PC desktop freezes and system reboots. Event viewer logs kernel power.

Troubleshooting Unexpected PC Reboots During Gaming: A Deep Dive into Kernel Power Events

Experiencing unexpected system reboots can be a frustrating ordeal, especially when they occur during intensive gaming sessions. For many users, troubleshooting these issues involves analyzing system logs, hardware components, and overall configuration to identify the root cause. In this article, we explore a common scenario where a gaming PC randomly freezes and reboots, with the Event Viewer indicating a “Kernel Power” error, and discuss strategies to diagnose and resolve such problems.

Case Overview

Consider a user reporting that their desktop PC frequently freezes while playing a demanding game such as Battlefield 2042. Following the freeze, the system automatically reboots without warning. Upon investigation via Windows Event Viewer, the logs indicate a “Kernel Power” event. This error typically signifies that the system lost power unexpectedly or encountered a critical hardware or driver failure.

Initial Troubleshooting and Hardware Considerations

The user initially suspected the power supply unit (PSU) might be underpowered or malfunctioning, prompting an upgrade to a high-capacity 1000W PSU to eliminate this variable. Despite this hardware upgrade, the issue persisted, indicating that the problem may not solely be power-related.

System Specifications:
– CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
– Motherboard: MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi
– Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 5070
– Memory: 32GB DDR5 Corsair RAM at 6000MHz
– Power Supply: Corsair RM1000e (upgraded to 1000W)

Additional Diagnostics Conducted

To rule out memory-related issues, the user ran a MemTest86 test, which completed without errors, helping to eliminate faulty RAM as the culprit. This points toward other potential causes such as GPU instability, motherboard issues, thermal problems, or driver conflicts.

Potential Causes and Next Steps

Graphics Card and Driver Stability
Ensure that graphics drivers are fully up to date. Use official sources such as NVIDIA’s website for the latest drivers.
Consider performing a clean installation of GPU drivers using tools like DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller).
Thermal Management
Check CPU and GPU temperatures during gaming. Overheating can cause automatic shutdowns or reboots.
Clean dust from cooling fans and heatsinks, and verify thermal paste application.
Power Delivery and System Stability
While a 1000W PSU