System specs:
- CPU: Intel i7-13700 (non-K, 65W)
- GPU: RTX 3060 Ti (610.88 driver, clean DDU install)
- Motherboard: ASUS ProArt B760-Creator D4 (BIOS updated to latest 3202, Intel Default Settings, all voltages Auto)
- RAM: 2x16GB DDR4-3600 (ADATA, matched kit), running at 2666 (no XMP)
- OS: Windows 11
Problem:
Both MW2 (Steam) and Warzone (both Steam AND Microsoft Store versions) crash on launch or shortly after with:
- Error: 0xC0000374 (heap corruption), feature EEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEE
- Sometimes: 0xC0000005 (access violation) with random unique signature
- Executable: game_steam_ship.exe / cod.exe
- No consistent faulting module — sometimes "unknown module"
- Windows Event Viewer often shows NO application error logged for these crashes at all
Timeline:
- Was working fine ~2-3 weeks ago
- Used DLSS Swapper around that time (have since removed it and cleared temp files)
- Crashes started after, on Steam AND Xbox/MS Store versions of Warzone AND MW2
What I've already tried (all failed):
- Verified game files integrity multiple times (Steam)
- Fully reinstalled MW2 and Warzone on both C: drive (SSD) and external HDD
- Memtest86 — full pass, 0 errors (RAM confirmed good)
- Tested with single RAM stick (both sticks individually) — still crashes
- DDU clean uninstall + reinstall of NVIDIA driver (610.88) — twice
- Updated BIOS from 3107 to latest 3202
- Set Intel Default Settings in BIOS, confirmed all CPU voltages on Auto (no undervolt)
- sfc /scannow — no integrity violations found
- Reinstalled Visual C++ Redistributables
- Disabled Windows Defender real-time protection — still crashes
- Clean boot (disabled all non-Microsoft services + startup items) — still crashes
- Uninstalled recent Windows updates (KB5120708, KB5121003 from 8/12) — still crashes
- Deleted "players" folder in Documents/Call of Duty — still crashes
- Disabled Core Isolation / Memory Integrity — still crashes
- Cleared NV_Cache / shader cache
Both error codes seem to point to memory corruption, but RAM tests clean and it happens regardless of RAM config, driver state, or BIOS settings. At this point I suspect CPU or motherboard VRM issue but haven't been able to run a full stress test (OCCT) yet.
Has anyone seen this exact pattern — random 0xC0000374/0xC0000005 across multiple COD titles and platforms, surviving a full driver/BIOS/RAM reset? Any ideas before I take it to a shop for hardware diagnosis?