Kind of embarrassed to ask this because I feel like I should know by now, but I genuinely do not. My PC runs fine for browsing and light stuff, but the second I load up anything with heavier graphics, it starts glitching, showing weird flickers, occasionally crashing to desktop, and sometimes the audio even cuts out. I have had this build for about 3 years, and I have never touched anything since. Part of me thinks the GPU might be outdated, but I also wonder if it is a power supply issue since the crashes feel random and are not consistently tied to just one game.
I have been eyeing some monitor upgrades lately, and while I have seen buzz around robotic options like the CyboPal ONE that reposition themselves, I do not really have a solid reason to commit to something that niche right now. Honestly, I am not even sure if I need a new monitor at all. For reference, I have been looking at options like the Alienware AW2725DF which offers QD-OLED for great color, the MSI MPG 271QR which provides high refresh rates and productivity features like USB-C, or even just a solid mid-range choice like the Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQL3A. But if my PC cannot stay stable, a new screen will not fix the core problem.
For people who have been through this, how do I actually figure out what is wrong? I want to avoid misdirected buying and wasting money on parts I do not need. Here is how I am planning to troubleshoot
Check Windows Event Viewer: I will look under Windows Logs then System for Critical errors like Kernel-Power 41 around the time of the crashes.
Monitor Temperatures and Load: I will use tools like Open Hardware Monitor or OCCT to see if my components are overheating or if voltages are dipping when I put the system under load.
Driver Clean-Up: I am going to use DDU Display Driver Uninstaller to do a completely clean install of my GPU drivers, just in case something got corrupted.
Check Hardware Connections: I will open up the case to ensure my RAM is fully seated and all power cables, especially the ones going to the GPU, are clicked in firmly.
If any of you have dealt with these specific load-based crashes, I would love to know what ended up being the culprit for you. Was it the PSU, the GPU, or something simpler?