Could a CPU issue be the cause, or might the power supply be the problem?
Could a CPU issue be the cause, or might the power supply be the problem?
So, my computer shuts down unexpectedly whenever I play The Witcher 3 Next Gen (it has occurred three times already after about 20 minutes of gameplay). The GPU temperature is around 70–80 degrees Celsius, while the CPU stays at about 50 degrees Celsius and never goes above 55 degrees during the game. I attempted to fix the issue a third time by removing the RAM and reinstalling it. However, after that, my PC wouldn't power on when I tried to start it. The fans and GPU were active, but there was no display—just a black screen.
Later, I swapped in an older CPU (Ryzen 5 2600, purchased three years ago), and it worked fine. After playing the game again, after another 20–60 minutes, it functioned normally, though my CPU now shows bottlenecking problems but still runs at 40–60 frames per second. There were no sudden shutdowns. Could this be a CPU issue, or is it related to the power supply unit?
PC specifications:
Motherboard: Asrock B450M HDV R4.0 (BIOS vP.10.01, three years old)
CPU: Ryzen 5 5600 (bought as a tray, possibly outdated)
GPU: Radeon RX 6650 XT, 8GB (new)
Monitor: 24-inch, 165Hz
RAM: 2x8 GB DDR4 2666MHz
PSU: Corsair CX650 (three years old)
CPU cooler: DeepCool AK400 WH
Storage: VenomRX M2.2280 NVMe Gen3*4 2TB
OS: Windows 11 Pro
Additionally, whenever I try to detach the Ryzen 5 5600 and remove its air cooler, the CPU detaches with the cooler and stays attached. In contrast, with the Ryzen 5 2600, the CPU doesn't detach with the cooler; it stays in place on the motherboard socket, unlike the Ryzen 5 5600. This pattern keeps repeating consistently.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
Motherboard: Asrock B450M HDV R4.0 (BIOS up to date, 3 years old)
Which BIOS version are you currently using on your motherboard? I plan to reflash it, reset the CMOS, and check if the problem continues. Another suggestion is to install a Ryzen 5 5600 on a stable motherboard with compatible BIOS from a donor platform to see if the issue repeats there.
If you suspect the power supply unit is the cause, consider borrowing a reliable PSU from a friend or neighbor—don’t buy it.
Thank you for the friendly greeting! I'm also eager to be present. Right now, I'm working with version P10.01. I recently swapped out the CMOS and reinstalled the Ryzen 5 5600. Surprisingly, it started functioning properly again. But when I tried to launch the game, after a short time the screen froze and then turned off completely. The CPU kept running, so I restarted the system. The PC was still active, but the display was gone—just a black screen as before. I've confirmed the monitor is working fine.
I thought the PSU would last 5-10 years, especially with a dependable brand like Corsair, which is what I’m using now.
Yesterday I tried looking in the event viewer, but that was when my PC could still be powered on after shutting it down. From the previous event viewer, I reviewed the current log and saw eventID 6008 and 41 (Kernel Power). I tried fixing it by changing my power settings according to a YouTube video, but it didn’t work. This time, my PC couldn’t be turned on again, which is why I shared this thread.