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Help needed with BSOD CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT

Anonymous
2021-04-10T22:12:55+00:00

Hi!
I have a PC that I have built over the past couple of years. Most of the components are new because I hoped they would solve my issues, but the issues still persist and it’s getting to a point where both I and my tech-savvy partner are at a loss for ideas.

I have had my PC for about five years, but I’ve changed quite a few components in the past year. My current components are:

  • Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i7 9700K
  • RAM: 16 GB Dual-Channel
  • Motherboard: ASUS PRIME Z390-P
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
  • PSU: Corsair RM850x V2 850W
  • Storage: Seagate HDD 2TB
                    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB

Backstory:
The issues started about a year ago, and they mostly consist of a few smaller but annoying issues (probably unrelated issues but I'm not sure - it's related to certain internet browsers, the windows audio overlay and a certain program that restarts for no apparent reason) and one major one. The major one is aBSOD issue I have had for about a year. My PC used to run smoothly and without any issues no matter which games I played, but after a Windows Update I started getting blue screens of death once in a while - especially while I was playing games. I experienced a handful of different stop codes multiple times, and they changed all the time. I have among others experienced SYSTEM SERVICE EXCEPTION, KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED and CLOCK WATCHDOG TIMEOUT. I wasn’t able to find a pattern. Back then my PC was built using my partner's old components, so I thought the issue could be two 12-year-old hard drives, so I decided to buy a new SSD and a new HDD and get rid of the old ones. The issue stopped happening as often but I still got the occasional BSOD. I then bought a new motherboard, CPU, CPU cooler and RAM. This didn’t change anything. I then bought some more fans for my PC, but that did nothing. I then bought a new PSU last month but the issue still persists. The only component I haven’t changed yet is my GPU.

Current issue:
For the past couple of days, I’ve been playing It Takes Two. After I have the game running for about 3 hours I get a BDOS with the code “Clock_Watchdog_Timeout”. I then restart my PC, try playing again and after about an hour I get another BDOS with the exact same code. This has happened two days in a row. The same pattern both days. Today I tried running Speccy and task manager while playing to keep an eye on my PC’s stats. On the first BSOD, nothing was out of the ordinary. My CPU was at 60% and about 50 degrees Celcius. My GPU was running at around 95% at a temperature of 60 degrees Celcius. On the second BSoD an hour later my CPU was at about 90% and at a temperature of 50.

I have tried:

  • Clean Windows install (about 3 times, does nothing)
  • Updating drivers and keeping all drivers updated (does nothing)
  • Changing all components apart from my GPU (helped a little but I still have issues)
  • Keeping Windows up to date and installing all updates (does nothing)
  • Running a memory test (nothing comes up)

Dump files:
I have no idea what to do or how to solve the issues. I have 3 files from my minidump folder here. They are all from yesterday where the BSOD happened twice: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AiirjBv4XT5GbClewB_bUBDOe18?e=7TaTzH. My knowledge of computers and is minimal and I can't seem to fix the issue without help, so I will appreciate any and all advice. If you need any more information please let me know.
Thanks in advance!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-04-11T00:06:06+00:00

    More troubleshooting methods:

    This utility makes it easy to see which versions are loaded :

    Run DriverView - set VIEW to Hide Microsoft drivers - update those without Dump in their names (and update BIOS and chipset drivers).

    DriverView - Free - utility displays the list of all device drivers currently loaded on your system. For each driver in the list, additional useful information is displayed: load address of the driver, description, version, product name, company that created the driver, and more.

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/driverview.html

    For Drivers check System Maker as fallbacks and Device Maker's which are the most current. Right Click the Start Button - Device Manager - Display Adapter - write down the make and complete model of your video adapter - double click - Driver's tab - write down the version info. Now click Update Driver (this may not do anything as MS is far behind certifying drivers) - then Right Click - Uninstall - REBOOT this will refresh the driver stack.

    Repeat that for Network - Network Card (NIC), Wifi, Sound, Mouse and Keyboard if 3rd party with their own software and drivers and any other major device drivers you have.

    Now go to System Maker's site (Dell, HP, Toshiba as examples) (as rollback) and then Device Maker's site (Realtek, Intel, Nvidia, ATI as examples) and get their latest versions. (Look for BIOS, Chipset, and software updates at System Maker's site while there.)

    Download - SAVE - go to where you put them - Right Click - RUN AD ADMIN -

    REBOOT after each installation.

    Always check in Device Manager - Drivers tab to be sure the version you are installing actually shows up. This is because some drivers roll back before the latest is installed (sound drivers particularly do this) so install a driver - reboot - check to be sure it is installed and repeat as needed.

    Repeat at Device Makers - BTW at Device Makers DO NOT RUN THEIR SCANNER - check manually by model.

    Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites.

    http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht...

    ====================================================

    Memory tests do not catch all errors such as mismatched memory (possible even for sticks that appear to be identical) and when faster memory is placed in the system behind slower memory. So it is best to also swap sticks in and out to check for those even if all memory tests fail to show a problem.

    To test RAM check here - let it run 4+ hours or so - overnight is best. <-- best method

    www.memtest.org

    MemTestX86 - Test RAM With

    http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/14201-memtes...

    ================================================

    After doing ALL the updates you can, and if the issue continues, then run Driver Verifier.

    Driver Verifier can help find some BSOD issues :

    Driver Verifier-- tracking down a misbehaving driver.

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

    Driver Verifier - Enable and Disable in Windows 10

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5470-enable...

    Using Driver Verifier to identify issues with Windows drivers for advanced users

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244617

    How To Troubleshoot Driver Problems in Windows Vista or 7. (8/8.1 and 10

    are essentially the same).

    http://www.winvistaclub.com/t79.html

    Using Driver Verifier

    https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/window...

    WINKEY + X - RUN - type in -> verifier /reset hit enter to disable

    If Driver Verifier creates a minidump upload it and post the link here so we can analyze it.

    Here to help,

    Rob

    Standard Disclaimer: Those may be non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

    Please let us know the results and if you need further assistance. Feedback definitely helps us help all.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-04-11T00:04:03+00:00

    Hi CamillaLøgstrup, I am Rob, an independent and a 15 time and dual award Microsoft MVP specializing in Windows troubleshooting and Bluescreen analysis. Please remember as independents we are not responsible for the development of Windows or the computer hardware and drivers. If you will work with me I will be here to help until the issue is resolved.

    The GPU is very suspect in this issue, especially since you have not tried replacing it.

    Did you run memtest86? For 4+ hours (overnight is best). On all the sticks individually and in different combinations and patterns?

    The DMP files were all BugCheck 101 and virtually identical

    BugCheck 101, {18, 0, ffffe781c3e40180, 3}

    Probably caused by : Unknown_Image ( ANALYSIS_INCONCLUSIVE )

    Further detailed analysis did not help identify a software issue though one could still possibly be in play.

    The BugCheck 101 is most often a hardware issue.

    1A. There are newer BIOS, chipset, and possibly other drivers for your system at ASUS, and check the other major device makers as well (see 1C. below).

    ASUS PRIME Z390-P - BIOS, chipsets, and drivers

    https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards-Components...

    BiosVersion = 2606 <-- version 2820 is available

    BiosReleaseDate = 10/24/2019

    SystemSKU = ASUS_MB_CNL

    BaseBoardManufacturer = ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.

    BaseBoardProduct = PRIME Z390-P

    BaseBoardVersion = Rev X.0x

    CPUID: "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9700K CPU @ 3.60GHz"

    MaxSpeed: 3600

    CurrentSpeed: 3600

    ASUS - Service <-- includes Live Chat - Chat Icon is on the lower right of page

    https://www.asus.com/us/support/Download-Center/

    ASUStek Support

    https://www.asus.com/support/

    ASUStek Forums are ZenTalk orROG (Republic of Gamers)

    ZenTalk

    https://www.asus.com/zentalk/portal.php?nocache=1

    ROG - Republic of Gamers

    https://rog.asus.com/forum/?_ga=2.79315284.1301...

    ASUStek Drivers

    https://www.asus.com/us/support/Download-Center/

    1B. AFTER 1A. then run the Intel Driver and Support Assistant.

    Intel Driver and Support Assistant <-- run this after checking with ASUS.

    http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/detect?red...;

    Intel Download Center

    http://downloadcenter.intel.com/

    Intel - Support

    http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support

    Intel - Forums

    https://forums.intel.com/s/?language=en_US

    1C. Use the DriverView methods in the next message to check and update other driver drivers.

    1. Even though you have replaced/upgraded a lot of the parts I would do a full system tear down and rebuild. Remove ALL power then reseat all the cards, memory, and cables (on both ends when possible) - actually remove and reseat them - do not attempt to snug. While doing so please carefully inspect all, especially the cabling.

    More times than I could try to count I have seen a loose or slight/tiny bit of corrosion on a connection cause such repeated and long-term issues.

    1. If needed reduce the system down to as simple as possible, including minimum memory, to try to stabilize it. Once stable you can work from there to add more hardware to the mix.
    2. Carefully review A. - F. below.
    3. Run the memory tests (see methods in the next message).
    4. Please note that consumer-level troubleshooting software rarely specifies a particular piece of hardware so a lot of close observation is required.

    PassMark Burnin Test - Free Trial - note the trial version will only run for 15 minutes and it really needs to be used for many hours. So if you use this you will need to faithfully and quickly restart it every 15 minutes.

    PassMark - BurninTest - Free Trial

    https://www.passmark.com/products/burnintest/

    Running OCCT for Home Use (Free) and the Stress Tests may help indicate a cause.

    OCCT - Free for Home use

    https://www.ocbase.com/

    Running Stress Tests might help indicate a cause - use ALL of these.

    PC Stress Test free software for Windows 10

    https://www.thewindowsclub.com/pc-stress-test-f...

    1. As needed use ALL the methods in the troubleshooters below and in the next message.
    2. After ALL the above if needed run Driver Verifier to see if it can indicate a

    CAUSE (see Driver Verifier methods in the next message).

    ====================================================

    Troubleshoot blue screen errors <-- read this link

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/t...

    A. Are you overclocking anything? If so STOP! OC can not only cause BSOD it can make troubleshooting virtually impossible.

    B. Have you installed any performance or OC software such as MSI Afterburner, AMDRyzenMaster. Intel's Extreme Tuning or Performance Maximizer, or CPU-Z? Some of those and others change system settings during installation which are still in effect even when the program is not running. Even iCUE or other RGB hardware and/or software may be involved.

    C. After both A. & B. reset the BIOS back to the system/motherboard maker's recommendations.

    D. Be sure the SSD's have the latest firmware from their makers.

    E. Try removing and reseating all cards, memory, and cables (both ends when possible) - actually remove and replace - do not just snug (on a PC) and clean out the dust bunnies and vents. (Of course remove ALL power prior to opening the case.) <-- Please do this as it is the number one cause of the issues you are experiencing (by far).

    F. Try adding a fan blowing on high onto the motherboard's CPU & GPU areas. The point is to increase airflow to maximize heat dissipation. <-- Please do this no matter how much cooling you have now.

    ====================================================

    Please see the next message for additional troubleshooting methods.

    Here to help,

    Rob

    Standard Disclaimer: Those may be non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

    Please let us know the results and if you need further assistance. Feedback definitely helps us help all.

    Was this answer helpful?

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