Question:

What could be causing my PC to randomly restart while gaming, despite trying various troubleshooting steps?

I have a PC with the following specs:

• Corsair 650W PSU
• i7-8700k CPU
• 16GB Corsair RAM at 2133MHz (4x4GB)
• RTX 2080 SUPER GPU
• ASUS Prime Z390-P motherboard

The problem started about a week and a half ago, when I was experiencing issues that I thought were related to Windows. I reinstalled Windows, but the problem persisted. I then replaced the RAM with a working set from a friend, and the problem seemed to be fixed.

However, a few days later, the PC started randomly restarting again, especially when I was playing games. I noticed that the GPU hotspot temperature was 30°C higher than the normal temperature, so I repasted the GPU and lowered the temperature. I also used DDU to uninstall and reinstall the latest GPU drivers, and updated the BIOS to the latest version. These steps did not solve the problem either.

I checked the event viewer and found an error related to nvlddmkm.sys, which I tried to fix by following a guide on Reddit, but it did not help. I also ran Memtest and found no errors, and stress tested the GPU with Furmark and the CPU with Prime95, and neither of them caused the PC to restart. I also disabled fast startup and reinstalled the drivers again, but the problem still persists.

I

have not tested another PSU yet, because I do not have a spare one, and I am wondering if that could be the cause of the problem. I am looking for any kind of idea or solution to fix this issue. Thank you for your help.

Answer:

If your PC is randomly restarting while gaming, despite trying various troubleshooting steps, you might be frustrated and confused about what is causing the problem and how to fix it. In this article, we will explore some possible causes and solutions for this issue, based on the information you provided.

Possible causes

There are many factors that could cause your PC to randomly restart while gaming, such as:

• Power supply issues: If your power supply unit (PSU) is faulty, not powerful enough, or not properly connected, it could cause your PC to lose power and restart unexpectedly. This could happen more frequently when your PC is under heavy load, such as gaming, which requires more power from the PSU.
• Overheating issues: If your PC components, such as the CPU or the GPU, are overheating, they could trigger a thermal protection mechanism that shuts down your PC to prevent damage. This could happen if your PC has insufficient cooling, poor airflow, dust buildup, or faulty fans. Overheating could also cause performance issues, such as throttling or stuttering, which could affect your gaming experience.
• Driver issues: If your drivers, especially the GPU drivers, are outdated, corrupted, or incompatible, they could cause your PC to crash and restart. Drivers are software that allow your PC to communicate with your hardware, and they need to be updated regularly to ensure optimal performance and stability. Sometimes, driver updates could also introduce bugs or conflicts that could cause problems, so it is important to check the driver release notes and user feedback before installing them.
• Software issues: If your PC has software issues, such as malware, viruses, corrupted files, or conflicting programs, they could cause your PC to behave erratically and restart. Software issues could affect your PC’s performance, security, and stability, and they need to be resolved as soon as possible. Sometimes, software issues could also be caused by Windows updates, which could introduce bugs or compatibility issues that could affect your PC.

Possible solutions

Based on the possible causes, here are some possible solutions that you could try to fix your PC randomly restarting while gaming:

• Test another PSU: Since you have not tested another PSU yet, this should be your first step to rule out any power supply issues. You could borrow a PSU from a friend or buy a new one that is compatible with your PC and has enough wattage to support your PC components. You could use a PSU calculator to estimate how much power your PC needs, and add some headroom for future upgrades or overclocking. You could also check the PSU cables and connections to make sure they are secure and not damaged.
• Improve your PC cooling: Since you noticed that your GPU hotspot temperature was 30°C higher than the normal temperature, you should improve your PC cooling to prevent overheating issues. You could clean your PC case and fans from dust, which could reduce the airflow and heat dissipation. You could also add more fans or upgrade to a better cooling system, such as a liquid cooler or a custom loop. You could also monitor your PC temperatures using software such as HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner, and adjust your fan curves or undervolt your components to lower the temperatures.
• Reinstall your drivers: Since you found an error related to nvlddmkm.sys, which is a file associated with the NVIDIA GPU driver, you should reinstall your drivers to fix any driver issues. You could use DDU to uninstall your drivers in safe mode, and then download and install the latest drivers from the NVIDIA website. You could also try older drivers that are known to be stable and compatible with your GPU and Windows version. You could also check for any driver updates for your other components, such as the CPU, motherboard, or RAM, and install them if available.
• Scan and repair your PC: Since you reinstalled Windows, but the problem persisted, you should scan and repair your PC to fix any software issues. You could use Windows Defender or a reputable antivirus program to scan your PC for any malware or viruses, and remove them if found. You could also use the System File Checker (SFC) or the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools to scan and repair any corrupted or missing system files. You could also uninstall any programs that you do not use or that could conflict with your PC, such as overclocking utilities, game launchers, or third-party antivirus programs.

Conclusion

In

conclusion, your PC randomly restarting while gaming could be caused by various factors, such as power supply issues, overheating issues, driver issues, or software issues. To fix this problem, you could try some possible solutions, such as testing another PSU, improving your PC cooling, reinstalling your drivers, or scanning and repairing your PC. Hopefully, one of these solutions will work for you and you will be able to enjoy your gaming without any interruptions. If none of these solutions work, you could contact a professional PC technician or the manufacturer of your PC or components for further assistance. Thank you for reading this article and good luck with your PC.