Random restarts, blue screens, or your PC turning off without warning—it might not be your RAM or GPU. Believe it or not, a flaky power supply (PSU) is often the last thing people check, but one of the most common causes.
Signs Your PSU Might Be the Problem
- System crashes only during gaming or rendering? That’s high load = more power draw.
- PC restarts when waking from sleep or during Windows updates.
- Fans spin but no display on boot — this can be a dirty 12V rail issue.
- No event logs or errors in Windows = hardware-level failure.
Basic Tests You Can Do Without Equipment
- Run
OCCTorCinebenchwhile monitoring voltage drops using HWMonitor. - If your +12V line drops below 11.4V under load — it’s a warning sign.
- Try disconnecting your GPU and running onboard video to reduce load. Does it still crash?
- Borrow a known-good PSU from a friend or old rig for a quick A/B test.
What Specs Actually Matter When Buying a PSU
- Wattage isn’t everything. Look for 80+ Gold or Platinum certification.
- Check the +12V rail amperage—not just the total wattage.
- Choose reputable brands: Seasonic, Corsair (RM or HX series), EVGA (G+ or P2), be quiet! (Straight Power).
- Modular cables = cleaner airflow + easier cable swaps later.
The power supply is like your PC’s heart. If it’s weak or unstable, everything else suffers. Don’t wait for a hard shutdown to find out—check your PSU before it kills your uptime (or worse, your components).