PC blacks out while playing games and restarts

The symptoms, BlueScreen 0x116, LiveKernelEvent 141, and Event ID 41 together indicate GPU/graphics stack failures under load that cause a crash or hard reset rather than a clean shutdown.

Use the following approach to isolate and fix the issue:

1. Treat Event ID 41 as a crash symptom, not the root cause
   Event ID 41 (“The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first”) is logged after an unexpected restart or power loss. It confirms a dirty shutdown but does not by itself identify the cause. Focus on the bug check / LiveKernelEvent codes and what is happening (gaming, GPU load) when the restart occurs.
2. Check for repeated Stop/LiveKernelEvent codes
   In Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer, note the recurring codes (e.g., 0x116, LiveKernelEvent 141). These are typically graphics TDR (Timeout Detection and Recovery) or GPU driver/hardware issues. If the same code appears repeatedly during games, it strongly suggests the GPU path (driver, card, power, or cooling) is unstable.
3. Perform basic Windows crash troubleshooting
   Follow the general steps for repeated blue screen / stop code errors:
   • Remove or disconnect any recently added hardware and test again.
   • Boot into Safe Mode and verify that the system is stable there; if it is, that again points to drivers or load-related issues.
   • In Device Manager, check for devices with a warning icon and update or temporarily disable/uninstall problematic drivers.
   • Ensure there is sufficient free disk space (at least 10–15%) on the system drive so Windows can create dump files and operate normally.
   • Install all pending Windows Updates.
4. Stabilize the GPU environment
   Because the failures occur only under gaming load and involve LiveKernelEvent/BlueScreen codes associated with graphics, focus on the GPU:
   • Make sure the graphics driver is fully up to date and correctly installed. If the issue started after a driver change, test with a clean reinstall of the GPU driver.
   • Return any GPU overclocks to default (core, memory, and voltage). Lowering only the power limit in MSI Afterburner may not be sufficient if the card is marginally stable; test at complete stock settings.
   • Monitor GPU temperatures under load. If temperatures approach the card’s limit and the crash coincides with high temps, treat it as a cooling/thermal issue (clean dust, improve airflow, or service the card as needed).
5. Consider hardware and power integrity
   Repeated LiveKernelEvent 1xx/BlueScreen 0x116 under load can also be triggered by marginal hardware or power delivery:
   • Check that PCIe power cables and the GPU are firmly seated.
   • If possible, test with a different PSU or GPU to see whether the behavior changes.
   • If GPU temperatures are fine but crashes persist across clean driver installs and stock settings, suspect a failing GPU or other hardware component.
6. Understand the dirty shutdown tracking
   Each crash/restart increments the dirty shutdown count and logs Event ID 41. This is expected after these failures. Once the underlying GPU/driver/hardware issue is resolved, Event ID 41 entries will stop appearing for these gaming sessions.

If, after applying the above steps (driver cleanup, stock GPU settings, temperature and hardware checks, Windows updates) the system still blacks out and restarts only under GPU load, the most likely remaining cause is a defective GPU or power subsystem that requires repair or replacement.

References:

• Advanced troubleshooting for Event ID 41: "The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first"
• Troubleshooting Windows unexpected restarts and stop code errors
• Recurring "LiveKernelEvent 1b8" hardware error (Watchdog Timeout) - Microsoft Q&A