Sudden shutdowns can be frustrating, especially when you’re playing games.

Here’s what to look for and how to proceed in solving the issue.

When a critical component like your CPU exceeds a safe operating temperature it goes into self-preservation mode.

Woman wearing a gaming headset and looking at a computer with a surprised or outraged expression.

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you’ve got the option to put this theory to the test by monitoring temperatures on your CPU.

When things start to get close to 80oC (176oF) you may begin to encounter problems.

The easiest remedy is tomake sure your case is free of dustandhas good airflow.

Reliabilty Monitor in Windows showing red Xs indicating recent crashes.

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Don’t forget that radiators attached towater coolersneed to vent heat too.

Like your CPU, your GPU is also prone to generating a lot of heat.

If it gets too hot, you may encounter a sudden loss of power.

Closeup of a dusty CPU cooling fan.

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Tomonitor GPU temperature, use a free tool likeGPU-Z.

you’re free to also do this with the aforementionedHWiNFO64.

Different cards have different upper limits for temperatures, with some exceeding 90oC (194oF).

NewEgg Power Supply Calculator recommendation

Cleaning out dust and debris will help a lot.

Related:How Much Is your system Heating Your Home?

Optimize the case to prevent heat from your power supply from venting directly onto the GPU.

Evenchanging your PC case can go a long wayto improving airflow.

GPUs, like CPUs, use thermal paste and coolers.

Pinpointing this as your issue can be difficult.

This is especially common during gaming, with new graphics cardsdrawing a huge amount of power.

Buying a PSU with more power than you currently need is a good idea.

It’s also possible to do this with a free utility calledDisplay Driver Uninstaller.

Laptop Crashing?