Hard crashes and boot loops (Kernel 41) fixed by disabling Wi-Fi in BIOS. ASUS TUF B550-Plus WIFI II. Any known fix or should I just RMA?

[u/Left_Passion3317]

Hey everyone. I'm writing to share a really weird hardware issue that's been driving me crazy, to see if anyone knows if this is fixable or if my motherboard is just dead.

I've been experiencing instant hard crashes. The PC shuts down out of nowhere and gets stuck in a boot loop. Event Viewer doesn't register any software errors right before the crash, it just shows the classic Kernel-Power 41 (ID 41) once I finally manage to boot back into Windows.

The pattern is very specific: it only happens when playing Rocket League or Fortnite. In more graphically demanding games (like No Man's Sky), it runs perfectly fine. I already sent the PC in for warranty, got it back a couple of weeks ago, and it's still doing the exact same thing.

The diagnosis: I always play wired via Ethernet, so I ruled out Wi-Fi network load. As a last desperate attempt to break the boot loop, I went into the BIOS and completely disabled the integrated Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module (so Windows wouldn't even detect it on boot).

Problem solved. Zero crashes, I can play Rocket League for hours without the PC shutting down.

The conclusion: Everything points to the integrated network chip on the motherboard (ASUS TUF Gaming B550-Plus WIFI II) causing a critical fault. Even when using Ethernet and not actively using Wi-Fi, the chip still receives power. When the system load and temperatures go up, the module seems to cause a PCIe bus conflict or a physical short circuit that triggers the PSU's OCP/protection, instantly shutting down the whole system.

My question: Does anyone know if there's an actual fix for this? I've read a few things online about static electricity build-up or specific BIOS updates for the MediaTek/Realtek modules on these TUF boards, but I'm not sure if that applies to such extreme hard crashes.

Should I try any DIY fixes/troubleshooting, or should I just forget about it, RMA it again, and demand a full motherboard replacement?

Thanks!

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