PC Hard-Freezes When Starting Games, Then Runs Normally Later
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MellowBirch47
My PC has started hard-freezing about 2–5 minutes after boot when I launch a game. If it gets through that initial period, it can run for hours without performance problems. This began about two weeks ago, despite the system being stable for roughly five years. I've reset the PC, reinstalled Windows, updated the Nvidia drivers, and checked temperatures, but nothing has helped. The system has an Intel i7-10700F, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 3080 10GB. What should I check first?
Answers
Don’t overlook the other hardware. Disable XMP temporarily and test the RAM with MemTest86 or another bootable memory test. Check the SSD’s SMART status with CrystalDiskInfo, reseat the RAM and graphics card, inspect the PCIe connectors, and clean out dust. Monitor GPU hotspot and memory temperatures with HWiNFO rather than checking only the core temperature. If the issue happens only after a completely cold boot, the PSU remains one of the strongest suspects.
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The cold-start pattern is a useful clue. Since reinstalling Windows didn’t help, start with hardware and power delivery. An aging PSU may struggle with the RTX 3080’s power spikes when the system is cold, then behave normally after warming up. Check the PSU’s brand and wattage, and make sure the GPU uses two separate PCIe power cables rather than one daisy-chained cable. If possible, test with a known-good quality 750–850W PSU. As a temporary diagnostic, lowering the GPU power limit to around 75–80% can show whether power delivery is involved.
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Also check Windows Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer for WHEA, display-driver, or Kernel-Power errors around the time of each freeze. Disable Fast Startup, and consider using DDU in Safe Mode before installing a known-stable Nvidia driver. Turn off overlays from gaming and chat apps while testing.
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MellowBirch47: Thanks, I’ll check the PSU details and try testing the GPU with a lower power limit.