Memory access violation errors in Chrome and applications with CEF on a newly built machine

loonks · November 21, 2023

Hi everyone!

I've helped my friend building a new machine, and for the two days we are puzzled with Chrome (and other Blink-based browsers like Edge) and applications with bundled CEF (Chromium Embedded Framework) crashing with a memory access violation errors.

We believe that it's a hardware problem somewhere between CPU and Motherboard (and most likely also some sort of bug in Chrome/CEF), because there is several posts about similar issue and their authors reported that playing with OC settings helped them, and because of the troubleshooting steps we've already taken.

Config:

- Ryzen 7 5800X

- MSI MPG B550 GAMING PLUS

- Seasonic GC-850 PSU

- Kingston Fury KF436C18BBK2/32 2x16GB Kit

- Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 GAMING OC 12G

What we have tried:

- Clean Windows 10 Pro install; updating it

- Clean Windows 11 Pro install; updating it

- Updated AMD chipset drivers manually

- Updated Realtek LAN interface drivers; unplugging LAN cable and trying to run affected application, because at first I thought that this problem is caused by applications that access network, but not confirmed

- Enabling/disabling XMP

- Moving memory sticks between slots, trying both sticks separately in different slots

- Replacing memory with a different kit from another machine, with and without XMP

- Reseating the CPU

- memtest86+, no errors

- OCCT memory stress test (default parameters), everything is fine

- OCCT CPU stress test, everything is fine

- Updating BIOS

- Clearing CMOS

- Disabling/changing parameters of Precision Boost Overdrive in BIOS

- "Optimizing OC curve" via Ryzen Master

- Auto-OC in Ryzen Master

- Disabling/reenabling GPU hardware scheduling in Windows

What we are planning to try:

- Borrowing a 5600X from another friend of ours

- Putting that 5800X into the machine of the same friend

What has problems:

- Microsoft Edge (Blink-based browser): tabs crashed with STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION on a clean Windows 10 install almost instantly, sometimes CTD

- Latest version of Google Chrome: tabs sometimes crashing with STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION, sometimes CTD

- Steam: UI process crashes, no events in windows event viewer, but background processes runs fine

- Deep Rock Galactic: Unreal Engine game with a bundled CEF, CTD when loading the game/couple of seconds after loading the game, 0xc0000005 in Windows Event Viewer

- Blazing Sails: also Unreal Engine with CEF, crashes when joining multiplayer session, fine in singleplayer tutorial, CTD with the same error

What does not have problems:

- Discord: electron-based app

- Cookie Clicker: also runs chromium inside

- Astroneer: Unreal Engine game, but without bundled CEF

- Cyberpunk 2077, almost max settings, runs fine, built-in benchmark is fine

- Several different games that he tried without me around, runs fine for hours

- System stability overall is great, no BSODs, no troubles except this one

Different posts with the same problem from ltt forum and reddit:

- https://linustechtips.com/topic/1524891-discord-and-chrome-crashing-along-with-other-instabilities/

- https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/17zwwqc/need_help_with_0xc0000005/

- https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/14hbxjy/access_violation_c0000005_error_in_multiple/

It would be a royal PITA to RMA that CPU or Motherboard, because both of them was purchased online and have to be sent back, so if there is any more troubleshooting steps that we can do without issuing a replacement, would greatly appreciate any help!