I built this PC about two years ago with fairly strong hardware, and it worked normally for a long time. Over the past few months, it has started freezing after roughly one or two hours, but so far this has only happened while playing Minecraft Java and Raincode+. The display goes black or loses signal, and most controls stop responding, but game audio continues and I can still talk through voice chat. All drivers are updated, and the system handles more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, GTA, and Stellar Blade on very high settings without the same problem. Minecraft is modded with Bliss shaders at nearly the lowest settings, and the issue seems more likely to happen while using an elytra, possibly during world generation. What could be causing this, and what should I check first?
4 Answers
Run DISM followed by System File Checker, since corrupted Windows files can sometimes cause unusual freezes. SFC finding and repairing files is useful, but it does not prove that the issue is fixed, so keep an eye on whether the crashes return. Also check the system logs after the next occurrence and test the games without shaders or mods to narrow down whether the problem is software-specific.
Check Windows Event Viewer around the exact time of the freeze, especially critical and error entries. Any driver, hardware, or power-related codes may point to the cause instead of guessing at the GPU. It would also help to note the GPU model, operating system, and whether Minecraft is vanilla or modded.
The timing after one or two hours makes heat or power stability worth checking. Log CPU temperature, GPU core and hotspot temperatures, VRAM usage, and fan speeds during a long session. If temperatures look normal, try limiting the frame rate or disabling overlays and hardware acceleration in background apps, then compare the results.
Since the system becomes mostly unresponsive while audio and microphone input continue, this may be a graphics driver or GPU timeout rather than a complete power loss. Try reinstalling the graphics driver cleanly and monitor GPU temperature, hotspot temperature, and power usage while playing. The fact that it happens during Minecraft shader use and fast elytra travel could indicate a rendering or driver issue even if other games are more demanding overall.
Minecraft is modded with Bliss shaders at nearly the lowest settings, and I suspect the freezes may be connected to world generation while flying with an elytra. Raincode+ has also shown the same behavior, though it only happened once there so far.