Hey folks, I need some help with a pretty frustrating issue. My PC has been restarting randomly during gaming sessions, and it's starting to happen even when I'm just browsing or doing light tasks. Every time it restarts, I see this error message in the Event Viewer: `Event 41, Kernel-Power`. This message indicates that the system rebooted unexpectedly, without a clean shutdown.
I initially thought it might be a heating problem, but I've been monitoring the temperatures and they're looking good; my GPU is usually between 65-70°C and my CPU rarely goes above 70°C.
Here's what I'm running:
* **CPU:** Ryzen 7 7700X
* **GPU:** RTX 4060
* **Cooling:** Deepcool LE500 AIO + 4 case fans
* **Motherboard:** ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-PLUS
* **Storage:** 1x M.2 SSD
* **PSU:** Cooler Master MWE Bronze 500W 80 Plus Bronze
I've read that the Kernel-Power 41 error hints at potential power issues, so I'm wondering if my PSU isn't powerful enough for this setup. Could it be that the 500W Bronze PSU can't handle the power demands? Or could this be due to something else, like the motherboard, drivers, or even an issue with the wall outlet? Any insights would be super helpful, especially from anyone who's faced a similar issue. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
A 500-550W PSU should generally be enough for your setup, but it sounds more like a faulty PSU rather than just insufficient wattage. If you have the older version of the MWE, the one with colored cables, those aren't great. You might want to test with another PSU if possible, or consider getting a PSU tester to see if it's failing.
Honestly, I think this is definitely a power supply issue, especially with wattage that low. I suggest upgrading to at least a 750W PSU for safety and stability.
Yeah, I was leaning toward the PSU being the issue, but I appreciate the confirmation!
There could be various reasons for this. The Kernel-Power 41 error just indicates a sudden restart, but you should check if this happens under all workloads or just during games. Also, keep an eye on the GPU hotspot temperatures; they can be more telling than regular core temps. And make sure your GPU drivers are up to date!
It usually happens when I'm gaming, but it has restarted a few times just while browsing. My GPU driver is currently **580.88**.
That’s not really true. 500W is enough for your system. The total wattage adds up to around 320W at max load, so it shouldn’t be a matter of wattage.