My PC has worked normally for a couple of years, but it recently began shutting down completely while gaming. The system uses a ROG Strix B550-A motherboard, Ryzen 5 5600X, 32GB Corsair Dominator DDR4-3600, an EVGA RTX 3080, and a 750W Gold-rated ROG Strix power supply. Temperatures and CPU/GPU usage look normal, and demanding games previously ran without problems. Now the computer turns off without a blue screen or warning, and the power button does nothing until I switch the PSU off for about five seconds and turn it back on. It then shuts down again within 10–20 seconds of loading into a game. My system drive is also nearly full, with only about 10GB remaining. Could the PSU be failing, or should I investigate another component first?
4 Answers
There isn’t enough information to identify the exact part yet, but make sure you have more free space on the system drive. Ten gigabytes is very low and can cause paging and update problems, although it usually wouldn’t explain an instant total power loss. Check that the PSU fan and vents aren’t blocked by dust, and look at Event Viewer for hardware or power-related errors. A sudden shutdown may only show up as an unexpected-power-loss entry afterward.
Clean the CPU cooler, GPU, case filters, and especially the PSU intake and exhaust. CPU and GPU temperatures can look fine while the PSU overheats because of dust or restricted airflow. Also check the NVMe drive’s SMART health data, make sure the BIOS hasn’t recently changed, and test the PC directly from a reliable wall outlet instead of an extension. A failing case power or reset switch is less common but worth checking if the other tests don’t reveal anything.
I’m using an NVMe SSD and update the BIOS manually. The PC probably does need a thorough cleaning, and I’ll also try a different outlet instead of the extension. Event Viewer only reports that Windows was shut down improperly.
A PSU problem is one of the strongest possibilities. A complete loss of power followed by needing to cycle the PSU switch often means the protection circuitry has tripped. If possible, test with a known-good PSU rated for the RTX 3080, or pursue the power supply’s warranty.
Try reducing the load as a diagnostic step. Remove the graphics card and see whether the computer remains stable under lighter use, or test with another graphics card if you have access to one. If it only fails when the RTX 3080 is installed and a game starts, the PSU, its cables, or the GPU power delivery becomes much more suspicious. Other possibilities include faulty RAM, the motherboard, or a bad drive, so this test isn’t definitive by itself.
Since the shutdown only happens when a game starts, I’d prioritize testing the PSU and GPU power connections rather than assuming it’s a Windows issue.
It doesn’t show a blue screen—the entire computer goes dead, and the power button won’t work again until I switch the PSU off and back on. I’ll also clear space from the system drive.