How to fix PC restarting while gaming? Kernel Power 41, No BSOD

Question

While playing easy games like League of Legends, it runs fine. I while playing slightly graphic games like Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, which are by the same publisher which could be important, I can play from 3-10 minutes before my PC restarts. The picture stays on the last frame and the audio sometimes keeps playing for a couple seconds before screen goes back and then turns on again taking me to the lock screen.

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I run a ryzen 5 7600 and an intel arc b580 with a corsair sf750 platinum. I actually had an issue that appears to be very similar to this with my old PSU that I had a few months ago. I swapped it out to this one I got from a coworker and it fixed the issue. I then moved my parts into a new case and the issue came back. Because of this, I tested with a spare PSU, not that powerful 450w bronze and the issue persists. Although maybe it's because of the far lower power, but my components don't draw that much, at least in the games I'm having issues with.

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My temperatures are in the mid 30s C at idle, and while playing I have 50 C on the CPU and mid 50s on the GPU at around 30% utilization on both at max settings in game. Hitting max wattage of 60~ for CPU and 100~ for GPU (source HWiNFO)

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Event Viewer logs:

"The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly."

"The previous system shutdown at 2:47:27 PM on ‎3/‎13/‎2025 was unexpected."

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I've plugged my PC into 2 power strips and 2 outlets with neither having an issue.

For about 2 weeks, My PC was running with the CPU cooler sticker still on, I swapped coolers during the case swap, the temperatures were about high 60s under load.

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I ran cinebench and it finished, I ran prime95 for an hour and no restarts and as of posting, I'm on a fresh Windows 11 install for a day.

Answer 1

Hello，

Below are several troubleshooting steps and potential fixes you can try for your sudden reboots while gaming, along with some explanations. Although the Event Viewer’s Kernel Power 41 error is generic, the fact you’re not getting a BSOD usually points toward a hardware or power-delivery issue rather than a software crash. Your system’s temperatures seem fine, so we can focus on other areas:

1. Update Graphics Drivers and BIOS/Chipset Firmware

 • Intel Arc cards are relatively new, and driver updates can dramatically improve stability. Make sure you’ve installed the latest official drivers (or even consider a beta driver if recommended by Intel) and check the forums for similar issues.

 • Update your motherboard BIOS and chipset drivers. An updated BIOS can help better manage power delivery (especially under load) and resolve compatibility issues.

2. Double-Check PSU Connections and Quality

 • Ensure that all PSU cables are firmly and correctly connected—especially the CPU 8-pin/4+4 pin and GPU power connectors. A loose or poorly connected cable can cause a momentary voltage drop under load that leads to an abrupt system restart.

 • Even though you’ve already swapped between a high-quality 750W PSU and a spare 450W unit (which, under load, might be underpowered), double-check that the PSU cables aren’t damaged and that your system is not drawing a power spike that the PSU can’t handle.

 • With the 750W unit, monitor the voltage rails using software (like HWiNFO) during gaming. Check if there are any unexpected voltage dips around the moment of the crash.

3. Revisit the New Setup

 • When you moved to the new case, verify that all power connectors (motherboard, GPU, peripheral) are seated correctly and that cables are not pinched or stressed. Also, confirm that the case’s cable management isn’t affecting airflow, even if your temperatures seem acceptable.

4. Check Windows Power Settings and Drivers

 • Try resetting Windows’ power plan settings to “Balanced” or “High Performance” (whichever is recommended for your components). Misconfigured power settings or aggressive power saving features can sometimes cause issues during heavy GPU load.

 • Make sure that chipset drivers (which manage power delivery on the board) are up to date.

5. Stress Test and Monitor Voltages/Vrms Under Load

 • Although your system is stable under CPU-intensive stress tests (Prime95, Cinebench), the issue only happens during more graphics-intensive operations. Run a dedicated GPU stress test (for example, FurMark or 3DMark) and monitor voltage and current on the PCIe rail.

 • Look for any sudden dips or fluctuations during these tests—this can indicate that under certain conditions the power delivery to your GPU (or overall system) is suffering.

6. Memory and Other Hardware

 • While less likely, a brief issue with your memory can occasionally cause abrupt resets. Run a memory test (like MemTest86) overnight to rule out any RAM instability.

 • Also, check that your new CPU cooler installation is secure (even though temperatures are fine now, an earlier misinstallation could have affected voltage behavior or stressed the motherboard VRMs).

7. Consider Software Conflicts or Overclocking

 • Ensure that any overclocking settings (if enabled) for the CPU, GPU, or RAM are stable. Reset to stock speeds temporarily and test.

 • Check Windows’ reliability monitor or additional logs for any software-related events that might coincide with the crashes.

8. Investigate the Specific Games

 • Since you mentioned the crashes occur mostly in games like Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, check if those titles have any reported issues with Intel Arc hardware or require specific driver tweaks. It can help to search recent user experiences on forums dedicated to those games.

In summary, the symptoms suggest that under certain load conditions the system experiences a very brief power or voltage anomaly. Start by updating drivers and firmware, secure all PSU connections in your new case, and monitor voltages during a stress test. This systematic approach should help identify whether it’s a driver/BIOS issue, a power-delivery glitch, or an unexpected hardware fault.

If after these steps the issue persists, you might consider testing components individually (for example, using a different GPU if possible) or even consulting with your motherboard and GPU manufacturers for any known issues with your specific hardware combination.

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