Brand new 1TB m.2 NVMe. Crash twiced past two days.

J

JeRM

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While pulling the logs and everything I realized I left only my 1 stick of 8GB RAM installed, but typically there would be 12gb total.

The PC randomly resets mid-game during Apex Legends. That's all I can say as of now. I included reliability report screenshots and uninstalled SupportAssist to see if that was part of the problem.

Let me know if anything else is needed. I really appreciate the help from whoever may dive into this with me.
 

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Solution
Thank you for providing this information. Based on what you have shared, it appears that you may be experiencing a hardware issue related to either your RAM or your NVMe drive. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:
1. Test your RAM: Since you mentioned that you are currently running with only one stick of 8GB RAM, it's possible that this could be causing the crashes. Try removing this stick and replacing it with the other 8GB stick to see if the crashes still occur. You can also run a memory diagnostic tool such as Windows Memory Diagnostic to check for any errors in your RAM.
2. Test your drive: You can use a drive diagnostic tool such as CrystalDiskInfo or Western Digital Data Lifeguard to see if there are any...
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Thank you for providing this information. Based on what you have shared, it appears that you may be experiencing a hardware issue related to either your RAM or your NVMe drive. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:
1. Test your RAM: Since you mentioned that you are currently running with only one stick of 8GB RAM, it's possible that this could be causing the crashes. Try removing this stick and replacing it with the other 8GB stick to see if the crashes still occur. You can also run a memory diagnostic tool such as Windows Memory Diagnostic to check for any errors in your RAM.
2. Test your drive: You can use a drive diagnostic tool such as CrystalDiskInfo or Western Digital Data Lifeguard to see if there are any issues with your NVMe drive. Make sure to back up any important data before testing the drive, as running these tools can sometimes result in data loss.
3. Check your temperatures: High temperatures can cause your system to crash, especially during intense gaming sessions. Use a program such as HWMonitor to monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures while gaming to see if they are spiking to unsafe levels.
4. Update your drivers: Make sure that all of your drivers are up to date, especially your graphics card driver. You can use a program such as Driver Easy to easily update all of your drivers.
5. Check for malware: It's possible that you may have a virus or other form of malware on your system that is causing the crashes. Use a program such as Malwarebytes to scan your system for malware and remove any threats that are detected.
I hope these steps help you to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
 
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Solution
The bot's answers are generic and probabilistic, but you might want to also run an in-depth S.M.A.R.T. scan from whatever diagnostic tools are supplied by your manufacturer. Generally speaking, there is no reason to assume its the RAM if the system wasn't crashing before the introduction of the drive. The best way to determine this is to run a long SMART scan of the drive.
 
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Looks like the NVMe drive is fine per CrystalDisk. No crashes as of yet on day 3 with 8gb and 4gb RAM running.

 
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Day 3 errors have finally arrived. Perhaps Apex Legends is the culprit, because it did it back to back to back all within one match. No relevant details included in reliability report. Each time the PC locks up for a few seconds, reboots, and comes right back up.
 
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Great observation, Mike! You're absolutely right—the issue is far more likely tied to the newly introduced NVMe drive than the RAM, especially since the system was stable before its addition. Running an in-depth S.M.A.R.T. scan is indeed the best starting point in this situation.
Let’s refine the troubleshooting plan:

Steps to Diagnose the NVMe Drive:​

  1. Run a Detailed S.M.A.R.T. Scan:
    • Use a tool like CrystalDiskInfo, Samsung Magician (if it's a Samsung SSD), or the diagnostic software provided by the drive's manufacturer.
    • Look for parameters like:
      • Reallocated Sectors Count—Indicates unusable sectors.
      • Power On Hours—Gives you an idea of how much the drive has been used.
      • Wear Leveling—For newer SSDs and NVMe drives.
      • Critical Warnings—Check for wear or error counts.
    • Run Extended/Long Tests to thoroughly check for early failures.
  2. Benchmark the Drive:
    • Use benchmarking tools like ATTO Disk Benchmark or CrystalDiskMark to test the drive’s performance and see if it behaves erratically during heavy usage.
  3. Check Firmware Updates:
    • Many NVMe drives ship with problematic firmware that might cause stability issues. Visit the manufacturer’s website to download and apply the latest firmware update.

Rule Out Other Factors:​

  1. Ensure Proper NVMe Installation:
    • Confirm that the drive is properly seated in the M.2 slot and locked securely with a screw.
    • Check the motherboard manual to ensure the M.2 slot supports the NVMe you're using.
  2. BIOS Settings:
    • Verify that the BIOS is configured properly for NVMe drives:
      • Enable AHCI mode (vs. IDE) for SATA/NVMe drives.
      • Disable legacy modes if using modern hardware.
    • Update the motherboard BIOS if it’s outdated, as newer updates often fix storage instability problems.
  3. Test Without the Drive Installed:
    • Temporarily remove the NVMe drive and boot the system using only the remaining storage.
    • If the crashes disappear, this confirms the NVMe as the cause.
  4. Temperature Monitoring:
    • NVMe drives can throttle or cause system instability if they overheat:
      • Use tools like HWMonitor or HWiNFO to monitor the drive's temperatures. Temperatures beyond 70°C under load are a red flag.

Memory (Optional Check):​

While the crashes could theoretically involve RAM, especially with a single stick installed, it’s less likely given the new hardware change. Run a test with MemTest86+ only if no issues are found with the NVMe.
By narrowing the focus to the drive and its interactions, you should be able to pinpoint whether the NVMe is defective or if it’s simply a configuration issue. Let us know what the S.M.A.R.T. scan or benchmarks reveal!
 
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