Why Does My PC Restart Suddenly and Enter a Loop When Playing Heavy Games?

When your PC restarts suddenly and enters a loop, it can be quite frustrating, especially when you are in the middle of a gaming session or a complex modelling project. Several factors could be contributing to this issue. This article will help you identify the most common causes and provide practical solutions to address them.

1. Overheating

The most common reason behind sudden restarts and boot loops is overheating. Modern CPUs and GPUs require a significant amount of power to operate, and this power usage generates a lot of heat. If your computer isn’t adequately cooled, the components can overheat, leading to instability, crashes, and even restarts.

How to Detect and Address Overheating:

Checking for Dust Buildup: Over time, dust can accumulate in your PC’s cooling system, reducing its efficiency. Open your PC’s case and check if the fans are working properly and if there's any dust around them. If your PC uses a stock cooling system, you might consider replacing it with a more efficient one or using compressed air to clean the interior.

Replacing Cooling Components: If your CPU cooler’s fan is malfunctioning, it could be causing the overheating issue. Replace it if necessary. Also, the thermal paste that transfers heat from the CPU to the cooler may need to be reapplied. Make sure that the CPU cooler is securely attached to the motherboard.

Adjusting BIOS Settings: You can change your BIOS settings to ensure that the fans run at their maximum speed, even at lower temperatures. This will help to cool down your system but will increase noise levels and power consumption.

2. Power Supply Issues

Your PC’s power supply unit (PSU) is another critical component that can cause restart issues. Power supply units have a built-in fuse, similar to a thermostat, that cuts off power when the demand exceeds the PSU’s capacity. This can lead to shutdowns and boot loops.

How to Address Power Supply Issues:

Replace the PSU: If your current PSU is insufficient, consider replacing it with a more powerful one. You should also temporarily disconnect any non-essential hardware to reduce the load on the PSU and avoid overloading.

Checking the PSU Fuses: While it's not always easy to check the fused in your PSU, if you suspect a problem, you might want to consult an expert. Keep in mind that some modern PSUs have redundant built-in protections that might prevent you from manually testing the fuses.

3. Faulty RAM

RAM can also be a culprit behind PC instability. Faulty RAM can lead to random data corruption and other issues, especially during heavy workloads. While it’s not a common issue, it’s worth checking.

How to Detect Faulty RAM:

Monitoring RAM Usage: Use diagnostic software to check the health of your RAM. Tools like MemTest86 can help you identify faulty memory modules. If you find any issues with your RAM, you should replace the faulty module.

Reapplying Thermal Paste: Faulty memory can also cause heat issues, so ensure that you apply fresh thermal paste between your CPU and cooler to prevent overheating.

A Guide to Common Solutions

Before you spend money on new hardware, ensure that your Windows updates are complete, or you may have encountered a bad update. To resolve this issue, either restart your PC (not just turn it off and on) or follow the steps to delete downloaded Windows Update files. You can find several guides online, such as the one provided by gHacks Tech News.

If none of the above solutions work, you might need to address more serious issues like an insufficient cooling setup or a failing component. In such cases, professional assistance may be necessary.

By following these steps and troubleshooting guide, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue causing your PC to restart suddenly and enter a loop when playing heavy games. Whether it's overheating, faulty RAM, or a power supply issue, taking the time to diagnose and address these problems will ensure a smoother gaming and working experience.