Does your computer often stop working properly while using programs?
Does your computer often stop working properly while using programs?
I want to start by noting that I’m not particularly skilled in hardware matters, let alone fixing hardware problems.
I own an Acer Predator PO7-640 PC, and I haven’t made any changes beyond what it comes with. It’s been running for just over two years and six months now. Here are its main specifications:
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700K
32 GB of DDR5 RAM
My system has been experiencing crashes recently, usually within about an hour after launching an app. The severity increases with the application’s demand. The first type is a complete shutdown of the whole machine, followed by a restart, accompanied by an "Event 41, Kernel-Power" critical alert. These full crashes are silent and abrupt, though I’ve occasionally heard a noise before they occur.
The second pattern involves the GPU failing. It doesn’t trigger any clear critical errors in Event Viewer, only halting the app. The GPU also emits an error sound when audio is disrupted before the error pops up, and it always closes the app after clicking "OK" on the message.
I’ve tested various games and simple programs, and crashes seem to happen unpredictably, often within an hour of launching them. Since the PC started, I’ve noticed recurring power-related issues. The power cable tends to arc when touched, causing shutdowns. It doesn’t securely connect to the PSU’s terminals, and even slight movement triggers failures. The cable came with my computer and is an I-SHENG IS-14N 10A 125V~ 1250W SP-305B E55943 power cord, which has had loose connections from the beginning. This is surprising because it was supplied by Acer and should fit according to online specs. Interestingly, a friend with the same PC and cable—bought from Amazon—also faces the same arcing problem.
From what I’ve observed, the shutdowns caused by moving the cable are likely due to its poor fit, not the PSU itself. Still, since full crashes persist even when the cable remains intact, it hints at a broader issue beyond just the cable. My GPU crashes have been more frequent than my previous ones; only a few days ago I experienced my first confirmed GPU failure. The time before a crash in resource-heavy apps has shrunk considerably since then.
Another concern that probably ties into both the graphics card and power supply is the issue with Edge—videos lag even when audio stays smooth, tiny red squares appear on screens in any browser, and small white squares show up in Unreal Engine 5. These are minor but noticeable.
I’ve recently updated my Nvidia graphics card via the GeForce Experience app and kept both my Intel and Windows updates current.
I’m curious if the problems aren’t just limited to the cable—could the PSU, GPU, or a combination of both be responsible for these crashes?
A few notes:
- The screenshot I shared is from the error message when a GPU crash occurs. It’s the one I’ve seen most often, though I couldn’t capture the first GPU error message I got just a couple of days ago.
- The second image shows the error after a GPU failure, but I’m not sure what it means or if it matters.
I bought a Tripp Lite P006-L06-HG10 power cable, hoping it would fix the fitting problem with my current cable. I have no idea if this will resolve the other issues my computer is facing. It’s described as hospital-grade with a locking mechanism on the female end, so it should fit properly.
Any guidance on diagnosing this would be greatly appreciated.
https://imgur.com/AyELMEo
https://imgur.com/by2vevH
Welcome to the forums, newcomer! I've just updated my Nvidia graphics card using the GeForce Experience app and keep my Intel and Windows updates current. You should remove all GPU drivers—Intel, AMD, and Nvidia—by using DDU in Safe Mode, restart your computer, and then install the newest driver from Nvidia's support site with administrative privileges. I own an Acer Predator PO7-640 PC that hasn't been upgraded beyond its original configuration. It has the following specifications:
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700K
32 GB DDR5 RAM
Checking the details here:
https://community.acer.com/en/discu...e-...p1?tab=all
I wonder if your prebuilt model came with an 800W power supply. I see that the motherboard connectors aren't exclusive to any brand. It might be wise to find a more powerful unit—either by borrowing or purchasing one—to test on your Acer model. This would help confirm whether the PSU is the issue, especially since RTX 3000 GPUs are known for high power demands.
For reference, you can watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnRyyCsuHFQ
And for this reason, many users recommend oversizing the PSU when selecting a replacement for RTX 3000 series cards, in addition to ensuring a solid build.
I should begin by acknowledging my lack of experience with troubleshooting, similar to some of the others.
Initially, I considered standard suggestions such as checking for overheating or power supply problems, and possibly replacing components during the process. But I’m unsure if you have any spare parts, and you mentioned yourself—“I am not experienced at all when it comes to understanding hardware, let alone diagnosing hardware issues.” So I thought you might just need to “bite the bullet” and take your computer to a repair shop.
While reading about those squares, I wondered if your GPU might be failing. Since your CPU is a non-F version, it should have an integrated GPU (iGPU). If you decide to try it, maybe open up your case, remove the video card (GPU), and connect the video cable to the motherboard’s output port.
It’s clear to say, take your time and handle it carefully. It might be wise to watch a few videos on how to remove or install a video card before proceeding.
Perhaps give it a try and observe how your computer responds afterward.
I regret the delayed reply, but thank you for the detailed message you shared. Reviewing your explanation, the video appears to match the issue and crash I’m facing. I’m currently searching for an alternative PSU to hopefully improve troubleshooting and possibly resolve the problem. Since my computer originally came with an 800W unit, it’s possible it wasn’t powerful enough for the extended usage. If the replacement PSU doesn’t solve the GPU concern, I’ll likely look for a new GPU and install it after testing the iGPU, which would be expensive but seems like the next best step.
I also received the new cable today and set it up, which completely eliminated the arcing issue and seemed to lower the frequency of GPU crashes I’ve been experiencing. I’m curious how this affected the situation, though I didn’t expect it to make a difference. I’ll note this in the thread for reference.
I apologize again for the long wait, but your advice was very helpful. I believe the GPU might be failing, possibly due to several reasons, and its current behavior isn’t promising. I plan to test the iGPU as soon as possible once the PSU is replaced, though it’s likely my GPU is starting to fail.
For those with an RTX 3080, they were advised to examine a unit consuming between 1KW and 1.2KW, which is a well-built model. Those with an RTX 3090 received guidance to search for a unit in the range of 1.2KW to 1.5KW. The RTX 3000 lineup was nearly identical to the GTX 400 series in terms of power usage; it was quite inefficient. You shouldn't focus on those extremely high wattage models from the RTX 4000 and 5000 generations, right?
I would have liked to have considered things more carefully earlier, especially to verify this situation. I should be able to switch to a 1-1.2KW unit soon, but I really wish I had done this from the beginning. Thank you for recommending it and clarifying the power issues with the PSU. I will update this post after installing the PSU and testing it to see if it resolves the problem.