will be to replace the thermal pads and paste.

[SrSosio]

7 hours ago, LucShep said:

1. Install Nvidia 537.58 drivers (the best drivers for RTX3000 series, I think I've tried them all), even better if it's a clean driver version (no bloatware from Nvidia).
   You can get these from here:  https://mega.nz/folder/dQRX3AQI#9RmtXT0cTw45RsWxTQgYiw/file/JJ5kQAAC

Don't know what's wrong with this file, but it's crazy how long it's taking to unzip them

[BitMaster]

Try to get a 2nd PSU from someone so you can test your own PSU.

That is one thing I would do before testing anything else.

[SrSosio]

the 3D adaptative test in OCCT has been running for about 35 minutes now, after the undervolting, so I'll let it finish and if successful, I'll test DCS again.

Quick question, does MSI Afterburner need to be running in order to keep that setup or it kind of stores it somewhere in the system?

[LucShep]

6 hours ago, SrSosio said:

Don't know what's wrong with this file, but it's crazy how long it's taking to unzip them

That file contains over 2GB of display driver files in a 500MB compressed .7Z file package.... that's why it takes so long to uncompress it.

 

4 hours ago, SrSosio said:

Quick question, does MSI Afterburner need to be running in order to keep that setup or it kind of stores it somewhere in the system?

Yes, MSI Afterburner needs to always start with Windows, and be running in the background at all times, for the applied undervolt settings to be in effect. 
You can change this in the general settings (click on the * "sprocket symbol").

Edited June 16 by LucShep
added image of MSI Afterburner general settings

[SrSosio]

I've been testing playing DCS this morning for quote some time. Oddly enough, I forgot to turn MSI afterburner on, and I've been playing for a while without crashes, so I'm not sure what to think

[LucShep]

4 hours ago, SrSosio said:

I've been testing playing DCS this morning for quote some time. Oddly enough, I forgot to turn MSI afterburner on, and I've been playing for a while without crashes, so I'm not sure what to think

Well, regardless, that's good news.  

If you cleaned the previous Nvidia drivers with DDU and installed the Nvidia 537.58 drivers, it could be that. 
That could be enough to make things imediately improved.

However, undervolting is a very strong recommendation on any RTX 3090 (otherwise it's always a struggling furnace, and wattage guzzler!).
So, make sure MSI Afterburner is always working (i.e, starting with Windows) with the undervolting settings applied, and that GPU of yours will last a long, long time trouble free.

I just noticed a prior post of yours here, asking about a possible swap to the AMD RX 9070 XT. 
As good as that is, I don't think it's that much of an improvement over the RTX 3090, especially considering the current prices. 
Keep yours, as it's still a really good GPU in 2025 (plus, it's an EVGA FTW - among the very best ones).
Personally, I would only upgrade an RTX 3090 for an RTX 5080 or RTX 4090.
 

Edited June 18 by LucShep

[SrSosio]

1 minute ago, LucShep said:

Personally, I would only upgrade an RTX 3090 for an RTX 5080 or RTX 4090.
 

But to do that, I'd need to replace almost the entire PC. I will keep my 3090 for now, thank you.

[The_Nephilim]

12 hours ago, SrSosio said:

But to do that, I'd need to replace almost the entire PC. I will keep my 3090 for now, thank you.

Hey SrSosio, did you have an overclock setup with msi afterburner?? Sometimes DCS does not like OC especially on the core too much. I usally do a bit on the core and a ton on the memory which is where it is better to OC a GPU anyhow the core does not matter too much..

 

Like on my 4070Ti I had 100mhz on the core and 1600 on the memory.. it really increases the GB output or whatnot..

[SrSosio]

No, I've always had it stock

[The_Nephilim]

Well saying it is  at stock could be misleading was it a Factory OverClcocked card?? or bumped up from the base card core mhz? if it was OC try dialing the core clock back bit. or get MSI Afterburner and undervolt it..or declcok it..

Edited Tuesday at 08:40 AM by The_Nephilim

[SrSosio]

I did it, as LucShep suggested. I also think there's a feature in the latest msi afterburner version that allows launching it at startup and I think I enabled it. That would explain it working even without me having to manually launch it every time.