PC freezing during heavy usage or gaming sessions.
PC freezing during heavy usage or gaming sessions.
I've noticed some problems with my custom-built PC lately. It often freezes or triggers a BSOD while playing intensive games such as Destiny 2 or big levels in Planet Coaster. Everything works smoothly when I play lighter titles like League of Legends, and it functions normally for everyday tasks like browsing the web or using Microsoft Office. Here are my system details: CPU – 5800X, Motherboard – Asus ROG B550i, RAM – G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4 2x16GB at 3600MHz, GPU – Asus TUF 3080, Power Supply – NZXT E850, Storage – Samsung 970 EVO+ with Crucial MX500.
When it crashes, the PC either freezes and emits a buzzing sound, requiring me to press the power button, or it displays a BSOD. After restarting, it cycles through power states, shuts down completely, and only powers back up when the PSU is off for about 10-15 seconds. Then it boots into safe mode and seems operational until I attempt another demanding game. The Event Viewer logs a Kernel Power 41 Error (code 63).
I ran Hard Disk Sentinel and MemTest86, but found no issues with RAM or storage. It appears the problem isn’t software-related. I’ve updated the BIOS and reinstalled Windows 10 along with all drivers, so I’m not sure it’s a hardware fault. I tried OCCT too—it froze and forced a manual shutdown, which supports the PSU theory.
What stands out is that the RGB lighting in my case pauses when the PC freezes. The PSU is rated at 850W, and I was considering swapping GPU connections to test. I changed one connection and attempted OCCT again; it froze immediately with a SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION error and cldflt.sys failing. Event Viewer now shows Kernel Power 43.
I’m seeking advice before the holidays, as I don’t want to overspend on an unexpected purchase. I was thinking of getting a Seasonic GX-850 or upgrading to a Corsair 1000W PSU. Thanks for your help!
Before swapping the PSU, update your graphics driver and clear all background processes except AV and system utilities. Test running games with just one stick of RAM active. Typically PSU problems appear under stress, not only in specific titles unless certain ones. It’s likely the PSU has an issue but other factors should be checked first. The error code suggests the system abruptly lost power, making safe mode and rebooting common. Has this been happening recently or has it been a long time? If the affected games are on a particular SSD, consider replacing its cable and avoid bending it.
I've attempted to play the games using just one stick, but they still crash. I've run both sticks through memtest86 and they passed after four attempts each. The issue began only about two to three weeks ago and wasn't present earlier. The crashes occur only with Destiny 2, Planet Coaster, and Overwatch 2; League of Legends works perfectly. All drives are NVME, so no cables are being bent. The drive reports 98% health but runs hot around 50°C. My RGB setup includes the water block via Aura Sync and my RAM using whatever G.Skills software is available. I plan to reinstall drivers or run DDU, but I've already wiped and reinstalled Windows 10 and drivers before, so that shouldn't resolve it.
Consider testing DDU drivers, though you might require a different power supply. A 1000W unit could work better. Do you have another PSU available? You’ll likely need a less powerful GPU too, since the 3080 demands more power for an older setup and could cause crashes. This isn’t usually an issue on newer systems, but ensure your PSU is clean and provides adequate airflow beneath your case.
You're thinking about switching to Windows 11 now that you're back. Decide if it's worth the upgrade based on your needs and experience.
Received drivers updated and reinstalled, some AMD software refreshed. RAM was OCCT applied after about two minutes, but the system froze again. Temperatures were 77°C on the CPU and 50°C on the GPU—no overheating concern. Planning to buy a 1000W power supply next Sunday and returning the old one for an RMA.
I bought a Corsair RM1000X and set it up, but the same problems keep happening. OCCT takes about 2-3 minutes to run, after which my computer crashes. It’s flashing too fast so I can’t see the messages. When the PC restarts, the RAM stays on QLED and needs a few restarts to disappear. Both RAM sticks tested fine. Could it be related to my motherboard? I’m running out of options.