Understanding Sudden PC Shutdowns During Intensive Gaming: A Technical Analysis
If you’re experiencing abrupt shutdowns when playing demanding games like Spider-Man 2, especially after hardware upgrades, it can be a perplexing issue. This article aims to dissect common causes and suggest diagnostic pathways to identify whether your power supply unit (PSU) or motherboard might be the culprit, based on a recent user case involving a Ryzen 5 3600 system with an RX 7600 GPU.
System Overview:
– Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
– CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (stock settings)
– Motherboard: Biostar A320MH (latest BIOS update)
– RAM: 2x8GB DDR4 (mixed speeds: 2400MHz and 3200MHz, running at 2400MHz)
– Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 7600 (no overclocking, clean driver installation)
– Power Supply: Corsair CX650 650W 80 Plus Bronze (new, with active PFC)
– Storage: SSD 512GB + HDD 1TB
– Cooling & Case: Standard stock cooling with additional case fans
Issue Summary:
The user reports that the PC unexpectedly powers down without warning or Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) during gameplay of Spider-Man 2, which is notably the only game that pushes the GPU to 100% utilization. In other titles, the system remains stable, and temperature readings for CPU and GPU stay within normal ranges (~75°C max). The shutdowns do not generate Kernel-Power 41 logs, making them less straightforward to diagnose.
Changes and Troubleshooting:
Key recent hardware/software modifications include an upgraded GPU and PSU, thermal paste reapplication, extra case fans, and BIOS updates. The user has performed several preliminary troubleshooting steps:
– Monitored hardware voltages and temperatures with HWINFO, observing no anomalies before shutdown.
– Reinstalled GPU and chipset drivers using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).
– Verified airflow and case cooling are adequate.
– Tested across different power outlets.
– Noted that issues do not occur outside of the demanding game scenario.
– RAM has not been extensively tested with MemTest86 yet.
Potential Causes:
Based on observed symptoms and troubleshooting efforts, three primary suspects emerge:
- Power Supply Unit (PSU) Limitations or Fault:
- A 650W PSU, even from a reputable manufacturer like Corsair, can sometimes struggle with the power draw spikes
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