Hey everyone! I'm dealing with a frustrating issue where my family PC shuts down whenever I try to play games. The computer is about ten years old and hasn't been cleaned well. I'm not sure if the thermal paste has ever been replaced either. Since I'm still a teenager and we don't have much money, I can't exactly spend on repairs or upgrades right now. I just want to understand what might be causing these shutdowns so I can save up for a fix later. The PC often restarts itself after a shutdown, but there's this annoying black screen that lasts a couple of minutes before it powers back up. It seems to happen more frequently with certain games, especially Roblox and Omori, but it's inconsistent. I even checked the temperature during play, and while it sometimes overheats, I suspect that might just be the weather. In task manager, Roblox uses 70% to 100% of memory. Here are some of my system specs: Intel i5-6400 CPU, 4GB RAM, and my CPU temps are 55C while the motherboard sits at 39C. Any insights would be appreciated!
4 Answers
It sounds like your PC is pretty old and may not have a dedicated video card. I'd suggest giving it a thorough clean and maybe repasting the CPU, but honestly, I wouldn’t invest much in it. It's probably best to start saving for a new computer instead!
Overheating could definitely be playing a role here, but don't overlook the power supply. If it's failing, it could lead to shutdowns like you're experiencing. Make sure to clear out any dust from inside and check if the PSU fan is running properly.
Try running a stress test on your CPU, like with Cinebench, and monitor the temperatures. Tools like HWiNFO can help you get a clearer view of what's going on while you're gaming.
Your temps seem okay for a lot of scenarios, but what about your GPU? Also, with only 4GB of RAM, you might hit limits. Many modern games require 64-bit systems for better utilization, so if you're still on a 32-bit OS, that could be a big issue. You don’t need top-tier parts; even a good $500 PC can offer more performance than what you have right now!
For sure! Keeping an eye out for deals is key—just beware of scams when looking for secondhand parts!
Exactly! Dust buildup in the PSU can really cause problems. Make sure everything’s clean!