Game freezes entire PC

[Raydee]

As the title says. This problem occurs 1-3 times every week while playing FFXIV, and only FFXIV. Every other game runs fine. After 1-2 hours of playing the screen freezes, sometimes the sound still plays for a few seconds or weird, drone-like noises before that stops too. I have to manually reset my PC with the reset button every time.
I tried a few solutions found on google, here's what DIDN't work:

- lowering my graphics settings
- disabling DirectX 11
- using the "Restore Game Data" on the launcher
- reinstalling the game

I checked if its maybe overheating but its not. Every driver and W11 are up to date. WMD says RAMs are fine. I'm not overclocking anything.
I'm at a loss of what's causing this. Any ideas, help would be appreciated.

Hardware info:
MB: H510M-K
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700F CPU
RAM 16 GB
GeForce RTX 3060

[Katish]

Hello, I know you said you are not overclocking anything but this sounds like an unstable overclock or a hardware issue. Check to make sure you if you are using any overclock software they are closed before launching the game. Some overclocking overlays will crash the game sometimes as well, I know this true of Afterburner [more specifically RivaTuner]. (This might also occur due to an automatic setting via your bios, check if there are any settings that would automatically have any weird overclocks. Note: overclocking in general does not crash the game, it's the type of over/underclock that might do so.)


Here's a list you could try:
1. Check to make sure any overlays are closed as FFXIV can be quite finicky with some of them.
2. Update your Graphics Drivers
---> Uninstall, Reinstall Graphic Drivers

Hope this helps.

[Eenkalzet]

Greetings Raydee,

We apologize for any inconvenience experienced when trying to play Final Fantasy XIV. For us to better assist you, please respond with the following information:

- Platform (PC, Steam):
- Error Codes or Messages (If any):
- Type of connection (wired or wireless):
- Other programs running while the game is playing (if any)
- Frequency at which error occurs:
- Any other steps taken to resolve the issue, aside from those already mentioned:

We would also like to request for a system report. This can be generated by opening the launcher and going to the 'Config' option on the Final Fantasy XIV launcher and to the right of 'System Information' click on 'Display and then copy and paste all the details into a response here.

We do look forward to hearing back from you so we can assist with the issue accordingly.

[Raydee]

Sorry for not replying for so long, i tried a few different solutions. Nothing worked.

- I'm using the Windows PC launcher from the website, not the Steam version.
- There are no errors, not even in the event log, other then Kernel-Power. My PC just freezes, i have to restart with the RESET button, no blue-screen or anything.
- my PC is connected with an ethernet cable to the modem if that's what you mean
- usually, Steam and Discord are running while i'm playing, however, I tested this before, multiple times by turning off everything, only FFXIV running, it still crashed my PC.
- it happens usually after 2-3 hours of playing. Sometimes it takes longer, like 5-6 hours, but it happens during every game session.

So, other things i tried since my first post:
- I updated my BIOS, it was using an outdated driver. Didn't work, game still crashing my PC
- I finally caved, brought my PC to the service. They tested everything and found nothing wrong with any hardware, said it's in perfect condition (it better be, i bought it brand new in August lol). Their only tip was that I should buy a 600w PSU instead the current one which is 500w, but like, wouldn't that just shut down the PC if that's the problem instead of freezing it?

The only other notable difference that it finally happened with another game, namely Sims 4. I never had that game on this PC, installed it, played for an hour and BAM, screen froze, drone sounds, entire PC froze, RESET button again. What these two games have in common i have no idea, like i said, everything else runs perfectly fine.

Anyway, here's the System Information as requested, hope it helps.

-=-=-=-=-=-=- FFXIV Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

MyDocument C:\Users\User\Documents
FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE C:\Program Files (x86)\SquareEnix
FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn Language 1 Region 3
ProxyEnable 0
ProxyServer unspecified
ProxyOverride unspecified


-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

SYSTEM_OS Windows 11 Home 64 bites
SYSTEM_CPU Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700F CPU @ 2.90GHz (16 CPUs), ~2.9GHz
SYSTEM_CORE_NUM SYSTEM_CORE_LOGIC 16 SYSTEM_CORE_PHYSICS 8
SYSTEM_BIOS F4
SYSTEM_MEMORY 16253.254MB
SYSTEM_VIRTUAL_MEMORY 134217727.875MB
SYSTEM_PAGE_FILE 17277.254MB
SYSTEM_STORAGE C:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 930.777GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 514.402GB
SYSTEM_DIRECTX_VERSION DirectX 12
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY1
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 12129.000 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 8126.627 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (59Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdig.inf_amd64_42df78e1ec0db843\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdig.inf_amd64_42df78e1ec0db843\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdig.inf_amd64_42df78e1ec0db843\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdig.inf_amd64_42df78e1ec0db843\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 31.00.0015.4601
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 10/26/2023 01:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_SOUND DELL P2210 (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {051CC2BD-D0C2-4EF2-B60B-26947CF5303D}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME nvhda64v.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.3.40.14
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 1/19/2023 01:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.0.9373.1
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 6/28/2022 01:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 7/28/2017 01:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {84249302-584B-42EA-B7A3-98502558BC55}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME SteamStreamingSpeakers.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 17.56.13.764
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 7/20/2017 01:00:00
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 5 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 128 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {834F5B50-36C4-11EE-8003444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME usb keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 573 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {834FF790-36C4-11EE-8005444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME usb keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {F0620A00-C98E-11EE-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB OPTICAL MOUSE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 669 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {F0620A00-C98E-11EE-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB OPTICAL MOUSE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {F0623110-C98E-11EE-8003444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB OPTICAL MOUSE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {F0623110-C98E-11EE-8004444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB OPTICAL MOUSE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0

[Larirawiel]

Heya, there are newer drivers for you GPU, version 551.61:
https://www.nvidia.com/de-de/geforce/drivers/



And there are some things you can do. If you have XMP enabled then disable it. If you are updating your GPU drivers then make sure, that tools like Afterburner/Rivatuner etc. are not running in the background. And setting the PCIe mode to 3.0 can also fix some issues.

Cheers

[Raydee]

Hi! Thanks for the tip, updated my driver.
I set PCIe mode to Gen 3, however, i can't find where can i set XMP in my BIOS, even after google.
PC still froze though, just tested.

[Larirawiel]

XMP is also called Extreme Memory Profile. But i do not know how ASUS named it in their BIOS. On AMD platforms it was called D.O.C.P. To disable it, enter the BIOS, press F5 and then press F10 to save the settings. And then reboot. Pressing F5 just loads factory settings without any overclocking.


Cheers

[Raydee]

Back to report.

Setting everything back to factory settings in BIOS didn't work sadly (but like i said i never tinkered with BIOS before, pretty sure it was factory settings anyway). What i noticed is that a lot of options are on "Auto" by default, tragically i don't know what half of those mean, i'm not tech savvy at all. Could one of those cause overclocking if my PC decides by itself? Should i start changing stuff to see if something works?

Now, i tried a few more things simultaniously. Changed from borderless windowed to full screen, run the game as administrator and disabled full screen optimizations. For one whole day i got no freezes at all, everything was fine, but yesterday, after 2 hours, like clockwork, my PC froze again while playing FFXIV. I noticed something though, don't know if its related but here we go anyway...
After the freeze i waited like a minute to log back in again just to tp my character to an atheryte and admit defeat. However, when i clicked the teleport it didn't respond, like i was lagging super bad. It took like 45 seconds for the game to respond and tp my character. I logged out after that.
Like i said i don't know if its related, but i'm completely out of ideas at this point.

[Larirawiel]

You could also try this:
https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answ...e-desktop-apps

MPO is a real mess. And disabling it may help.



Cheers

[Raydee]

I'm going to leave this here for posterity's sake, in case someone in the future has the same problem.
It was an overheating issue after all. I got new fans installed and for three weeks now, no problems whatsoever. I even let the game ran all night once, just to test it, no issues.
So thank you FFXIV, for being the only game to crash my PC while overheating it! Without you, I might have bricked it entirely in the near future. Truly a game of all times!