I'm looking for some help before I decide to buy a new Power Supply Unit (PSU) since I'm a bit tight on cash. My PC has been randomly going to a black screen and shutting down, but this seems to happen only when I play certain games or visit specific websites. For example, when I log into World of Warcraft, my screen goes black and the PC shuts down in about 10 seconds. On the other hand, I can play Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for hours without any problems. I've read that this might point to a failing PSU. How can I be sure if that's the case? My current PSU is around 12 years old. Thanks!
3 Answers
You could also look into PSU testers if you're curious. I'm not sure how much they cost, but they might give you an idea if there's a problem without having to replace it straight away.
PSU issues can be tricky. I once had a client with a similar random shutdown problem that I couldn't replicate with any stress testing tools. Eventually, just tapping a key caused it to shut off! In that case, replacing the PSU, which was about 15 years old, solved everything. If you buy a new one and the problem persists, you can always return it. It's worth a shot.
The most definitive way to find out is to replace your PSU and see if the issues go away. Given that your PSU is 12 years old, it's definitely a suspect. It's probably worth the investment, especially if you're experiencing these shutdowns during gaming.
That makes sense; I just needed a second opinion since I’m not that knowledgeable about computers.