PC Drivers & Software

[ArieDev]

Hardware Setup:

• Motherboard: MSI B650 Tomahawk WiFi

• GPU: AMD XFX 7900 XT Merc

• CPU: AMD 7900X

• RAM: Corsair Vengeance 6000MHz CL30 - 32GB

• PSU: BeQuiet 850W Pure Power 12M

• Main Storage: Sx850 NVMe

• Secondary Storage: Crucial MX500 SSD

PC Restarting Randomly When ALT-TABbing or Switching Between Applications (Only in DirectX 12 Games)

I’ve been experiencing random restarts of my PC. Sometimes the system keeps running for a while, and sometimes it restarts immediately. I’ve encountered this issue roughly 30 times, and I’ve identified a few patterns:

• The problem sometimes happens when ALT-TABbing out of a game or switching between windows.

• Once, I got the restart while trying to change the windowed mode in Call of Duty.

• Another time, I got the restart after the first launch of Battlefield 2042 after the intro.

After these incidents, it only seems to happen when ALT-TABbing. It can work for hours without issue, even if I switch between windows a lot, but eventually, it crashes.

Important Detail: When the issue occurs, the PC stays on and continues running. I can still hear the sound from the game or application, but the screen goes black and the PC restarts after seconds (sometimes fast, sometimes slower)

Here’s everything I’ve tried so far (which didn’t fix the issue):

• Uninstalled and reinstalled drivers using DDU (including both older and newer versions).

• Reinstalled Windows.

• Reseated RAM.

• Reseated GPU.

• CMOS reset.

• BIOS update and reverted to an older BIOS.

• Updated and downgraded chipset drivers.

• Reduced GPU max frequency.

• Monitored temperatures using HWInfo — everything seems fine, no unusual spikes.

• Checked 12V, 5V, and 3V PSU rails using HWInfo — no issues detected.

• Checked all PSU cables (disconnected and reconnected).

• Installed only minimal GPU drivers.

• Installed driver only

• Ran OCCT stress tests for RAM, PSU, GPU, and CPU.

• Ran GFX Bench DX12 and Cinebench for stress Testing.

• Ran Memtest86 for 2 hours with no errors.

• Set power plan to High Performance.

• Reinstalled DirectX.

• Turned off FreeSync.

• Tested with only one monitor connected.

Despite all this, the issue persists. The Event Viewer shows only Kernel Event 41, which appears after the system restarts. Nothing else appears in the logs to give a clue.

However, the issue does not happen in DirectX 11 games. For example, I can play Hell Let Loose (DX11) without any issues. The problem only seems to occur in DirectX 12 games, particularly when ALT-TABbing or switching between applications.

I would appreciate any insights or advice! Has anyone else experienced something similar or have any suggestions on what could be causing this issue?

[sadfasdfasdfasdfas]

tbh never had this problem. i searched a bit for "Alt + Tab reboots PC" and stumbled upon this old post (it seems you're not the only one)

at the end he wrote this

so i'm thinking would be nice if you have another psu or a friend with a psu, maybe 1000w, to ask him to bring it to you just for a test? idk what else, you did try a lot of things, maybe the psu is faulty

[ArieDev]

Bought all of the parts 2 month ago. 
Maybe its the PSU, i ordered a 1000w, come Friday and hope its „just the PSU“ 

Will reply  

[System-Crash1]

Definitely sounds like a PSU pulling too much power causing the crash.

[League3549]

Same identical issue. I don't think it's PSU related, as it happens exclusively in alt tabbing situations. In my case it happens since the launch of Black Ops 6 with drivers 24.10.1 and 24.12.1. The system is totally stable in games, however it becomes an unknown (Black screen) during alt tabs. Most likely the problem lies in the drivers/games. However, I do not own a 7900 XT but a 6800 XT Red Dragon and I believe that, since we both have the same problem, it does not concern exclusively the 6000 or 7000 series.

Also, when these black screens occur after alt tabbing, once the hard reset is done, the drivers appear to be corrupted and require a clean install.

[ArieDev]

Had a 6700xt before in my old setup. No issues with it. My new psu comes friday and i will report. I tested everything, have no other idea. But it's good to know that there are more people with the problem.

[League3549]

I noticed that we both have the same SSD, which is the SN850X. And checking the software, there was a firmware update available. The SN850X was notorious for having firmware related issues, specific to BIOS boot. You might want to try updating.

[ArieDev]

I check that out

[Flyfisherman]

Hi.

Some games does not work well while Alt+Tab out of the game with dual monitors (other stuff on the second monitor), if the graphics settings is set to Full screen mode.

I have had similar issues/crashes with Assassins Creed Valhalla/Odyssey, Far Cry Primal/4/5/6, Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, etc.

My solution was to change the graphics settings to Borderless window mode, and then the GPU is allowed to better handle other graphics tasks such as viewing Youtube videos and not explicit for just that particular game.

Hope this helps.

Best regards from Sweden

[ArieDev]

Tested with one monitor as well, sadly same Problem.

[ArieDev · Accepted solution]

Found the fix.
• disable „core isolation“ works!