Hi, as per title :-

I have MSFS2024 since Jan'25 and have never been able to complete a flight due to a complete PC crash/lockup
which results in me having to power down (physically removing power) and reboot to recover.

I also have MSFS2020 and I can have that running for as long as I like without any hard/soft crashes.

MSFS2024 may crash in 5 mins or 25 mins but it will crash.
I have tried every version including all betas and all have shown this behaviour.

I have tried running virgin setups ( no addons whatsoever ), latest video drivers, older video drivers, run MS file validation, un-installed it, re-installed it, changed drives, default bios settings, ReBar on/off etc. but still the same. Hard lock up at any time, no pattern whatsoever. Happens no matter what plane I'm flying or wherever I am flying it.

I run the flight sim in 1920X1080 and medium graphic settings so generally only about 6-7Gb (max) of video ram used.

All temperatures OK and no where near the max power draw either. (650W PSU)
I can run OOCT for hours and not one error.

This is doing my head in, I do not get spurious crashes running anything else.

Any pointers gratefully accepted, cheers!

Hardware as Below :-

HOME-PC -------------------------------------------------------------------

 [Current Computer]
  Computer Name:                          HOME-PC
  Computer Description:                   Home-PC
  Computer Brand Name:                    GIGABYTE B550M DS3H
 [Operating System]
  Operating System:                       Microsoft Windows 11 Professional (x64) Build 26100.4946 (24H2)
  UEFI Boot:                              Present
  Secure Boot:                            Disabled
  Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI): Disabled

Central Processor(s) ------------------------------------------------------

 [CPU Unit Count]
  Number Of Processor Packages (Physical): 1
  Number Of Processor Cores:              16
  Number Of Logical Processors:           32

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X ---------------------------------------------------------

 [General Information]
  Processor Name:                         AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
  Original Processor Frequency:           3400.0 MHz
  Original Processor Frequency [MHz]:     3400
  CPU ID:                                 00A20F12
  Extended CPU ID:                        00A20F12
  CPU Brand Name:                         AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-Core Processor
  CPU Vendor:                             AuthenticAMD
  CPU Stepping:                           VMR-B2
  CPU Code Name:                          Vermeer
  CPU Technology:                         7 nm
  
Motherboard ---------------------------------------------------------------

 [Computer]
  Computer Brand Name:                    GIGABYTE B550M DS3H
 [Motherboard]
  Motherboard Model:                      GIGABYTE B550M DS3H
  Motherboard Chipset:                    AMD B550 (Promontory PROM19 C/C1)
  Motherboard Slots:                      1xPCI Express x1, 1xPCI Express x2, 1xPCI Express x4, 1xPCI Express x8, 1xPCI Express x16
  PCI Express Version Supported:          v4.0
  USB Version Supported:                  v3.1
 [BIOS]
  BIOS Manufacturer:                      American Megatrends International, LLC.
  BIOS Date:                              04/11/2024
  BIOS Version:                           F20a
  UEFI BIOS:                              Capable
  Super-IO/LPC Chip:                      ITE IT8688E/BX
  Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Chip:     Hardware TPM, version 2.0

  System Manufacturer:                    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
  Product Name:                           B550M DS3H
  Product Version:                        
  Product Serial Number:                  
  UUID:                                   {03C00218-044D-0568-F206-BE0700080009}
  SKU Number:                             
  Family:                                 B550 MB

 

Memory --------------------------------------------------------------------

 [General Information]
  Total Memory Size:                      64 GBytes
  Total Memory Size [MB]:                 65536
 [Current Performance Settings]
  Maximum Supported Memory Clock:         Unlimited
  Current Memory Clock:                   1796.8 MHz
  Current Timing (tCAS-tRCD-tRP-tRAS):    18-22-22-42
  Memory Channels Supported:              2
  Memory Channels Active:                 2
  Command Rate (CR):                      1T
  
Video Adapter -------------------------------------------------------------

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 ---------------------------------------------------

 [Video Chipset]
  Video Chipset:                          NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
  Video Chipset Codename:                 GA106-302 (LHR)
  Video Memory:                           12288 MBytes of GDDR6 SDRAM [Hynix]
 [Video Card]
  Video Card:                             Zotac RTX 3060 AMP Twin Edge OC LHR
  Video Bus:                              PCIe v4.0 x16 (16.0 GT/s) @ x16 (8.0 GT/s)
  GPU Type:                               Discrete
  Video RAMDAC:                           Integrated RAMDAC
  Video BIOS Version:                     94.06.2f.00.80 [UEFI]
  Video Chipset Revision:                 A1
 [Performance]
  Graphics Processor Clock:               1807.0 MHz
  Video Unit Clock:                       1590.0 MHz
  Graphics Memory Clock:                  1875.2 MHz (Effective 15002.0 MHz)
  Graphics Memory Bus Width:              192-bit
  Number Of ROPs:                         48
  Number Of Unified Shaders:              3584
  Number Of Ray Tracing Cores:            28
  Number Of Tensor Cores:                 112
  Number Of TMUs (Texture Mapping Units): 112
  ASIC Manufacturer:                      Samsung
  

 

 

Edited August 25, 2025Aug 25 by Sparkrite

Does OOCT do a strenuous memory test? If it doesn't, try running a MemTest separately of OOCT.

You obviously have 2x32 RAM sticks. Try removing one of them and try 2024. Then try swapping them over. You can run 2024 on a single 32.

Also I see that you are running at 3600mhz. Is your ram rated as 3600?

10 minutes ago, abrams_tank said:

Does OOCT do a strenuous memory test? If it doesn't, try running a MemTest separately of OOCT.

I have used AVX2 in OOCT which fairly hammers the CPU and Ram for upto 2 hours and all well.

Cheers.

Just now, bailout said:

You obviously have 2x32 RAM sticks. Try removing one of them and try 2024. Then try swapping them over. You can run 2024 on a single 32.

Also I see that you are running at 3600mhz. Is your ram rated as 3600?

Good idea, I must try that.

Yep, mem is rated at 3600mhz.

I can't remember now whether the Ryzen 5000 series was officially rated to run 3600 or just 3200 but usually would cope with higher rated memory. Either way the other thing to try would be dropping the memory speed down to 3200 and seeing if that is stable.

It could absolutely be a memory issue.  I'd try the boot version of MemTest - and let it run as long as it needs.  That's how I found a stick of ram was bad in my secondary PC.

When you fire the PC back up after hard reboot, what does your OS event log say around just before it crashed?

Turn off SMT and test a flight again.

Check PCIe cards are fully slotted into the PCIe slots.

Check all your power connectors to GPU and motherboard are fully seated … look for receptors in the plugs that might have pushed up.  Make sure you’re running both CPU power connectors to the Motherboard as well as the main motherboard power connection.

You don’t mention what your GPU, CPU, chipset temps are … use HWINFO64 to monitor.

Use RTSS with Afterburner to setup overlay so you can monitor temps, frequency, power, clocks etc. while flying in MSFS 2024.

650W PSU is weak, recommend 850W min for that configuration.

EDIT: and the usual OS checks, sfc /scannow, DISM, etc.

Edited August 26, 2025Aug 26 by SayAgain

7 hours ago, bailout said:

I can't remember now whether the Ryzen 5000 series was officially rated to run 3600 or just 3200 but usually would cope with higher rated memory. Either way the other thing to try would be dropping the memory speed down to 3200 and seeing if that is stable.

When researching a memory upgrade for my 58003DX system the conclusion I got was that 3200 is stable, but while 3600 *should* work it gave problems in some scenarios.  

 

17 hours ago, bailout said:

I can't remember now whether the Ryzen 5000 series was officially rated to run 3600 or just 3200 but usually would cope with higher rated memory. Either way the other thing to try would be dropping the memory speed down to 3200 and seeing if that is stable.

Was that not just with the Ryzen 5's or do you mean all the 5000's ? Anyway dropped mem speed to 3000mhz and still the same unfortunately.

10 hours ago, SayAgain said:

Turn off SMT and test a flight again.

Tried it, besides a bit more stuttering it also crashed.

10 hours ago, SayAgain said:

You don’t mention what your GPU, CPU, chipset temps are … use HWINFO64 to monitor.

All temps. are fine, nothing over 75 - 80C and no screaming fans.

10 hours ago, SayAgain said:

Use RTSS with Afterburner to setup overlay so you can monitor temps, frequency, power, clocks etc. while flying in MSFS 2024.

Looks like that will be my next step, good advice, thanks.

10 hours ago, SayAgain said:

650W PSU is weak, recommend 850W min for that configuration.

I did a few of the online sites that supposedly work out your required PSU and they came back with 400-450W I have nearly 50% more.

Going to start moving the memory sticks about and see what happens..........

Thanks to all for your advice, will report back.

OK, looks like I may have stumbled on something, YAY!

Went to swap out the mem sticks and noticed something when I went to release the second one, wasn't 100% sure, but it just seemed like it unlocked a bit too easily.

Anyway cleaned the contacts and reseated them and MSFS2024 had been running for over an hour now.

Don't think it ever did before so fingers crossed it behaves itself now. Very strange the difference though between 2020 and 2024 on the same machine.

Also very strange that it 'passed' all that OOCT threw at it.

3 hours ago, Sparkrite said:

I did a few of the online sites that supposedly work out your required PSU and they came back with 400-450W I have nearly 50% more.

I don't know your sources, but based on limited information of your system:

142W CPU
170W GPU
20W 2X32GB DDR
20W M.2 NVMe (each) assume two?
14W Motherboard (could very pending USB connectivity)

366W under load (aka MSFS 2024 flight)

Rule of thumb for PSU is double your expect max loads so 732W 

I doubt a partial RAM insert would work well with Prime95, not sure about OOCT ... surprised it didn't failed on boot unless you disable RAM check?  Also wouldn't explain why MSFS 2020 works without issue ... are you sure we're getting all the story here?

But fingers crossed you have no more issues.

 

52 minutes ago, SayAgain said:

Rule of thumb for PSU is double your expect max loads so 732W 

Didn't know that, but not far off it with 650W.

53 minutes ago, SayAgain said:

I doubt a partial RAM insert would work well with Prime95, not sure about OOCT ... surprised it didn't failed on boot unless you disable RAM check?  Also wouldn't explain why MSFS 2020 works without issue ... 

Absolutely agree, I cant understand it either.

54 minutes ago, SayAgain said:

are you sure we're getting all the story here?

Not 100% sure what you mean by this, but if you are inferring that I may be holding back some info (for whatever reason) then I can assure you I most certainly am not, at least not purposely or anything that I feel may be relevant.

I only tried it for a little over an hour earlier, so may well be a little premature to say the problem is solved.

Check your sound settings in MSFS. If it's set to "default", change it! Make sure both mic and headset settings are identical in MSFS. On my 2024 this is the most likely issue that causes CTD, screen freezes, controller freezes.

Open Control Panel (not Windows settings), Device manager. Under Human Interface Devices and also under USB check the Properties | Power Management of everything in those 2 long lists. Make sure that not a single box is checked to allow windows to turn this device off. This has always been the second most common source of these types of errors in both 2020 and 2024 msfs for me.

On 8/26/2025 at 7:39 PM, Sparkrite said:

I only tried it for a little over an hour earlier, so may well be a little premature to say the problem is solved.

Unfortunately as it turns out I did speak too soon !!

Continues to full crash/lock system and having to power down to recover.

Looked further and discovered that I only have a EVGA 600W PSU, I thought I had a 650W. 

Anyway have a 850W Corsair on the way, fingers crossed this cures it.

Will keep you posted, as they say.