Random PC Crashes Followed By Reboots
Random PC Crashes Followed By Reboots
RTX 4080 14900k (Performance cores down to 5.4GHz) Windows 11 64x 64GB DDR5. About six days ago, my computer suddenly stopped and restarted itself. I’m unsure if the problem is software or hardware. The first failure occurred while casting to my TV—something I’d done regularly without issues. I updated graphics and related drivers, which fixed it temporarily for another hour before it crashed again. Then crashes started randomly every 15 to 2 minutes, with no BSODs, happening anytime before the system booted, until it entered recovery mode. I checked all PSU cables, confirmed power was on, removed and reformatted the M.2 slot, and reinstalled Windows 11. It seemed to work well for five days with normal use, until this morning. It crashed twice early in the day while idle, then rebooted both times. I kept it running at light load during work hours to test again. Not a crash in over twelve hours so far, though I suspect something unusual. Windows Reliability Monitor shows crashes as “Windows wasn’t properly shut down,” suggesting a power issue, yet after formatting and reinstalling, it worked flawlessly for nearly a week. I’m confused about what might have triggered these events and need advice on next steps. Thanks for any guidance!
You attempted to reverse the CPU overclock and suspect a hardware problem. It's challenging to pinpoint the cause when you mix in overclocking/underclocking and then reset everything back to default. If it crashes, we can begin troubleshooting. I noticed you recently reduced the CPU speed—did these problems occur before that change or are they new?
No, the this is a very recent issue. I've been underclocking my CPU since about July of last year, because the base clock speed is far too fast for DirectX and other software to the point they're either unlaunchable or CTD. Actually just updated my last forum post about that with the solution after a year lol. Base clock for the performance cores is 5.7Ghz, DirectX is able to function flawlessly at 5.4Ghz. Haven't changed anything hardware-wise or clocking-wise since then Edit: On top of that, it hasn't crashed since the last crash listed on the reliability monitor. I've been playing The Finals just fine for hours (with w/ underclock, usual daily settings) But that's just the problem. There's seemingly no reason for it, nothing in particular seems to trigger it given the state its in immediately preceding the crash doesn't matter, but somehow a system formatting and fresh install of windows just seems to... stave off the problem completely for 6 days with daily use?
It could be that something else is causing the problem. If you open the Event Viewer and look for events labeled "error" near the time your computer freezes and restarts, you might find relevant logs indicating a crash. I recommend using DISM and SFC tools, but if you’ve wiped your Windows, there could be another issue. It seems hardware might be involved since all your tests have failed. How long have you been using that power supply? Was it new or old? I noticed your GPU died after months of use—someone had a faulty one before. You mentioned an RX6750XT and experienced random freezes and crashes. Sadly, after a while it stopped working properly. I’m not sure yet, but trying to replace the GPU might help. Could you remove it and see if your PC runs with the integrated graphics? Also, check if the Windows Check Disk tool shows any missing files.
All components are brand new as of December 2023, with roughly half a year apart from the nearly six months of inactivity due to frequent game closures caused by clock speed problems. I’m aware the CPU includes built-in graphics, so I could attempt that. I have an extra M.2 slot available, and if needed, I’ll try it again. Currently, the system has run through the entire night without issues and remains stable since I posted it.
I thought the black screen might be hiding a BSOD, but it doesn't seem that way. Were there any WHEA events around the time of the crash? If not, power issues are my main concern. The PSU could be involved, possibly due to a power strip, surge protector, or inconsistent wall power. Please share any WHEA details from the Details tab or right-click to save them. I need the full RawData section.
It seems no WHEA entries appear in the Event Viewer, but similar events occur just before the crash. This might be unusual since I’m not comfortable interpreting those logs. Could it matter?