I built my PC last November, and it was working great until recently. Now, it crashes during both low-demand and mid to high-demand games. For example, I can play Madden 26 for about 20 minutes, then the PC starts lagging, experiences a brief drop in FPS, and crashes completely. Sometimes it just crashes the game without shutting down the whole system. I've even seen a black screen with the code (0xc000021a) flash for a moment.
Here are my specs:
- Motherboard: Gigabyte Aero G b650
- GPU: 7800xt
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 6-Core
- RAM: 2 sticks DDR5 T-Force Delta
- PSU: GF1 750W Thermaltake
I also have an SSD of 1TB and another of 2TB. I added the 2TB a couple of months back, but it seems to have stopped working. When I run apps from that drive, they won't launch, and CHKDSK says it can't run because it's "RAW."
Can anyone help me troubleshoot these issues?
2 Answers
From what you’re describing, I’d put my money on power delivery issues or overheating. Make sure your PSU is stable—try running OCCT's power test. If your PC shuts down during that, your PSU might be the culprit. Additionally, your temps seem okay for now, but keep an eye on them when gaming to see if they spike unexpectedly. If all else fails, test your RAM after checking the SSD. It’s best to rule out every possible cause!
If you're still having issues after all this, it might be worth considering if the AMD Ryzen chips are experiencing any specific issues. Some early batches had quirks.
It sounds like you’re dealing with two separate issues: that corrupted 2TB drive, which is likely causing problems since 'RAW' means the file system is likely gone or the drive is failing. I’d recommend not using that drive for now and testing it with CrystalDiskInfo. If it shows anything other than ‘Good’ health, you should consider replacing it. A failing drive can definitely lead to crashes.
Also, monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures. Use HWInfo64 and check the temps while gaming; if they hit 90-100°C, that's likely causing your crashes. Clean out the dust and ensure your cooler is seated properly. If temps are solid, run MemTest86 to check for RAM issues—any errors mean you might need to replace or stabilize it. Finally, make sure your motherboard's BIOS is up to date, as early versions had stability issues. Let us know what you find!
Will do right now! I'll keep you posted.
I'm glad you mentioned the BIOS update. I had similar issues until I updated mine. It made a huge difference!
Got it! I'll try that as soon as I can.