I'm having an issue with my PC where it shuts down unexpectedly when I'm playing resource-intensive games like War Thunder and GTA V Enhanced Edition. The shutdowns seem to happen especially when there's a lot of action on-screen, like when shooting with a tank or after updating some game settings. After a shutdown, I can't reboot it normally; it just stays off. I've checked the temperatures and did stress tests for the CPU, RAM, and GPU, but everything looks fine. Initially, I thought it was a faulty power supply, so I replaced my 750W PSU with a more powerful one, but I'm still facing issues. Here's a rundown of my specs:
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
- AMD Wraith Prism CPU Cooler
- Asus ROG STRIX X570-E Gaming Motherboard
- Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB RAM
- Samsung 970 Evo Plus 250 GB NVME SSD
- Western Digital 4 TB HDD
- FanXiang S880 1 TB NVME SSD
- NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti
- Phanteks Evolv X Case
- Asus ROG-STRIX-850G PSU
- MSI Optix 271CQP Monitor
Additionally, I've noticed that my 4TB HDD makes a hissing noise that coincides with frame drops. The OS is on the Samsung SSD, so I'm confused about why this is happening. I'm at a loss for how to solve this issue and would really appreciate some advice!
7 Answers
Run CrystalDiskInfo on both your SSDs, particularly the one with the hissing sound. It could point to a failing drive, which might also be causing your issues. Also, consider upgrading to a higher capacity NVME for your OS if you can swing it.
That PSU might not be providing enough power for your setup, especially with a powerful GPU like the 3080 Ti. Just because you have 850W doesn't mean it's sufficient for your specific configuration.
Try lowering the power limit of your GPU using MSI Afterburner, and see if that helps. You can also run a power test with OCCT to see if it still shuts down.
Make sure you're monitoring temperatures for all components like the CPU, GPU, and chipset. If you haven't cleaned your PC in a while, now would be a great time to do so to prevent overheating.
Totally agree. Keeping an eye on temps is crucial to avoid these shutdowns.
If the PSU isn't the issue, you might want to test swapping out the GPU or motherboard. Unfortunately, part-swapping is often the best way to trace the root of these kinds of problems.
That's tough for me right now as I can't really afford any replacements. Thanks for the suggestion, though!
This sort of issue often leads back to the PSU failing. I had a similar situation, and it ended up ruining my GPU too. Don't ignore it! If it's not the PSU, then check motherboard voltage settings.
It sounds like a power supply issue, which is common in scenarios like yours. Have you checked the new PSU to make sure it's functioning correctly? Sometimes even new parts can fail.
I find it strange as I thought this new PSU was the solution. I just had the old one replaced because I thought it was faulty.

I think 850W should be plenty. I was gaming fine with a 650W PSU on a 3080, so this doesn't add up!