Operational failure due to performance issues
Operational failure due to performance issues
Greetings everyone; please forgive any further errors due to English not being my native language.
I’ve been encountering performance-related crashes during gameplay, and these instances seem somewhat unpredictable. My screen will freeze accompanied by a buzzing sound emanating from the speakers—essentially a brief loop of the last content I was viewing, and the only resolution is a forced restart. I suspect this issue stems from stress and performance fluctuations, as it becomes more frequent when I increase my graphics settings and less prevalent or disappears entirely when I decrease them. This has occurred across multiple games, but hasn't happened while I’m not actively gaming.
I hypothesize that overheating may be a contributing factor, though I remain uncertain. I implemented a temperature monitoring overlay to track temperatures during full-screen gaming sessions. For example, in Grand Theft Auto, my CPU quickly rose from approximately 65 degrees Celsius at the start to 75 and then 85 degrees Celsius after about ten minutes of play, triggering the crashes—though not at precisely that temperature, rather around it. My GPU typically stabilized around 70-75 degrees without exceeding this level. In Dota 2, I previously played for extended periods without issues, but recently, after switching my monitor to 1440p/120Hz and modifying the in-game resolution, my CPU began overheating similarly to GTA, reaching 80-90 Celsius before crashing. In Assassin’s Creed 4, my CPU remained stable between 60-70 degrees while my GPU hovered around 70, without any crashes. I believe this indicates a potential overheating problem, but I tested my system with Prime95's small FFTs, and all cores peaked at 95-99 Celsius for approximately five minutes without triggering a crash. It’s possible that overheating is the root cause, though I’m still unsure. Notably, why does my CPU run so hot while playing Dota 2 (a relatively lightweight game) compared to AC4 where it runs cooler?
I've also attempted various troubleshooting steps suggested in similar online discussions: updating my BIOS, installing drivers from the Gigabyte website, performing memory tests using Windows 10’s diagnostic tool (which confirmed reliable operation after a restart), and replacing the thermal paste—even though this was on a brand-new PC.
My computer is only one week old, having been assembled by a specialized store. Here are its specifications:
Mobo: Gigabyte aorus gaming z370m
CPU: i5 9600-K
Cooler: Cooler master standard cooler i70
GPU: Gigabyte windforce RTX 2070
RAM: 2x Crucial Ballistix 8Gb 2400 MHz
PSU: Cooler master Masterwatt 600W 80 plus
SSD: PNY cs900 series 480 GB
HD: Seagate barracuda 1 TB
Case: Aerocool aero 500 (equipped with only one rear fan)
I intend to add additional fans for airflow, both at the front and top of my case, and also upgrade my cooler. Considering all this, what are your thoughts? Do you believe overheating is the primary issue, or could it be something else?
Here’s a rewritten version of the text, focusing on clarity and removing redundancy:
“I’ve been experiencing overheating issues with my PC, and I believe I’ve found a solution. My CPU temperature was consistently high – initially around 99 Celsius when stressed with Prime95 – but after implementing some changes, it’s stabilized at a much more manageable 20 Celsius lower, around 85-90 Celsius. This has resolved random crashes that were occurring during gaming and other intensive tasks.
I suspect the issue stemmed from a lack of adequate cooling. Years ago, I had a similar problem with a Pentium 4 where a loosened cooler screw caused overheating. The loss of contact likely led to increased temperatures. While my motherboard hasn’t been underclocking, the high temperatures were causing instability.
The key change was improving the cooling system itself. It's now stable and allows me to run Prime95 for extended periods without issues.”