Crashing to desktop

[Rihani]

Crashing to desktop

For a while now the game is crashing randomly to the desktop on me. I could be playing for a few minutes or for an hour, and suddenly, back to the desktop with no warning. It seems to be happening more as time goes by. The game does generate a crash log which I have included below. I have verified file integrity in Steam and I am using Radeon Crimson 16.11.5 until AMD decides to fix the issue that has been happening in subsequent updates whereby I cannot change the memory clock below the default 1500MHz (I like to set it to 150MHz when idling on the desktop for cooler temperatures). So a newer driver is something I want to avoid until that is fixed.

My specs are -

i5 4690K
16GB DDR3
Radeon R9 390X
MSI Z97 Gaming 5
Sound Blaster Z
EVGA 750W B2
Windows 10 Pro x64

Frame rate set to unlimited, monitor at 144Hz using FreeSync. I don't have any mods installed.

Spoiler

Red Engine Crash Log
--------------------------------------
Build: Not Set [ Compiled Sep 5 2016 ]

User: Azhrei

Crash reason: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (3221225477), Error reading location 0xfffffffc

Crashed Thread:

Thread ID: 4792

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x73792e - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x7422e3 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x5b464 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xa9714 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x5b659 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xa9595 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xa9d30 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::System::~System() + 0x3bfb20 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x5b42e - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xa9714 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xa9f94 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x5b92f - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x10562c - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xff3e5 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x17a513 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x307ab0 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x873a4d - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x8764b1 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x7fe9e7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x7fec12 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x6e85af - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x2242f3 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x225640 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x11088d - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x6e72e4 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0xc85c6 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xeeff4 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0xc387a - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xef2f7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x11d6 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x424dd - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x162f - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x18fc - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x23d838 - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

Debug Information
================================================== ==============

Commandline: "D:\Game Services\Steam\steamapps\common\The Witcher 3\bin\x64\witcher3.exe"

Thread ID: 8808

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb95437 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xba4a80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 3044

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xe3e52 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb0d96 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb0ad1 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb2353 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x82f8c - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xba4a80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 3488

callstack:
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 3068

callstack:
DllUnregisterServer() + 0x45ad - <Unknown File>(0)
DllUnregisterServer() + 0x48a6 - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6576

callstack:
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 2136

callstack:
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6508

callstack:
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 9056

callstack:
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6012

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xba4a80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 7204

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xba4a80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6736

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xba4a80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6348

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xba4a80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6500

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xba4a80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 744

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x854642 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x855729 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x851648 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb1c3a9 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb1c1c8 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb1b96c - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb45681 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x823c0d - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb1cb7f - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb45681 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb1b94f - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x823c0d - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb1cb7f - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb1b94f - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x1acadb - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x8597d1 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x8597d1 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x85afb9 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x863241 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x76acf9 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x30774d - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xb6ea1d - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xbdc0d - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xba4a80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6920

callstack:
Scaleform::System::~System() + 0x7f12f7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::System::~System() + 0x7f13b0 - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6696

callstack:
Scaleform::System::~System() + 0x7f12f7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::System::~System() + 0x7f13b0 - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6636

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 5584

callstack:
AmdDxGsaFreeCompiledShader() + 0x5246ae - <Unknown File>(0)
AmdDxGsaFreeCompiledShader() + 0x52348f - <Unknown File>(0)
AmdLiquidVrD3D11WrapDeviceContext() + 0x8c7b - <Unknown File>(0)
AmdLiquidVrD3D11WrapDeviceContext() + 0x8e22 - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 9036

callstack:
AmdDxGsaFreeCompiledShader() + 0x35130 - <Unknown File>(0)
AmdDxGsaFreeCompiledShader() + 0x34ac9 - <Unknown File>(0)
AmdLiquidVrD3D11WrapDeviceContext() + 0x8c7b - <Unknown File>(0)
AmdLiquidVrD3D11WrapDeviceContext() + 0x8e22 - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 8644

callstack:
AmdDxGsaFreeCompiledShader() + 0x35130 - <Unknown File>(0)
AmdDxGsaFreeCompiledShader() + 0x34ac9 - <Unknown File>(0)
AmdLiquidVrD3D11WrapDeviceContext() + 0x8c7b - <Unknown File>(0)
AmdLiquidVrD3D11WrapDeviceContext() + 0x8e22 - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 2612

callstack:
DirectInput8Create() + 0xcbdb - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 4580

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 5908

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 7252

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 8108

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6788

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6772

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 6640

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 5024

callstack:
DllUnregisterServer() + 0x45ad - <Unknown File>(0)
DllUnregisterServer() + 0x48a6 - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 3960

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xba4a80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Thread ID: 8448

callstack:
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0x5fa345 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix4x4<float>::SetIdentity() + 0xba4a80 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x245ee7 - <Unknown File>(0)
Scaleform::Render::Matrix2x4<float>:repend() + 0x24608e - <Unknown File>(0)
BaseThreadInitThunk() + 0x22 - <Unknown File>(0)
RtlUserThreadStart() + 0x34 - <Unknown File>(0)

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

Game

Last opened world: novigrad.w2w

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

Game

Last opened world: novigrad.w2w

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

Any help would be great!

 

[Rihani]

Anyone care to hazard a guess?

 

[SigilFey]

Looks like you've got a driver issue. Can you first try using Display Driver Uninstaller to gut Radeon files from your system, then install the latest Radeon Reference Drivers using the CLEAN installation option.

 

[Rihani]

Well, that just made everything worse.

I uninstalled, ran ddu and installed the latest driver, 17.2.1. Still unable to change memory clock to anything below 1500MHz (sigh...) The first thing I did was run Witcher 3 - in game, fps ran at a maximum of about 19fps with serious stuttering, so I quit back out, uninstalled the driver and downloaded and ran the latest version of ddu this time.

Again I re-installed, didn't touch Wattman this time and tried Witcher 3. Afterburner showed a ridiculous 2000+fps while on the menu despite a forced limit of 143fps in Crimson. Even just on the menu, the stuttering was visible. In-game, fps went up to about 60fps but the stuttering remained. Curious, I ran World of Warships. Exact same thing, horrible stuttering despite it running at around 70fps.

At this point, I'm giving up and going back to 16.11.5. Witcher 3 may crash occasionally at least it plays properly, though what possible reasons a driver as late as 16.11.5 could cause issues with a game not patched in so long is beyond me, especially when no significant number of people are claiming the same.

 

[SigilFey]

Reading through all of this again, I am now a little confused. Not sure exactly what it is you're trying to do, but let me clarify a few things that may be causing you issues:

1.) Do not "underclock" hardware. Serious issues can arise one of two ways: either hardware has too much voltage / heat and becomes unstable...or hardware receives too little voltage and begins to brown out. Both can actually result in similar damage when the current / circuit is broken and electricity "flies free".

2.) For games like TW3, you do NOT want to run the game with unlimited FPS. The game relies on specific frame timings to execute functions that have nothing to do with FPS, like PhysX calculations and sound sync. If you drop way below or rise way above 30-60 FPS, you can wind up with performance issues. Save "blazing" FPS for games like shooters, racers, and simulations that may benefit from the added frame calculations. In general, though, the only popular game on the market right now that benefits from unlimited frames (that I'm aware of) is Counterstrike. Any other game may "feel" smoother, but you are largely cooking your GPU for no actual in-game impact.

3.) Try setting all Radeon Control Panel settings to defaults, and setting all TW3 settings to defaults / auto-detect. Begin a brand new game for troubleshooting purposes. See if the stutter continues under those conditions. Post back with results.