A couple of days ago, my PC unexpectedly restarted while I was playing Baldur's Gate 3. I tried to replicate the issue by pushing it hard with the same game at full settings, but it didn't happen again. I also tested other demanding games like Cyberpunk and Battlefield 5, and even ran benchmarks like Prime95 and FurMark for two hours, but no restarts occurred. Additionally, I passed a memory test with Memtest. Here are my specs:
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5500
- RAM: Twinmos 2x8 16GB
- GPU: RTX 4060
- PSU: MSI MAG 600W 80+ Bronze
- Motherboard: Biostar A520MT
What do you suggest I check next?
4 Answers
It might have been an overheating issue during that one time. Sometimes, running benchmarks can temporarily fix things like dry thermal paste. Have you checked your CPU temperature while gaming? Shouldn't exceed 60°C, which is good, but it's worth monitoring again just in case.
From what you've described, it sounds like you don't really have a major issue. If it were overheating, it would probably happen again under load. Issues with video drivers or cables would also show more consistency. If the PSU was at fault, you'd likely notice more problems under stress. Consider reinstalling or running a file integrity check, then try playing BG3 again. Sometimes crashes can be random without clear reasons. Just make sure to check your system health with SFC scan if it eases your mind.
Did your PC restart itself or just the drivers crash? I've experienced random crashes too, and it's a pain not knowing the exact cause. Thanks for sharing your insights!
You should check the Event Viewer. Take note of the time of the shutdown and look for "Kernel Power 41" which often signals a power supply issue. It's possible that the game caused a power spike that tripped the safety cutoff of your PSU. If you can't recreate the problem with benchmarks, it's less likely to be a bad PSU or thermal issue. You might find logs indicating a software fault instead.
Sadly, I had HPET turned off while playing, so I can't see the error code. :/