Unfortunately, many players met frequent game crashes where the PC would shut down instantly.
Can a CPU Cause a Game to Crash?
Yes, a processor can crash a game when it overheats.
Apart from that, the build-up of heat can be due to poor cooling which can crash your system.
This is a short answer if thats your main query.
Honestly, there is no shortage of issues that can crash your game.
From bugs in the game to poorly optimized titles, I can go on and on.
So, lets look at the issues in detail.
What are the Reasons that can Cause a CPU to Crash a Game?
Improper dissipation of heat is the primary reason why your CPU suddenly stops working.
And this will crash any utility, which includes ones that are particularly taxing to your system.
Apart from that there are additional reasons that I have discussed below.
The frequency of it may even exceed the bullets fired at a soldier on a World War 2 trench.
Puns aside, lets look at a specific scenario.
Most games today require at least four cores.
Suppose your system is running on a Pentium processor which has 2 cores and 4 threads.
And that can cause frame drops and spikes here and there.
Processor is Overheating
Some things are good when served hot.
But, certainly not your processor.
A processor is designed to work under a specific temperature.
The max temperature that a CPU can get to before throttling is known asTJ Max.
If theprocessor determines the temperature is too high, that is when it shuts down suddenly.
It is a security feature meant to keep the processor safe and it is perfectly normal when this happens.
Overclocked Processor
You already know that a processor produces heat during its operation.
And when you overclock it, you are basically removing any power limits set by the manufacturer.
As a result, it will start to gobble all the power thrown at it.
That means even more heat, and if not cooled properly, you are looking at sudden shutdowns.
Another issue is that some games do not work properly with anoverclocked processor.
This may sound strange but Watch Dogs Legion crashes all the time when running on an overclocked system.
But when the game is run at stock speeds, it runs just fine.
In some cases, whenever you fire up a game, it would turn off immediately.
Just not for games only, this problem can be faced for running literally any app on your box.
Just a quick search on Youtube would reveal this in action.
Graphics cards cause more problems than processors when sufficient power is absent.
Evenoverheated PSUcan cause game crashes.
Thats why always ensure that your PSU has a greater power output than what your system needs.
Then remove any overclocks set on the processor and set the default clock speeds.
These methods are difficult to cover in brief.
So lets delve deeper so you could get a clear picture of what to do.
Perform a thorough dusting using a blower machine or a compressed can of air.
Next,remove the existing thermal paste on top of the motherboardusing rubbing alcohol.
After removing every bit of it, apply a small blob on top of theprocessors IHS.
Do not forget to remove the thermal paste from the fan heat sinks too.
You should see a drastic change in the temperature and that means a job well done.
Lets move on to the next step.
initiate the CPU at Stock Speeds
Remove any overclocks present on the processor.
you might use two methods to do this.
The BIOS has the option to reset it.
This loads the default values set by the manufacturer.
It means the processors will now run at the stock clock speed.
Now how would you know if the processor is running at stock speeds?
Again, use any freeware programs such asCPU-Zand take a look at the clock speeds.
Use a power supply calculator such as Outervision to help you with this.
Select all the components from the list.
There are individual columns for your Processor, GPU, Memory, and so on.
When you have added all the components, the total power draw for the system is shown.
Now check your system against your PSUs rated output.
Then, decide if you should upgrade your PSU.
They often come with bug fixes that need to be installed on your system.
For online multiplayer games, updating the game is a must.
Lastly, download the latest GPU drivers.
Then you could implement the latest iteration of the graphic card software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can high CPU usage cause crashes?
If your CPU usage is consistently high across any applications you use, that can slow down the system.
This will produce continuous heat and can cause a crash in your system.
Why is my CPU crashing when I play games?
Cooling your system properly is paramount no matter what applications you run.
It also extends the lifespan of your system.
So, keep your machine cool and keep the gaming sessions going for a longer time.
With that said its time to say goodbye.
