I've been experiencing frustrating crashes on my PC that occur just 2 or 3 minutes into gameplay, even with some very simple games. I've already updated all my drivers, cleaned the hardware, and monitored the temperature of my GPU (a Geforce GTX 1080), which hits about 70°C and often runs at 90-99% usage when the crashes happen. My CPU is an Intel i7-8700 and I have 32 GB of RAM, and neither of them seem to be maxed out during gameplay. The crashing isn't limited to demanding new games; it even happens when I play something like Stronghold Crusader, which really shouldn't be causing issues. I'm at a loss—any insights into what might be going wrong?
3 Answers
You should check the temperatures of your CPU when crashing. Sometimes overheating can cause a shutdown to protect the hardware. What are your CPU temps like?
It's time for some diagnostics. I recommend starting with a memory test using Memtest86. It can help you figure out if there’s an issue with your RAM.
Have you tried updating your BIOS? Sometimes an outdated BIOS can cause stability issues, especially with newer software. Just be careful, though—if there’s underlying hardware problems, a BIOS update can backfire and leave you with a bricked motherboard during the process. It's worth looking into, but proceed with caution!
I haven't done that yet. What exactly would updating my BIOS do?
Honestly, if your hardware is from around 2017, a BIOS issue would probably already have shown up by now. Better to rule out other issues first before risking an update.
The cores are running between 50-65°C when I'm gaming.