Computer Restarts During Gaming — Insufficient PSU Wattage
A user reports that their desktop computer randomly restarts during gaming sessions. The technician has replaced the power supply unit (PSU) with a known-good unit of higher wattage, verified that CPU and GPU temperatures remain within normal limits during gaming, and updated all drivers. The RAM passes a memory test. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to replacing components (motherboard, GPU) or tweaking Windows settings, forgetting that the power source itself may be the culprit, which is a classic 'power before hardware' troubleshooting step.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check the wall outlet voltage with a multimeter.
The technician has already ruled out the PSU, overheating, driver issues, and faulty RAM. Random restarts under load can be caused by unstable or insufficient AC power from the wall outlet. Using a multimeter to check the wall outlet voltage is the logical next step to identify if the issue is upstream of the PSU, such as a sagging voltage or a loose neutral connection.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace the motherboard.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the motherboard is a drastic and presumptive repair. Random restarts during gaming far more commonly result from an insufficient or failing power supply, overheating components, or unstable wall power. A motherboard failure usually presents with no power, boot loops, or system-specific beep codes, not intermittent restarts under load. Performing this swap also requires reinstalling the OS and all drivers, so it should only be considered after ruling out simpler, more probable causes with proper testing.
- ✓
Check the wall outlet voltage with a multimeter.
Why this is correct
Gaming loads a system's power delivery to near maximum; if the wall outlet supplies sagging or unstable voltage, the power supply's undervoltage/overvoltage protection may trip and abruptly cut power, causing the restart. Use a multimeter to measure AC voltage at the outlet, ideally during a game or synthetic load, to see if it drops below the nominal 120/220 V range. This step is non-invasive and directly tests the power source before suspecting internal hardware. Note that a static reading may miss transient sags, so you can also check under load.
- ✗
Disable automatic restart in Windows System Properties.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling automatic restart in Windows System Properties is a diagnostic tweak, not a fix. It simply tells Windows to stop rebooting after a bug check so you can read the stop code on a blue screen. If the restart is caused by a hard power loss from the PSU or wall supply, there will be no blue screen at all, and this setting changes nothing. It can help identify driver or software-caused crashes, but it cannot address the underlying power or thermal issue.
- ✗
Run a stress test on the GPU.
Why it's wrong here
The user's heavy gaming sessions already stress the GPU intensively, and that activity triggers the restarts. Running an additional GPU stress test like FurMark simply repeats the same workload in a more extreme way, potentially pushing a failing power supply or overheating VRM to the point of hardware damage. It is unlikely to reveal new diagnostic information; instead, you should first monitor GPU temperatures, power supply voltages, and the event log. If the system restarts only when the GPU is heavily loaded, the primary suspects are power delivery or thermal protection, not the GPU compute circuitry itself.
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Key term
Power supply unit
A power supply unit (PSU) is the hardware component that converts electricity from a wall outlet into usable power for a computer's internal components.
Key term
Dual In-line Memory Module
A Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) is a small circuit board that holds memory chips and plugs into a computer's motherboard to provide Random Access Memory (RAM).
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1101
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that randomly reboots under heavy CPU load. The technician has verified the CPU cooler is properly seated with thermal paste, run memory diagnostics (no errors), replaced the power supply, and updated all drivers. Running a CPU stress test causes the system to reboot after approximately 10 minutes. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?
medium- A.Replace the CPU
- ✓ B.Check the CPU voltage settings in BIOS
- C.Update the motherboard BIOS
- D.Replace the motherboard
Why B: The technician has already ruled out overheating (cooler seated with paste), memory errors, power supply issues, and driver conflicts. Under heavy CPU load, the system reboots after a consistent 10 minutes, which strongly suggests the CPU is not receiving stable voltage under load. Checking and adjusting the CPU voltage settings in BIOS is the next logical step because incorrect or insufficient vCore can cause the CPU to crash or trigger a thermal/voltage protection reboot when the CPU draws high current during a stress test.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1101 exam.