My RX 4070 HP Victus system is always crashing when I start certain games or begin any from the menu

[CuddlyHusky]

Whilst I first had hte laptop, too, I kept having WATCHDOG VIOLATION hard crashes,  but I could ignore these as they were only a few times per day as negligible. Yet, the issue seems to have worsened and changed in the description? I've tried multiple GPU driver versions, updating BIOS, cleaning laptop vents/ports and also resetting Windows, but the issue is the same. The same issue is also identical in the Event Viewer since 2026 (which is also when my warranty just expired - no viable option there):

The description for Event ID 153 from source nvlddmkm cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.

If the event originated on another computer, the display information had to be saved with the event.

The following information was included with the event:

\Device\Video6
Restarting TDR occurred on GPUID:100

Since I purchased my laptop, I also had squiggly lines spreading everywhere whilst gaming (randomly) and flashing intensely - easily solved by just replugging the laptop, reoccurring maybe every 40 - 50 minutes but tolerable from the aforementioned solution. I have no idea whether or not it's connected to the issue and it's since escalated? Furthermore, if I unplug the power, games are absolutely fine to boot up and run, but they run at extremely reduced FPS, etc? HONESTLY, I'm very frustrated, I've owned 5+ gaming laptops/desktops and never, ever had such issues incessantly - literally tried every imaginable solution and anything done seems to be temporary (or random with the issue arbitrarily ceasing for a while).

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @CuddlyHusky,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

I understand how frustrating this must be, especially since you have already tried different GPU driver versions, updated the BIOS, cleaned the vents, and reset Windows without resolving the crashes.

The WATCHDOG VIOLATION errors, NVIDIA nvlddmkm Event ID 153 with a TDR restart, and graphical artifacts during gaming are important symptoms.

Could you please confirm the following?

What is your Victus laptop's full model name or product number, and which NVIDIA GPU is installed? You mentioned “RX 4070." Did you mean RTX 4070?

Are you using the original HP AC adapter supplied with the laptop? Does the adapter's wattage match the specification for your exact model?

When a game crashes on AC power, does the laptop restart completely, show a blue screen, freeze, or return to the desktop?

When the squiggly lines appear, do they also appear in screenshots, or are they visible only on the physical display? Does reconnecting the adapter still temporarily resolve them?

Have you run HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI since these symptoms worsened? If any test failed, please share the 24-digit Failure ID.

Do the crashes occur with every game, or only specific games? Do they happen immediately at launch or after playing for a while?

In the meantime, please try this check:

With the laptop connected to the original HP AC adapter, press Esc repeatedly at startup, then press F2 to open HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI.

Run the available system tests, followed by the extensive test if the initial tests pass. Record any failure ID. 

HP explains this procedure in its hardware diagnostics guide.

Since you have already reset Windows and updated the BIOS and graphics drivers, I would not recommend repeating those steps at this stage.

Please share the requested details so we can determine the appropriate next steps.

Best regards,
Kuroi_Kenshi

[harpor32]

Recurring performance issues can be frustrating, especially when the usual troubleshooting steps only provide temporary relief. I think systematic testing is important when diagnosing problems, because symptoms that look similar can have different underlying causes. The same principle applies to website optimization: monitoring performance, identifying bottlenecks, and testing changes individually can help prevent recurring problems and provide a smoother experience for users, particularly on mobile devices.

[CuddlyHusky]

Sorry, I meant RTX 4060, my model is 15-fb2xxx! I'm using the original adapter, too, and no modification to that or tuning voltages of any component.

Regarding the crashes, it's usually freezing the system - everything slows down and it'll either proceed to WATCHDOG VIOLATION or force me to manually hard restart. As for the spaghetti flashing lines since purchase, which I've tolerated as they've been easily resolved from reconnecting or alt-tabbing, it does indeed appear on screenshots/recordings - it's still easily managed compared to the crashes as I begin sessions.

I've ran full long diagnostics for hardware and the results indicated everything is fine. Games provoking both issues are absolutely random and I've yet to discern a clear pattern.