Computer Keeps Crashing When Playing Games? Fixes

If your computer crashes or restarts during gaming, the cause is almost always overheating, a failing power supply, or unstable software/drivers. This guide walks you through the most likely culprits and gives step-by-step fixes, from checking temperatures to updating drivers and testing hardware.

Why Do Games Crash More Than Other Apps?

Games push your hardware harder than almost anything else. A word processor might use 10% of your CPU, but a modern game can push it to 100% and max out your GPU, RAM, and power draw simultaneously. This stress exposes weaknesses that stay hidden during normal use. For example, a slightly failing power supply might deliver enough power for web browsing, but when the GPU suddenly demands 300 watts during a game, the voltage drops and the system shuts down instantly.

Thermals are the other big factor. A CPU cooler that works fine at 50°C during light work can hit 95°C under a gaming load, triggering a protective shutdown. Game crashes are therefore not random—they are the system’s safety mechanisms reacting to a component being pushed past its limit.

Step 1: Check Temperatures First

Overheating is the single most common cause of gaming crashes. Before buying new parts, measure your component temps while gaming. Use a free monitoring tool like HWiNFO64 or MSI Afterburner and run a game for 10–15 minutes.

CPU: Anything above 90°C (194°F) is concerning. Modern CPUs throttle around 95–100°C.
GPU: Most GPUs run at 65–85°C under load. Above 90°C is a warning sign.
VRM/motherboard: High temps here indicate poor case airflow.

If temps are high, fix cooling first: clean dust from fans and heatsinks, check that all case fans spin, reapply thermal paste on the CPU (if you’re comfortable), and improve case airflow. A simple test: open the side panel and point a house fan at the motherboard. If crashes stop, cooling is the issue.

Step 2: Update or Roll Back GPU Drivers

Graphics drivers are the software layer between your games and the GPU. A buggy driver can cause crashes, black screens, or artifacts. The fix is usually to update to the latest stable driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.

But sometimes the newest driver is the problem. If crashes started right after a driver update, roll back to the previous version. Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode to completely remove old drivers, then install the version you want. This avoids leftover files that cause conflicts.

Step 3: Test Your Power Supply (PSU)

A failing or undersized PSU is a silent killer. Symptoms include random shutdowns during intense scenes, system restarts with no error, and crashes that happen more often as the PSU warms up. You cannot fully test a PSU with software—you need a multimeter or a PSU tester—but you can check the basics.

Wattage: Use a PSU calculator (like the one on OuterVision) to see if your unit meets your system’s peak draw. Add 20–30% headroom.
Age: PSUs degrade over time. A 5-year-old unit may not deliver its rated wattage anymore.
Connections: Ensure the 8-pin CPU and 24-pin motherboard cables are fully seated. A loose connection causes intermittent power loss.

If you suspect the PSU, borrow a known-good unit from a friend and test. Replacing a PSU is cheaper than replacing a fried motherboard or GPU.

Step 4: Check for Software Conflicts and Corrupted Files

Not all crashes are hardware. Corrupted game files, overlay software, or background apps can cause crashes.

Verify game files: In Steam, right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → Verify Integrity. In Epic Games Launcher, click the three dots → Verify.
Disable overlays: Turn off Discord, GeForce Experience, and Xbox Game Bar overlays. They inject code into games and sometimes cause instability.
Check Windows Event Viewer: Press Win+X → Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System. Look for red errors with “Kernel-Power 41” (sudden shutdown) or “WHEA-Logger” (hardware error). This tells you if it’s a power loss or a hardware fault.
Test with a clean boot: Disable all startup programs and run the game. If it stops crashing, add programs back one by one to find the culprit.

Step 5: Overheating vs. Power—How to Tell the Difference

These two causes feel similar but have different fixes. Here’s how to distinguish them:

Overheating: Crashes happen after 10–20 minutes of gaming, the PC is loud (fans spinning at max), and the case feels hot. The crash is often a freeze or black screen, not an instant restart.
Power issue: The PC shuts off instantly, like someone pulled the plug. It happens under heavy load, sometimes within seconds of launching a game. The system may restart immediately or stay off until you press the power button.

If you see a blue screen with a stop code, that’s usually not power—it’s a driver or memory issue. Write down the stop code (e.g., “VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE” or “MEMORY_MANAGEMENT”) and search for it specifically.

Step 6: Test RAM and Storage

Faulty RAM can cause crashes, random freezes, and blue screens. Use Windows Memory Diagnostic (search “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in Start menu) or MemTest86 (bootable USB). Run at least one full pass. If errors appear, replace the faulty stick.

Storage issues are less common but possible. A failing SSD or HDD can cause games to crash when loading assets. Check drive health with CrystalDiskInfo. If the health status says “Caution” or “Bad,” back up your data and replace the drive.

Step 7: Update BIOS and Chipset Drivers

An outdated BIOS can cause instability with newer CPUs or RAM. Check your motherboard manufacturer’s website for the latest BIOS version. Update it carefully—a power loss during BIOS update can brick the motherboard. Also install the latest chipset drivers from AMD or Intel, as these manage communication between the CPU and other components.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my PC only crash in games and not in benchmarks?

Benchmarks like FurMark or Prime95 stress one component at a time. Games stress the CPU, GPU, memory, and storage simultaneously, which is a more realistic load. A system can pass a single-component test but fail when all components draw power together, revealing a weak PSU or marginal cooling.

Can a game itself cause a crash?

Yes. Some games have memory leaks or bugs that cause crashes on certain hardware configurations. Check the game’s official forums or subreddit for known issues. If a game crashes but others don’t, it’s likely a game-specific problem, not your hardware.

Should I overclock my GPU to fix crashes?

No. Overclocking increases heat and power draw, making crashes more likely. If your GPU is factory-overclocked, try underclocking it slightly (using MSI Afterburner) to see if crashes stop. This is a useful diagnostic test, not a permanent fix.

How do I know if my PSU is too small?

Calculate your system’s total power draw using a PSU calculator. If your PSU’s wattage is within 50W of your peak draw, you’re cutting it close. Also, if your PSU is more than 5 years old, its capacitors may have degraded, reducing its actual output.

Is it safe to keep gaming if my PC crashes occasionally?

No. Repeated crashes can corrupt game files, Windows system files, and even damage hardware over time. A crashing system is a warning sign. Fix the underlying issue before continuing to game.

Why does my PC restart instead of showing a blue screen?

Windows is set to automatically restart on system failure by default. To see the blue screen instead, go to Control Panel → System → Advanced System Settings → Startup and Recovery → Settings → uncheck “Automatically restart.” This lets you read the stop code, which helps diagnose the issue.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →