Why Does My PC Shut Down After Running for a While?
Asked by
MellowOrbit47
My PC intermittently powers off without warning, and it usually won't stay on again until it has been left alone to cool or rest for a while. This time, removing the case panel let it run normally, but after reinstalling the panel and playing a game for about 30 minutes, it shut down again. I checked the thermal paste and monitored temperatures with HWMonitor, but nothing appeared unusually hot. Removing the GPU did not fix the problem, and the computer can even shut down while sitting in the BIOS. The longer it stays powered off, the longer it seems to run before shutting down again. I also tested it through a UPS, but that made no difference and the UPS did not report a power problem. What hardware or software issue could cause this?
Answers
The power supply is the first thing I’d suspect. If you can, test the system with a known-good PSU of sufficient wattage. A failing PSU can shut the computer off suddenly, especially under load, and may recover only after it has had time to cool down.
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Before replacing parts, make sure the CPU cooler is firmly mounted. A broken bracket or loose pump can make the cooler look correctly positioned while it is not making proper contact with the processor. That can cause rapid overheating and emergency shutdowns.
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Check Event Viewer after the next shutdown. A Kernel-Power 41 entry usually confirms that Windows detected an unexpected loss of power, although it does not identify the exact component. Also consider testing firmware, drivers, and background software, since conflicts can sometimes cause crashes, but the fact that it happens in BIOS makes a hardware or power problem more likely.
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