Machine-check exception

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A machine check exception (MCE) is a type of computer error that occurs when a problem involving the computer's hardware is detected. With most mass-market personal computers, an MCE indicates faulty or misconfigured hardware.

The nature and causes of MCEs can vary by architecture and generation of system. In some designs, an MCE is always an unrecoverable error, that halts the machine, requiring a reboot. In other architectures, some MCEs may be non-fatal, such as for single-bit errors corrected by ECC memory. On some architectures, such as PowerPC, certain software bugs can cause MCEs, such as an invalid memory access. On other architectures, such as x86, MCEs typically originate from hardware only.