For more than a month, my computer has been completely freezing and then restarting whenever I play games or run moderately demanding programs. This happens with both newer and older games. There's no warning or slowdown beforehand—the screen simply locks up, and sometimes I have to hold the power button to shut it down. Lightweight tasks like browsing and using Word usually work fine. What should I check first, and what hardware information would help identify the problem?
3 Answers
Because it only happens under heavier loads, hardware instability is more likely than a Windows problem. Temporarily disable XMP or EXPO and any overclock or undervolt, then test the memory with Windows Memory Diagnostic. Also check Event Viewer for WHEA-Logger errors. A Kernel-Power 41 entry by itself usually only confirms that the PC shut down unexpectedly; it doesn’t identify the original cause.
Don’t overlook the power supply, RAM, and storage. A failing PSU can crash the system as soon as the CPU and GPU draw more power, while bad RAM or unstable SSD firmware can cause similar freezes. Reseat the RAM and other components, try one memory stick at a time or different slots if possible, and check for firmware updates. The CPU, GPU, motherboard, RAM, exact PSU model and wattage, plus maximum temperatures, would be useful details for narrowing it down.
Start by monitoring CPU and GPU temperatures with a hardware monitor while launching a game. Make sure every fan is spinning, the cooler is firmly mounted, the thermal paste is in good condition, and the case has unobstructed airflow. If temperatures spike immediately, the cooler may need to be remounted and the paste replaced.
I’ll test with the memory profile and any overclocking disabled, then check the system logs. I’ll also record the temperatures while starting a game.