My PC sometimes powers off completely when a game becomes demanding or unstable. It happens frequently with Palworld, especially when running it without DirectX 12, and occasionally with VRChat or Fortnite. Other demanding games, such as Resident Evil 4 Remake, run without shutting down. I initially suspected overheating and changed the case, but the problem continued. My friend has a weaker PC that does not have the same issue. What could be causing these sudden shutdowns, and how can I fix it?
Specs:
GPU: XFX Radeon RX 6750 XT Core
CPU: Ryzen 5 5600T
CPU cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120
Motherboard: MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB
Storage: Samsung 870 EVO 500GB SSD and WD Blue 1TB M.2 SSD
Case: Montech X5 ATX Mid Tower with four case fans
PSU: Corsair CX650M semi-modular, 2021 model
Wi-Fi: TP-Link Archer TX3000E
2 Answers
A complete, instant power-off usually points to power delivery rather than a normal game crash. The exact PSU model matters, not just the wattage. Your CX650M may be operating close to the practical limit with an RX 6750 XT, and a transient power spike could cause the protection circuitry to shut the system down. Try testing with a known-good, higher-quality PSU, ideally around 750W or more, before continuing to stress the system.
The GPU can briefly draw more power than its average rating, and that can expose a borderline or aging PSU even when the system seems fine in most games. Since changing the case did not solve it and the shutdown is instantaneous, I would replace the PSU first rather than assume the problem is temperature. Use separate PCIe power cables for the graphics card if the new PSU requires them, and avoid adapters unless the manufacturer specifically supports them.
It is the Corsair CX650M semi-modular model from 2021. Would replacing it with an ATX 3.0 PSU help with transient spikes, or is a good 750W unit sufficient?