PC randomly stops working(screen freezes, sometimes with loud audio glitch sounds and I have to manually turn off PC) or instantly restarts (black screen and restart)

Diagnosing Random PC Crashes: A Comprehensive Guide to Troubleshooting and Solutions

Introduction

Experiencing unexplained system crashes or sudden restarts can be incredibly frustrating, especially when they occur during gaming or regular use. If your PC intermittently freezes—with screen glitches, loud audio distortions, or sudden black screens—and sometimes restarts without warning, this guide aims to help you understand potential causes and suggest effective troubleshooting steps.

System Overview

The following configuration has been compiled based on a user’s report:

• Processor (CPU): AMD Ryzen 5 7600
• Graphics Card (GPU): Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 Super Ghost OC 12GB GDDR6X
• Power Supply (PSU): MSI MAG 650W 80 Plus Bronze (with 12-pin adapter for GPU)
• Motherboard: ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2
• Memory (RAM): ADATA 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 6000MHz CL30 Lancer Blade (configured with EXPO profile)
• Storage: (Not specified)

Context & Symptoms

The system was assembled approximately a year ago and performed reliably initially. However, since relocating to a new apartment, the user has noticed intermittent crashes, predominantly during gaming sessions. Notably:

• Temperature Factors: GPU hotspot temperatures reach around 100°C without fan tuning but stay between 60–70°C after undervolting and adjusting fan profiles.
• Crash Patterns: Crashes occur during intensive gaming but can also happen during light desktop activity or browsing, indicating possible underlying issues beyond simple load.
• Behavioral Observations: Post-crash, initiating gameplay or even just browsing seems more likely to trigger further crashes—often within 10-20 minutes of gameplay or immediately after system restart.

Troubleshooting Efforts & Findings

The user has undertaken several diagnostic steps, including:

• Monitoring GPU temperatures, undervolting the GPU, and adjusting fan curves—yet crashes persist.
• Modifying TdrDelay settings—a Windows registry tweak intended to handle GPU timeout detection—failed to resolve the issue.

• Running stress tests on the GPU (notably using Clair Obscur) under different configurations revealed consistent crashes:

• Without undervolting or manual fan control:

  • GPU utilization at ~99%
  • Hotspot temperature reaching 100°C
  • GPU