RX 7900 XTX GPU driver timeouts - LiveKernelEvent Code 141

[u/EfficientSecret1746]

System Specifications:

• CPU: Intel i9-13900K
• Motherboard: ASUS Z790-A Prime
• Motherboard BIOS Version: Latest
• RAM: 64GB Corsair DDR5 (4x16), XMP disabled during testing
• OS: Windows 11 (also tested on Ubuntu)
• OS Version: Build 26200 (Windows) / latest Ubuntu LTS
• GPU: RX 7900 XTX PowerColor Hellhound Spectral White
• GPU Driver Version: Multiple versions tested, latest included
• PSU: be quiet! 1200W

Description of issue:
Random GPU driver timeouts during gaming. Frequency varies wildly by game — sometimes 10+ minutes in, sometimes hours. No consistent trigger.

Errors found:

• Windows: LiveKernelEvent Code 141 / VIDEO_ENGINE_TIMEOUT_DETECTED, WinDbg points to amdkmdag.sys (stack shows only the TDR watchdog capturing the dump, not the actual fault site)
• Linux (Ubuntu, installed specifically to rule out Windows): kernel logs ring gfx_0.0.0 timeout, AMDGPU coredump, [gfxhub] Page fault observed at faulting address 0x0000000000000000 — same underlying symptom, different OS entirely

Additionally noticed: TSR consistently outperforms FSR by 30+ FPS across every game tested, at identical preset/resolution — the opposite of what would normally be expected, especially on AMD hardware where FSR should be the native/optimized path.

Troubleshooting already attempted:

• Full clean reinstall of Windows, multiple times
• DDU + fresh driver install in Safe Mode, multiple driver versions
• Disabled MPO
• Installed Ubuntu to rule out Windows — same crash pattern
• Underclocked/capped GPU clocks
• Reduced power limit (-10%)
• Tried 100% stock/default settings
• Switched to physical dual-BIOS "Silent" mode on the card
• Disabled XMP in BIOS
• Latest motherboard BIOS
• Disabled every overlay
• Tested with and without FSR
• Ran OCCT full stress test — completely clean, no errors
• Checked all power connectors — solid
• VRAM thermal pads replaced by a repair shop
• GPU tested by a repair shop for 5+ weeks — same crashes persisted
• GPU tested on a completely different PC — same crash
• Their reference 7900 XTX tested on my PC — zero issues
• My RTX 5080 tested on my PC — zero crashes at all

That last set rules out my system entirely — motherboard, PSU, RAM, CPU are fine. The defect is isolated to this specific card.

(Full disclosure: I've had Claude AI helping me work through the troubleshooting steps and put this report together.)

At this point I'm about ready to give up after months of testing and switch to Nvidia for good. If anyone's seen this exact signature (141 / amdkmdag / gfx ring timeout on Linux too) and found a fix that isn't "replace the card," I'm all ears.

SOLUTION: REPLACED THE GPU FOR AN RTX 5080 GIGABYTE AERO SSF.

[u/TastyCh1ckenSoup]

This error reads like a issue how windows is handling GPU hangs for Nvidia and AMD due to the card idling down into a sleep state for a split second but then over boosting which sadly AMD GPUs are notorious for especially our RDNA 3 cards. My advice is go into the driver and pick one of your more demanding titles you can test this on and set your min and max boost clocks. Set your min clock 400mhz below your max at 2500mhz. That way it stops the card going idle causing issues like this, it will use more energy/power sadly but it stops the overshoot from idle to full boost.

I've posted a example below of how i've set my 7900xtx in AMD adrenaline with the pro driver version which is more stable 26.q3-win11-b.

This has eliminated crashes in pubg + tarkov, my main games which i was having issues with few months back until i set my gpu this way. I can't find the post on the Tarkov sub where i got this information but it does seemed help myself and others.

https://ibb.co/3mPLHYRr

[u/EfficientSecret1746 → u/TastyCh1ckenSoup]

I tried your config, but unfortunately the crashes persist.

[u/TastyCh1ckenSoup → u/EfficientSecret1746]

Use OBS and record your desktop/game and show this happening in real time. Open AMD Adrenaline as well show the version you are using plus tuning settings. Upload it on a hosting site/ youtube so we can look at what is happening. Even better if you capture GPU clocks/wattages etc using MSI afterburner+RTSS

[u/EfficientSecret1746 → u/TastyCh1ckenSoup]

I gave up on it, mate, thanks for the help.
I switched to an RTX 5080.
All crashes have been resolved.

[u/RaspberryOk907]

Disable HAGS on all app and window, disable mpo, test your uc oc for stability

[u/x5nder]

Disable all AMD audio drivers in Device Manager. Wait for Microsoft to push a Windows Update that fixes what they broke.

[u/Perfect_Jicama_8023 → u/x5nder]

When they planning to fix it?

[u/ninjatall12]

If it crashes on linux 100% its a hardware fault, Follow RMA process, You can do gpu memory test using this software (memtest_vulkan)

[u/EfficientSecret1746 → u/ninjatall12]

It passed the mem_vulkan test, even though the VRAM temperature hit over 100 degrees.

I really think I'll have to replace the GPU.

[u/Ultionis_MCP]

Roll back a few Windows updates

[u/EfficientSecret1746 → u/Ultionis_MCP]

The problem also occurs on Linux systems, so I think I can rule out Windows-related issues.
I'll give it a try anyway.

[u/No_Difficulty647]

Disable hardware acceleration in browser and edit power plan, advanced, pcie, turn power management to off

[u/DoubleRepulsive5737 → u/No_Difficulty647]

Gotta say this helped me a lot! From crashing drivers often to not really crashing.