Why Does My PC Suddenly Shut Down During Demanding Games?
Asked by
MellowPine42
I recently built a PC from parts purchased online. Most components have been used for less than a year, although the CPU and GPU are older. The system runs normally during lighter tasks, but when I play demanding games such as Ready or Not and 007 First Light, it eventually powers off completely without an error message or blue screen. The GPU is an AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, which barely fits in my compact case, and the motherboard is an MSI B550M PRO-VDH. I've seen reports of possible issues with the motherboard and tried the suggested fixes, but nothing changed. Could this be caused by overheating, insufficient airflow, the GPU, motherboard, or power supply?
Answers
A 750W power supply should generally be enough for an RX 5700 XT, but wattage alone doesn’t confirm that it’s reliable. Check the PSU’s exact model and age, use separate PCIe power cables for the GPU if possible, and make sure every motherboard and GPU connector is fully seated. If temperatures look normal, testing with a known-good PSU would be a useful next step.
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A sudden power-off under heavy load usually points to thermal protection or a power-delivery problem rather than a normal software crash. Check both the CPU temperature and the GPU core and hotspot temperatures while gaming, not just the average GPU temperature. Also make sure the GPU fans are spinning, the heatsinks are clear, and the case has enough intake and exhaust airflow.
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The fact that the GPU reaches around 100°C is worth investigating, especially in a compact case. The RX 5700 XT can report separate core and junction/hotspot temperatures, so monitor both with a hardware tool. Try removing the side panel as a quick airflow test, and consider cleaning the card, improving the fan curve, or reseating the cooler if the hotspot is extremely high.
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Check Windows Event Viewer for a Kernel-Power event after the shutdown. That won’t identify the exact failed component, but it can confirm that the system lost power unexpectedly. Also reset any CPU or GPU overclocking, update the BIOS and chipset drivers, and test the CPU and GPU separately with stress tests to see which load triggers the shutdown.
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MellowPine42: I suspected the compact case might be contributing to the heat, so I’ll compare temperatures with the side panel removed and check the hotspot reading as well.