My old gaming PC and a newly built one both randomly freeze while gaming. The screen goes gray or black, the keyboard and mouse stop responding, and the fans and lights stay on until I hold the power button.
I've tried different monitors, cables, a keyboard, and another outlet. The PCs still share a mouse, some peripheral software, the network, and the house electrical system. What should I test next?
Trying the new PC at another house is a good next test. Use it for enough gaming sessions to make the result meaningful, since an intermittent freeze might not show up right away. A successful session wouldn't prove the power at home is bad, but a repeat freeze elsewhere would make the house less likely to be the cause.
Back home, note whether anything else happens around a freeze, like lights flickering or a high draw appliance starting. Two outlets can be on the same circuit, so trying another outlet doesn't necessarily isolate the electrical supply. If you suspect a wiring or grounding problem, have a qualified electrician check it.
Strip it down to the stuff both setups don't share. Try another mouse, disconnect the network, and test without Razer Synapse running or installed. Change one thing at a time so you can tell which test mattered.
Peripheral software or a USB device is a possibility, not a diagnosis. If the freeze is rare, give each change a reasonable amount of time before moving on.
Post the full specs and driver versions for both machines, including the power supplies and GPUs. Also, does this happen in several games or just one? The same symptom can come from different faults, so two separate hardware or configuration problems aren't ruled out yet.
For the new build, check the RAM settings in BIOS. If a memory overclock profile is enabled, try the default settings as a test. Check that the power supply is appropriate for the components and that the GPU power connections are properly seated.
Check Windows Event Viewer around the time of a freeze and see whether there are any errors before the forced shutdown. Also note whether Caps Lock still toggles when the screen goes blank. That won't fix it, but it may help distinguish a display problem from a broader system hang.
Is the power cord or a surge protector shared between the two builds? Those are worth identifying before buying anything. A suitable UPS could be another power test, but it wouldn't prove the wiring is good or rule out every power issue.
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