The computer freezes and stops working properly after prolonged gaming sessions.
The computer freezes and stops working properly after prolonged gaming sessions.
I’ve encountered a recurring issue where my personal computer unexpectedly shuts down while I'm playing video games. What’s perplexing is that these crashes frequently occur after approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours of gameplay. Instead of displaying a typical blue screen error, the display goes black, and I hear a persistent, unpleasant sound through my headphones – resembling the noise associated with a BSOD – before either the system automatically restarts or I must manually power it off. This problem began following the installation of a new graphics card (RX580 8GB) to replace my previous Nvidia GTX750ti. This suggests a potential problem with either my power supply unit, motherboard, or graphics card; specifically, the RX580 was purchased secondhand from eBay and my power supply is a 500W EVGA unit that has been in use for nearly five years. Interestingly, when I used Furmark to push my GPU to 100% capacity, the system remained stable. However, attempting to switch to another application using Alt+Tab resulted in a similar crash. I've also experienced crashes while switching between full-screen and windowed modes, or Alt+Tab’ing away from games after extended gaming sessions – although these aren't always triggered by those actions.
Here are my system specifications:
* Motherboard: GIGABYTE H81M-S2H
* CPU: Intel Core i5 4460
* GPU: AMD Radeon RX580 8GB
* PSU: EVGA 500W Bronze
* RAM: Two 8GB DDR3 sticks (totaling 16GB)
* Other Components: Two 1TB optical drives (one nearing 7 years old), a 250GB SSD (for game installations), and a 21.5 inch monitor
I’ve conducted several tests to rule out certain possibilities: I have performed a memory diagnostic and found no errors, utilized DDU (including completely removing AMD and Nvidia folders), and applied new thermal paste to my CPU, achieving a maximum temperature of 62 degrees Celsius under full load. My GPU also reaches a peak temperature of 80 degrees Celsius during testing, and I still experience crashes even when the GPU is not operating at full capacity.
Could my secondhand graphics card be the source of this issue? Or might my power supply or motherboard not be adequately equipped to handle the demands of the new GPU? Perhaps my PSU is overheating? I would greatly appreciate assistance with diagnosing this problem, and I hope that the details provided will assist in identifying its cause.
The EVGA power supplies, all rated at 500 watts, are unreliable, and the RX 580 can push them to their limits, potentially leading to a power supply failure. However, it's also possible that the issue lies with the graphics card itself, particularly if it was previously used for cryptocurrency mining (a significant amount of substandard hardware exists). Furthermore, the statement “1 8GB stick of DDR3, 1 8GB stick of DDR4” is incorrect; DDR4 memory modules are physically incompatible with DDR4 slots due to their different connection designs, and attempting to force them together would likely result in damage to the port or the memory stick.
What’s the explanation for how a DDR4 memory module functioned on a motherboard designed exclusively for DDR3?
That’s likely the root cause of your intermittent system failures. I haven't been able to locate a single motherboard model that can accommodate both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, and it’s important to note that these two types are fundamentally incompatible.
Historically, certain motherboards did offer dual support, but this required utilizing only one standard – not both simultaneously. I’m unsure if this was the case during the transition from DDR2 to DDR3, as my memory isn’t precise.
I’m evaluating whether my power supply unit is malfunctioning or insufficient for my needs (perhaps it has become weaker with age?), but I’m resisting the urge to purchase a replacement just yet, especially since the graphics card was utilized for video editing tasks.
Following a sudden system interruption or reboot, record the time. Subsequently, when you resume operation, examine the Event Viewer by navigating to Windows Logs > System. If the most recent entry at that time indicates (as I recall) Kernel - Power, event ID 41, describing an unexpected shutdown, it strongly suggests that the power supply unit is the issue.
I just unexpectedly shut down, and I’m noticing a serious error message indicating “kernel power,” as you mentioned. Do you strongly suspect it’s because my power supply unit is struggling or damaged?
EDIT: The identification code is 41, as you also indicated.
If you suspect your power supply is the problem, a short-term solution could be to reduce the clock speeds of your graphics card and/or processor, thereby lowering their power consumption. While this will decrease performance until a replacement PSU is obtained, it may provide a temporary workaround.
I recently experimented with a 40% reduction in power consumption, and the game ran without issues. However, upon closing the application, my computer subsequently crashed in a similar manner. I’m now baffled about the underlying cause of this behavior.
Please refer to the initial link in my signature for comprehensive guidance on suggested power supplies.