I MIGHT try switching to the onboard sound, I have a Toslink cable around here someplace, but my speakers are nowhere near the quality of yours, I have the z906's, but they do sound awesome with this AE-7.  Although I really don't have any issues with the soundcard or the software at all actually the sound is pristine. All of my BSOD's seem to come random and only when installing drivers (or firmware type stuff) of certain types.
 
 The last time I thought I had this figured out I have everything out of the PC (or unplugged) except the DVD ROM, and it wasn't until I removed it that things started working normally.  
 
It seems that if I remove everything and, I mean EVERY THING (including all drives except for my 2 M.2's), windows works normally, and I can install and uninstall any driver I choose at will.
 
 BUT, I might try the onboard sound, just to make sure.  I don't think it will hurt anything to try right?  I mean I can always go back to the Creative card if the onboard sucks for me?
 
thanks for the tip.

my guess is that the BSODs are on the hardware side and the creative soundcard is tossing a wrench h into the PCIE bus.  and that sound card might have been fine on pre PCIe 4.0 capable motherboards.....
 
it shouldn't matter, but like i said, with creative stuff i start there.  

one last suggestion Jim.  a few of us noticed with the z590s and a top tier gen 4 m.2 running the OS, that having FASTBOOT enabled in the bios was actually TOO FAST and the driver stack was getting jammed.  
 
I have fastboot disabled on every machine in this house and it is a good trouble shooting step.   especially with your build.  lots of odd issues disappeared with fastboot off.   (fastboot is trash anyway)

 Actually I had suspected that and I have fast boot turned off, I also bought a second M.2, I bought a Samsung and put it in the first slot, I put the other OS drive in the second slot, So the OS is now in the second slot and MSFS 2020 is on the one in the first slot. I also made sure the firmware was updated on both drives, **the WD (OS drive) did require a firmware update**, the Samsung is fine.
 
 I still think this is a Windows 11 incompatible driver someplace, I mean all of the drivers for my dark board (AND creative sound card) are Windows 10 only. and they "should work" but remember, I installed windows 11 raw.
 
Other than the driver thing the system runs like a scalded dawg, I was playing STALKER Lost Alpha yesterday and I played for like 8 hours straight, with no issues....So I don't know this is a crazy problem, but I turned on Intel Adaptive Speed Boost Tech? last night in BIOS and it locked in Cinebench within 5 seconds, it WAS trying to run all cores at 5.1g though and I didn't tweak the voltage properly and am running my ram in Gear 1 so, that is really just my screw up, I just wanted to see what it would do...lol
Got a dump file on that one though....hehe
 
I had to order a new Toslink cable as the one I was looking for is hooked to my TV, so it will be here Saturday I think, I'm gonna try to change the sound card next, I will let you know what happens....and I hope the sound doesn't suck.

Just spotted this on my nightly search of the web for ANYONE else with this issue, not sure if it's the same exact issue as mine, but it sure sounds like it's in the same ballpark, Dated Nov 19th 2021:
 
Microsoft confirms Windows 11 new issues: BSOD and app crashes (windowslatest.com)
 
Microsoft has confirmed two new issues in the operating system: Blue Screen of Death caused by compatibility issues with Intel driver and Microsoft Installer (MSI) failure affecting app updates or repair.
Windows 11 BSOD has been caused by Intel SST drivers, though the bug is only affecting folk using certain versions of Intel SST drivers. Microsoft says version 10.29.0.5152 and earlier or 10.30.0.5152 of Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) are particularly affected by Blue Screen errors.
 
 Thankfully, Microsoft is working with Intel on a new version of drivers compatible with Windows 11. For now, Microsoft has now placed an upgrade block on affected PCs and suggested users to update drivers as soon as possible. If the driver update is not offered by OEM, you should install it manually from Intel’s website.
 
 
I should have installed windows 10.....

hmmm smart sound technology?  not sure if I have that on my 11 system.

 I know, neither do I, but sometimes these things take time to develop into what the entire problem is, I'm thinking that intel needs to redo all of their drivers for windows 11, but the issues won't be fully recognized until it becomes a full-fledged issue for millions.
 BUT, so many people right now are "upgrading" to Windows 11 instead of installing it raw from a disk or flash drive, this doesn't seem to cause the same issue as the drivers are installed under windows 10. What difference does this make?? I can't be sure.
 
 As I said, I'm not a software guy so I can only use the information that I am observing from trying to cure my own ills, BUT, I have quite a few links of people with 590/11900k/windows 11 systems and WHEA errors and BSOD's that can't figure out any rhyme or reason, many newly built pc's.
 
 I think the only way for me to truly test my theory is to somehow install windows 10 on this hardware and test it out in a windows 10 environment OR to wait for windows 11 to mature. I may do this at a later date, I just don't have enough time right now to reinstall EVERY thing I just spent weeks installing, and pulling those M.2's out from that thermal paste/pad scares the crap outta me. 
 
Anyways, I'm gonna keep an eye on this and see how it developes.
 
In the meantime, I'll just unplug everything to update my drivers I guess.... lol

rblaes_99
my guess is that the BSODs are on the hardware side and the creative soundcard is tossing a wrench h into the PCIE bus.  and that sound card might have been fine on pre PCIe 4.0 capable motherboards.....
 
it shouldn't matter, but like i said, with creative stuff i start there.  

 Ok, I got a new Toslink cable over the weekend and thought I would wait a while till it hard locked on me again, well that time was tonight, it locked while I was trying to update to the new Nvidia driver......  BSOD with no log file created, a total hard lock. After running flawlessly since the last time I tried updating a driver/iCUE....
 
 SO, I yanked the creative card out and set the onboard sound to enabled, rebooted and hooked it up with the optical cable.
 
 So far, I was able to install the audio drivers from the EVGA website, AND the new Nvidia driver with no issues, and, so far, Alice in Chains sounds pretty dang good through this cable and the old Z906's soooo....we shall see.
 
BTW I have the 12900k overclocked, stable and running cool 24/7, memory at 3600 XMP 1, Gear 1, running like a bat outta hell!!  Plays every game I throw at it in full detail, so I am fully convinced it's not the CPU or memory.
 
I'm NOT going to say just yet that this is it and I will have no more problems, but I HOPE so!!
 
 

Take that creative sound card to the gun range, pack tannerite around it, shoot it with 12 gauge dragons breath rounds ....

I love the optical sound output on dolby dts sources. Cant beat it.

 Well, it blue screened again, this time when trying to update iCUE software.  and again I let it sit for 30 mins, and when I rebooted iCUE was updated....makes NO sense at all.
 
 I'm about done messing with this pc, I think I'm gonna call it a loss and try another board, I GUESS I could wait to see if windows 11 is ever properly finished, OR install windows 10....or never try to update any drivers again...lol.  I guess as long as I can get video driver updates to install I can use the PC normally, I just don't like to have these kinds of problems, they drive me nuts.
 
I don't know, but thanks to everyone for trying to help.  BUT at least I know it's not the Creative sound card.