Troubleshooting Unexpected Shutdowns During Gaming: A Personal Experience

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of an intense gaming session, only for your computer to suddenly shut down? This frustrating scenario recently happened to me while playing seemingly less demanding games like Dota 2, Football Manager 2020, and Rocket League. Interestingly, during stress tests with 3D Mark or while navigating massive maps in Civilization VI, my system performed flawlessly, leaving me puzzled about the root of the issue.

Until recently, my computer had been operating smoothly for over a year without a hitch. However, the sudden shutdowns started appearing, causing me to question what could be behind this unexpected behavior.

My Setup and Recent Findings

For context, you can view my current hardware configuration on my build list here. During numerous stress tests, including a 20-loop benchmark, my system maintained stability—an odd contrast to the abrupt shutdowns experienced during less demanding games. You can see the results of one of my stress tests here.

A Potential Culprit: Power Supply Issues

Reflecting on my experiences, I remembered that my power supply unit (PSU) had failed unexpectedly on November 20, 2020. Just four days after experiencing that malfunction, I replaced the old unit with a new one—and since then, my computer has been operating without issues.

Conclusion

If you find your gaming setup suddenly shutting down during simple gameplay yet passing stress tests, consider investigating your power supply. It might very well be the unseen issue behind your system’s inconsistencies. Share your experiences or any similar troubleshooting tips in the comments! Let’s help each other keep our gaming rigs running smoothly.