The PC becomes unresponsive or freezes during gameplay?
The PC becomes unresponsive or freezes during gameplay?
Hey everyone! I have been having this problem with my PC for a few months now where randomly when playing games, the computer will lock up, I'm unable to use any inputs on keyboard and mouse and then the PC either restarts itself or I have to hold the power button to restart it. My Specs are:
Windows 11 Home
Z390 Steel Legend BIOS version P1.30
Intel Core i7-9700KF @ 4.60 GHz
32 GB DDR4 3600 Mhz Corsair Vengeance 2x16
RTX 5060ti 16GB
Corsair RM750e 750w Cybernetics Platinum
This used to happen to me prior to upgrading my GPU, I used to run a RTX 2060 Super and recently upgraded to the 5060ti. After it happens I have checked my Event Viewer and the only critical error that comes up is Kernel-Power System.
Solutions that I've tried that have done nothing
:
-Tried limiting my CPU maximum power state to 99%
-Upgraded my 600w 80+Gold PSU to the 750 Corsair RM750e
-Ran Windows Memory Diagnostic on the RAM
-Switched wall outlets my surge protector was plugged into.
-Stress tested the PC as this only happens in games and I've been unable to recreate it. It just happens randomly
-Checked all of the physical connections in the PC when I installed the new PSU
-Ran sfc /scannow to validate windows files.
-Disabled CAM and 4G Decoding in BIOS just to see if that was causing it.
-Updated Graphics drivers and other Drivers
-Checked for Windows Updates
-Disabled Turbo Boost on CPU
-Updated BIOS to a Previous more stable version (Was P1.30G went back to P1.30 still happens)
-Undid Razer Cortex Optimizations, restarted PC, uninstalled Razer Cortex.
-Tried swapping out the 3600Mt DDR4 CL16 RAM for 4000Mt DDR4 CL18 G.Skill Ripjaws which also did not work.
This ONLY happens when playing games not just browsing the internet or watching youtube. My temps under peak stress for my system stay under 60C. I am at a loss please help, I've done all of the googling and research that I can I am at my wits end. When I used to have the 2060 super installed, sometimes the display would go out and say "No signal from DP device" but since upgrading to the 5060ti, this no longer happens it is just the PC lock up into restarting. All audio cuts out as well as inputs. Not once has this freeze been a BSOD always a strict lock up and then forced or automatic restart. Sometimes the audio just turns into a repeating sound that happens during the freeze, almost like repeating the same .5 seconds of audio on loop it sounds awful.
Edit:
CSV file before one of the freezes occurred,
taken from HWinfo log I ran while playing Split Fiction, the freeze happened and stopped the LOG I'm not sure how to read this but if it'll help diagnose what's happening here I'm going to leave it here.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
Intel Core i7-9700KF @ 4.60 GHz
How are you managing the processor cooling?
Z390 Steel Legend BIOS version P1.30
https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z390 Steel Legend/index.asp#BIOS
I noticed a BIOS version 1.30G, maybe try updating to that and then reset the CMOS.
Updated my 600w 80+Gold PSU to the 750 Corsair RM750e
What power supply were you using before the RM750e?
I previously ran an RTX 2060 Super and recently switched to the 5060ti.
Did you use DDU before swapping out the older GPU, then installed the newest drivers from Nvidia's support site after switching to the RTX 5060Ti?
I'm using a Corsair ICUE h150i elite 360mm to cool the CPU.
I previously had the latest Beta version P1.30G, but downgrading to 1.30G didn't resolve the problem.
My old PSU was a Thermaltake Smart 80+ Gold.
Before removing the older GPU, I didn't use DDU and instead used the NVIDIA App to update drivers after installing the new graphics card. I also manually updated the graphics card firmware if needed.
I think most probably a hardware ish but try some soft tweaks anyway. Identify the full memory part no. in
hwinfo
and check with mobo memory compatibility list.
Quick Software Tweaks
Disable Fast Startup in Windows
: This can cause conflicts with hardware initialization, leading to instability on restarts or under load. It's a common fix for random freezes/reboots without BSOD.
Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do (left sidebar).
Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable" (requires admin).
Uncheck "Turn on fast startup" > Save changes > Restart.
Test in games afterward.
Clean Reinstall GPU Drivers
: with DDU.
Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers
: Kernel-Power 41 with audio glitches can stem from outdated/conflicting sound drivers (Realtek on your mobo). This has fixed similar looping/freezing in games for others.
Go to
ASRock's support page
for Z390 Steel Legend (asrock.com > Support > Download > Audio tab) and grab the latest Realtek driver (version 6.0.9231.1 or newer if available).
Uninstall current audio drivers via Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers > Uninstall Realtek device > Restart).
Install the new one > Restart > Test.
As a test, disable onboard audio in BIOS (under Advanced > Onboard Devices > Set HD Audio to Disabled) and use a USB headset or no audio to see if freezes stop—points to driver/hardware conflict.
DDU
can also clean up the audio drivers in safe mode.
Hardware/BIOS Checks
Disable XMP and Run RAM at Stock Speeds
: Your 3600MHz RAM (and the 4000MHz you tried) is overclocked for the 9700KF/Z390 (stock is 2666MHz). High-speed XMP can cause instability if voltages/timings aren't perfect, especially on ASRock Z390 boards which have known finicky memory support. Swapping kits doesn't rule this out if XMP was enabled both times.
Enter BIOS (press Delete during boot).
Go to OC Tweaker > DRAM Configuration > Set XMP to Disabled/Auto > Set DRAM Frequency to 2666MHz (or Auto).
Save and exit > Test in games.
If stable, try manually setting to 3200MHz (safer than 3600) with looser timings (e.g., 16-18-18-36) and slight voltage bump (1.35V DRAM voltage) if needed—but only if comfortable.
Check Storage Health
: A failing drive (SSD/NVMe for OS/games) can cause hard locks under I/O load in games, even if not obvious in tests.
Download
CrystalDiskInfo
(free from crystalmark.info) > Run it > Check "Health Status" for all drives (should say "Good"; anything Caution/Bad is suspect).
If issues, back up data and replace the drive.
Also run CHKDSK: Right-click C: drive in File Explorer > Properties > Tools > Check > Scan drive. For deeper scan: Open Command Prompt as admin > Type chkdsk C: /f /r > Schedule for restart.
Monitor Voltages and Temps in Real-Time
: Your reported temps are low, but spikes or voltage drops (e.g., on 12V rail, CPU Vcore, or SOC for RAM) might not show in basic monitoring. Use during actual gaming.
Download HWInfo (free from hwinfo.com) > Run in sensors-only mode.
Log during a game session: Watch CPU Vcore (shouldn't drop below ~1.2V under load), PSU rails (12V >11.4V, 5V >4.75V, 3.3V >3.14V), and VRM temps (if monitored—over 90C bad).
If drops occur, it could point to mobo VRM issues (common on mid-range Z390 with hot CPUs like 9700KF) or residual PSU problems.
Advanced/Hardware Tests
Test Components Individually
:
RAM: Even with diagnostics, test one stick at a time in different slots (e.g., slot A2 first).
GPU: Try a different PCIe slot (your mobo has x16 and x8 slots—use the secondary if possible).
If you have access to spare parts, swap in an old GPU temporarily to test.
BIOS Update
: You're on P1.30 (stable), having tried P1.30G. The latest is P1.30B (beta, from 2021) which adds Clever Access Memory support, but it might not help stability. Stick with P1.30 unless ASRock releases something new—check their site periodically.
Undervolt/Limit Load
: To rule out power spikes.
In Nvidia Control Panel > Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings > For your game > Enable "Max Frame Rate" at 60-120 FPS to reduce load.
Or use MSI Afterburner to undervolt GPU by -50mV core voltage (tutorials online—safe if done carefully).
If none of this works, it might be a degrading component like the motherboard (Z390 VRMs can fail over time with high-power CPUs) or CPU itself (9700KF silicon degradation from sustained boosts).
Could try a cpu stress test like the one built into
CPU-z
- there's a stress testing guide somewhere in forum too - wouldn't recommend prime 95 though since nowadays it's got more instruction set tests that are bad for older cpus. At least not without referencing which version to use. Bit rusty on that haven't stress tested fully for a while and things have changed. Lots of softwares around just don't know it down pat off the top of my head.
Thank you for your feedback. I noticed this might be connected to the audio driver information you mentioned. After updating and downgrading the BIOS, the problem began. Initially, Realtek HD audio disappeared from my list, but after searching, I found it no longer receives support. I've tested all hardware components with OCCT, including drives, without encountering any errors. I turned off fast boot and reinstalled the correct audio drivers, hoping that resolved it. I plan to try restarting the freeze tomorrow and test other solutions one by one. I'll let you know if anything works or not. Thanks again.
I tried various solutions but haven't resolved the issue. First, I disabled Windows fast boot and installed the correct Realtek audio drivers from ASROCK, yet the freeze persisted. Then I used DDU to uninstall display drivers in safe boot mode and reinstalled them manually from NVIDIA's site, still experiencing the same problem. I turned off XMP and set my RAM speeds to auto (2666 MHZ), but the freeze continued. All drives checked via CrystalDiskInfo showed normal status. The main challenge now is an "Extreme" CPU stress test with OCCT and HWINFO running in the background, which detected no errors but indicated low CPU voltages. I've attached a link with OCCT and HWinfo results for your review.
Rusty on vdroop, I encounter this issue when searching for the 9700k Vcore range. The Intel Core i7-9700KF typically has a standard or "stock" Vcore voltage that isn't clearly specified. It appears that whatever manages the voltage—power supply, CPU, or motherboard VRM—supports the hardware's expectations.
I don’t memorize every CPU by heart. Multi-core models from after 2015 are more intricate due to features like auto boost and advanced algorithms (VID, etc.), making things harder to predict. Vcore used to signal CPU health, but that’s no longer as straightforward.
Another round of testing:
Next Steps to Test:
- Re-enable Turbo Boost in BIOS if it’s disabled (use OC Tweaker > CPU Ratio Mode > Auto or Fixed, ensuring MCE is set to Auto).
- In HWInfo, record data while a game crashes: Monitor CPU frequency (should reach 4.6GHz all-core), Vcore (target 1.2V+ consistently), VRM temperatures (sensors should stay under 90°C), and PSU rails (12V must not drop below 11.4V).
- Check SOC voltage (important for IMC/RAM stability)—should be around 1.0–1.1V at stock settings. Low SOC has led to similar freezes on Z390 boards.
Rule Out VRM/Motherboard:
- Stress the VRMs: Run AIDA64 (System Stability Test > CPU + FPU + Cache) or Cinebench R23 multicore test. If it freezes only in OCCT but not in stress tests, it suggests VRM or voltage sag issues.
- Slightly undervolt the CPU in BIOS (OC Tweaker > CPU Vcore > Offset Mode > -0.050V) to ease load on VRMs. Verify stability.
Consider borrowing a different motherboard or visiting a shop—Z390 Steel Legend has had reports of random freezes linked to VRM wear or memory controller problems.
Double-Check Audio/Peripherals:
- Even after updating Realtek drivers, turn off onboard audio in BIOS and test with USB audio (headset or DAC). Kernel 41 + audio loops can sometimes point to Realtek conflicts on ASRock boards.
- Disconnect all non-essential USB devices—hubs/peripherals may cause hangs if they draw power.
- Verify RAM part number in HWInfo (under Memory tab) and match it with ASRock’s QVL for the Z390 Steel Legend. Even at stock speeds, mismatched kits can fail.
- Adjust DRAM voltage to 1.35V and SOC to 1.05V in BIOS if needed—this improves stability without overclocking.
It seems you've already confirmed that you loaded the UEFI defaults both before and after the update.
I believe the issue is resolved. After more than a week, the problem has completely disappeared. The solution I thought would work actually disabled XMP entirely. Earlier attempts to fix it by lowering RAM speeds to 3200 and adjusting timings didn’t help, but now the freeze has stopped. Even though my RAM matches the board’s specs, I suspect something on the board may have worn out or a configuration issue is preventing stable XMP operation. Thank you for your support—it seems the problem is resolved and it should keep working until I set up a new system in a few months.