Lately, my PC has been randomly shutting down without any warning, not even a blue screen. It started while I was playing Monster Hunter Wilds, which tends to have performance issues, so I brushed it off at first. However, it has now happened while just browsing the web and even right after booting up to the desktop, which makes me think there's a serious problem. I've checked the event viewer and see Critical error 41 linked to these shutdowns, but nothing specific leading up to them. Initially, I suspected my AIO pump might be malfunctioning, but the BIOS shows the temperature rising slightly before stabilizing, and the pump seems to be functioning (RPM is maxed out in BIOS and on fan control). What steps should I take to diagnose this issue? Here's my build: Asus Prime X670E Pro Wifi motherboard, Ryzen 9 7900x, XFX Speedster Merc310 RX 7900 XTX, 64GB Gskill Trident Z5 Neo 6000mhz RAM (2x32GB), Corsair RM1000e PSU, and a Crucial 2TB m.2 SSD.
6 Answers
Using hardware monitoring software to log your voltages and temperatures can give you insights into what's going wrong. Set it to record every 15-30 seconds, but limit it to the last ten minutes of data to keep it manageable. This info could be key in figuring out the issue.
Configure your fans via the BIOS or use software like SpeedFan to monitor them. This could help rule out overheating. Also, make sure your RAM is running at optimal speeds; consider trying a slightly lower speed just to be safe.
Try running 'Heavy Load' for about 5 minutes to see if your PC crashes. You can also monitor real-time temps with Core Temp and GPU Temp to get a clearer picture of what's happening. Heavy Load has options to stress various components, so use it to test your system under pressure!
Getting dump files can help analyze BSODs more accurately. If you can boot into Windows, try checking C:WindowsMinidump for any dump files. If you find some, zip them up and upload them to a file-sharing site. Multiple dump files would be best for a proper diagnosis.
Have you checked the thermal paste on your CPU? If it's getting old, it might not be effective anymore. Since you built the system in mid-2023, it might be worth considering reapplying it if you see any signs of overheating.
It sounds like overheating might be a possibility. If it stays on long enough, use a tool like Core Temp to check CPU temperatures. Just be careful when running demanding applications; keep an eye on those temps!
I guess it could be an issue? I've only had it for about 3 years, so I'm not sure if that's too long for thermal paste to degrade.