PC Crashing (Bugcheck 0x50, nvlddmkm.sys timestamp, LiveKernelEvent 141) after Gaming - MSI Trident

• Problem Description:
  • After running games using the GPU for some time, the computer will crash either during the game (rare) or after idling for a bit after closing the game (most common)
  • This happens every time I play a game that renders in 3D. I have played several hours of Balatro (a 2D game) without a crash during or after.
  • This began in early September 2024. I assume there was a driver update around this time that may have caused this. I tried multiple fixes, detailed below, but the only thing that resolved it was resetting my computer entirely. (System > Recovery > Reset PC)
    • This was only a temporary fix, as it returned about 2 weeks ago.
  • Crashed even in offline games, such as Project Zomboid.
• System Specifications:
  • Device name: MSI-Trident
  • Prebuilt Model: MEG Trident X 10TD-1282US
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-10700K CPU @ 3.80GHz
  • Motherboard: MEG Z490I UNIFY (MS-7C77)
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 
  • RAM: 2x16GB DDR4 @ 2933MHz
  • PSU: MSI A750GF
  • Storage: 4 SSD drives with decent amounts of free space.
    • 162/572GB free, 491/1810GB free, 130/353GB free, 343/1990GB free
  • OS: Windows 11
• Error Messages & Logs:
  • Event Viewer Errors:
    • “The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck.  The bugcheck was: 0x00000050 (0xffffba023bfc6000, 0x0000000000000002, 0xfffff80ac1f69016, 0x0000000000000002). A dump was saved in: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\061525-12171-01.dmp. Report Id: 6f41923a-ec3c-4187-856c-0bad15405abc.”
  • Minidump Analysis:
    • “Invalid system memory was referenced.  This cannot be protected by try-except.
    • "Typically the address is just plain bad or it is pointing at freed memory.”
    • “Unable to verify timestamp for nvlddmkm.sys”
  • Windows Reliability Monitor Details:
    • Problem Event Name:    LiveKernelEvent
    • Code:    141
    • Parameter 1:    ffffe50812d87010
    • Parameter 2:    fffff80ac2ba6740
    • Parameter 3:    0
    • Parameter 4:    ffffe507f5df4080
    • OS version:    10_0_26100
    • Service Pack:    0_0
    • Product:    768_1
    • OS Version:    10.0.26100.2.0.0.768.101
    • Locale ID:    1033
• Troubleshooting Steps Already Taken (and Results):
  • Driver Management:
    • Driver installed through both the NVIDIA app and direct download (“clean installation" checked, didn’t work)
    • DDU used for clean driver removal: (Safe Mode, internet disconnected, didn’t work)
    • Permissions changed for nvlddmkm.sys (didn't work)
    • Deletion of outdated nvlddmkm.sys files (didn't work)
  • System Integrity Checks:
    • sfc /scannow ("found no integrity violations")
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth (stuck at 62.3% for 30 min but completed)
  • Software/OS Related:
    • Windows is fully updated.
    • Verified game files in multiple games.
    • No antivirus software, except for CCleaner, for removing duplicate files. The crashes had been happening before CCleaner was installed, though.
  • Hardware Related:
    • No irregular temperatures in CPU or GPU. (Checked with MSI Afterburner)
    • Updated BIOS to C.50 from 6/3/2021 (released 2 weeks after purchase)
    • Ran Windows Memory Diagnostic, no errors found. Ran MemTest86 for 4 passes, no errors.
    • XMP disabled in BIOS, no change

I am looking for further troubleshooting steps, potential hardware diagnoses, or anyone who has dealt with this specific nvlddmkm.sys timestamp error.