I've been having a frustrating issue with my PC where it keeps freezing and unexpectedly restarting. It started this year, and I've had this system for about four years. Initially, the freezes would happen after I played several games, but I found that updating my GPU drivers helped for a short time—now it happens almost every day. I've checked the temperatures of my components, and everything seems fine, but I don't fully understand how to interpret those readings. The freezes typically occur after an hour or longer, but with the new game 'Dead by Daylight,' it restarts after just five minutes. I'm trying to figure out whether this is a hardware or software issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
First, what are the temperatures for your CPU and GPU? If they’re too high, it might be time to do a fresh install of Windows. If the temperature isn't the issue, then your GPU might be failing. Since you've had some success with updating your GPU drivers in the past, trying a clean uninstall can help. Boot into safe mode and use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to wipe the current drivers before reinstalling the latest version. It could be a quicker fix than a full Windows reinstall!
It sounds like the thermal paste on your CPU might need replacing, which could be causing overheating issues. It wouldn't hurt to inspect your GPU as well. Start by opening your case and cleaning out any dust—use an air blower if you can. Make sure all the fans are running smoothly and aren't blocked. If these steps don't help, consider buying some thermal paste for the CPU. There are plenty of tutorial videos that can guide you through the process, and if you're feeling confident, you might want to do the same for the GPU.
My temperatures for both the CPU and GPU are around 40°C when idle. I’ll give safe mode and DDU a shot to see if it makes a difference. Also, if I decide to do a fresh install of Windows, will a factory reset delete everything? That’s what I’ve been considering.