I looked at the fans and they were all spinning before during and after the crash.

The motherboard was showing code 45, is that the LED you are talking about?

So there’s a lot of known issues with the MSI motherboards for the LG a 1151 generation based on the information you have provided I would guess it’s your motherboard if it’s MSI and I think it’s MSI can you verify that your motherboard is an MSI motherboard? It could be just that you have a faulty ram slot if you could isolate which one it is and leave it empty your computer could still run smoothly possibly if that is the problem it could be something else perhaps maybe even a bio update could potentially fix your issue.

It is an MSI motherboard, specifically MSI MEG Z390 ACE LGA1151 (Intel 8th and 9th Gen) M.2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 DDR4 Wi-Fi SLI CFX ATX Z390 Gaming Motherboard

I have another motherboard that I could swap it for but unfortunately that is an MSI also, the MSI MAG Z390 Tomahawk LGA1151 (Intel 8th and 9th Gen) M.2 USB 3.1 Gen 2 DDR4 HDMI DP CFX Dual Gigabit LAN ATX Z390 Gaming Motherboard I would like to do that last if possible but I could do it.

For ram slots, currently I am using a2 b2, as the motherboard instructs me to use those first. Should I swap the ram to a1 b1? Or would that cause an issue?

as for bio updates, I have not done that before. I had a pc repair shop do it for me once before though and the issue persisted through it. Is there a youtube vid or something that could instruct me how to do that? I remember looking it up but then ppl online saying it was risky for a noob to do.

Also the pc shop said they couldn't recreate the issue so they couldn't fix my comp

This post was edited by HEDDU on Mar 29 2026 06:56pm

Here are some gaming temps for whatever its worth. Please note this was NOT before a crash this was just gaming. I am still working on gaming with the HWMonitor up so that I can catch temps right before a crash but may take a day or two

I noticed one ssd runs hotter than the other although they are the exact same. Also the GPU is always above 80 degrees seems to peak around 85, but this was NOT right before a crash this was just gaming smoothly.

GPU also is frequently utilized to 100%

Will update vs this if i catch temps right before a crash




This post was edited by HEDDU on Mar 29 2026 06:59pm

Yes, I would swap the ram sticks to the other slots and then I would also look up to see if there is a newer bios version that you can update to

Okay I will swap the ram right now.

Where do you go to look up bios update? Like msi website? Or is there a program to do it through windows?

here is what the internet says about your mobo code 45.

Code 45 on an MSI MEG Z390 ACE motherboard typically indicates a post-memory initialization error, often related to faulty RAM, poor seating, or a BIOS issue. It signifies the system failed during the memory detection phase. Troubleshoot by testing single RAM sticks, clearing CMOS, or updating the BIOS.

Key Troubleshooting Steps for Code 45:
Reseat RAM: Remove all RAM sticks and test each stick individually in the DIMM A2 slot (second from the left) to rule out a faulty module or motherboard slot.

Clear CMOS: Disconnect power and remove the motherboard battery for 5-10 minutes to reset BIOS settings.

Check GPU: Ensure the graphics card is firmly seated, as this error can sometimes relate to PCIe device initialization.

Verify Connections: Check all PSU cables, particularly the 24-pin ATX and 8-pin CPU power, as improper seating can cause boot issues.

Disconnect USB Devices: Unplug all non-essential USB devices and drives, as a faulty USB device can freeze the POST process.

Also msi has an official website to download the bios for all their motherboards.

kk i will let you know when i am done doing all this

ok so I swapped the 2 sticks from a2 b2 to a1 b1, and so far I have not had a crash, but i have only had the comp on for like an hour. Another thing is the GPU seems to be running cooler, where it was almost 80+celsius all the time now it is running around 65. max temp over the past hour has been 71. Could that be an indication we are on the right track? edit - disregard temp thing, it is back to 80ish +

The bios came up when i first started the computer and was instructing me to move the ram back to a2 b2, it kept restarting until i selected to "change all settings to default settings". idk if that matters

This post was edited by HEDDU on Mar 30 2026 04:01pm

Yeah you might need to reset your cmos and bios to default since you moved your ram. Running it at a1b1 hopefully won’t cause issues after that…