Repair Tech
custom gaming PC repair keeps coming back — what am I missing?
I run a small repair shop and recently, I've been facing a frustrating issue with a custom gaming PC that just keeps coming back for the same problem. The client originally brought it in claiming it was crashing during heavy gaming sessions. I replaced the power supply and updated the cooling system, but after a week, the customer returned saying the crashes are back. I ran stress tests and monitored the temperatures, which all seemed normal. I'm starting to wonder if it could be a motherboard issue or maybe even a software conflict that I overlooked. I’ve checked all connections and reseated the RAM, but the issue persists. The build is fairly high-end, with an RTX GPU and a Ryzen processor, so I feel like it's not a simple fix. Has anyone encountered a similar situation? Any suggestions on what I might be missing or diagnostic steps I can take to pinpoint the root cause? I want to provide my client with a solid solution and not just a band-aid fix.
2 Answers
I had a similar issue with a custom build recently. After trying various fixes, I discovered that the problem was with the BIOS settings. Sometimes, the default settings can cause instability with higher-end components. I recommend checking the voltage settings for the CPU and RAM, making sure they're set correctly according to the manufacturer specs. Also, try enabling XMP profiles for the RAM if you haven’t already. Lastly, I’ve had success using a tool called HWiNFO during stress tests to log the voltages and temperatures, which can give you a clearer picture of what's happening under load. This approach helped me catch intermittent power delivery issues that I wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. Good luck!
It sounds like you're doing all the right things, but have you checked for any driver issues? Sometimes, a graphics card can cause crashes if the drivers are outdated or not compatible with the latest game patches. I recommend running DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to completely remove the GPU drivers and then reinstalling the latest versions from the manufacturer’s site. Additionally, check for any Windows updates that might be pending because they can sometimes interfere with performance as well. If that doesn’t solve it, consider running a memtest to rule out any RAM faults.