My gaming PC has been having several recurring problems, and I'm not very experienced with troubleshooting computers. It runs Windows 11 Home 25H2 with an Intel Core i5-11400F, 24 GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1660 Ti.
The issues include the login screen sometimes showing only a blurred background without the password box, unexpected restarts after the computer has been running for 5–10 minutes, and applications freezing until I close and reopen them. When I have Discord, a game, and another program such as OBS open, the display may freeze and turn black for about a minute or remain that way until I force a restart. Games also briefly stutter or freeze during busy moments, such as when several players use abilities at once.
What should I check first to determine whether the cause is faulty RAM, damaged Windows system files, storage problems, drivers, overheating, or something else?
4 Answers
Also monitor CPU and GPU temperatures while gaming and check that the graphics driver is current. Sudden restarts can come from overheating, unstable memory, power delivery, or a driver crash. If the screen goes black mainly while gaming or recording, try running the game with Discord and OBS closed to see whether reducing the workload changes the behavior.
The 24 GB memory configuration is worth investigating, especially if it consists of an 8 GB stick and a 16 GB stick. Mixed modules can sometimes be unstable, particularly under gaming or multitasking loads. Test each RAM stick by itself, then try different motherboard slots. A memory test can also help identify a defective module.
Before replacing hardware, check Windows and the drive for corruption. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run `chkdsk C: /f /r`, followed by `sfc /scannow`. The disk check may require a restart and can take a while. Also look in Event Viewer or Reliability Monitor around the times of the restarts for hardware or driver errors.
A clean Windows installation could be a reasonable last resort if system-file checks and hardware tests don’t reveal anything. Back up important files first, verify that the backup works, and then reinstall Windows from official installation media. It’s better to test the RAM, storage, temperatures, and power stability beforehand so a hardware problem doesn’t immediately return after the reinstall.
A fresh installation may be the quickest fix for badly corrupted software, but I’d definitely make a backup first and avoid wiping the drive until the important files are safely stored elsewhere.