Video games randomly drop to desktop

[Mother Russia]

While playing a video game, my system will randomly drop to desktop. The game does not crash. It remains running in the background, and usually switches to pause screen. It is behaving as if someone hit the windows key, except without bringing up the menu. This happens in several games. I am able to switch right back to the game and keep playing, but it is a pain in the ass. I am more concerned that it is a symptom of possibly a bigger problem.

My system is solid. Plenty of power. It would be shocking if any of the games I am
playing are overwhelming my GPU or whatnot. My build is the following:

MOTHERBOARD: GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UP4 TH LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with Dual Thunderbolt
CASE: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0, Black Interior and Four Fans-1x 230mm front RED LED fan, 1x 140mm rear fan, 1x 230mm top fan, and 1x 230mm side fan
CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K Processor - Quad Core, 8MB L3 Cache, 3.50GHz (3.90GHz Max Turbo), Socket H2 (LGA1155), 77W, Fan, Unlocked, Retail (BX80667i73770K)
CPU COOLER: Thermaltake CLW0215 Water 2.0 Performer CPU Liquid Cooler - 4-Pin, Multi-Socket, 1200 ~ 2000RPM, 81.32CFM, 27.36 dBA, 0.5A, 2x 120mm PWM Fans
MEMORY: Kingston HyperX Black KHX16C10B1BK2/16 32GB Desktop Memory Module Kit - DDR3, 4x8GB, 1600MHz, CL10, DIMM, 240 Pin, Unbuffered, 1.5V
OPTICAL: LG UH12NS29 12X Internal Blu-Ray Player - 3D Playback, M-Disc Support, Silent, Jamless Play, SATA Interface
PSU: Ultra X4 Modular 850-Watt ATX Power Supply V2 - 850W, 135mm Fan, ATX, 80+ Silver, Active PFC, Nvidia SLI, ATI Crossfire X, Vibration Dampener Included, Lifetime Warranty with Registration
SSD: Samsung 840 Series MZ-7TD120BW 120GB Solid State Drive - 2.5" Form Factor, SATA III, 530 MB/s Read Speed, 130 MB/s Write Speed
HDD: Seagate ST3000DM001 Barracuda 7200.14 Hard Drive - 3TB, SATA III (6Gb/s), 3.5", 7200RPM, 64MB
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX670 FTW+ 4096MB GDDR5 256bit DVI HDMI DisplayPort 4-Way SLI Ready Graphics Card 04G-P4-3673-KR

It may not be as good as what some hard core gamers have, but it is a pretty freaking solid system, and should not be behaving like this. I upgraded from a much weaker system which did not have these problems with the same games. However, it also did not have the disadvantage of having been built by me. I am running Windows 7 for my OS.

I am overclocking a little, but nothing too exciting. My temps are fine on the GPU and the CPU. Well below the thresholds I have read about people reaching on forums like this one.

Does anyone else ever have this problem? Any idea what it might be? Thanks!

 

[CheesyHotDogPuff]

Have you tried updating your drivers?

 

[expl0itfinder]

That sounds like there is a background process, attempting to "bring to front" so to say. Sort of like how windows update brings itself up after finishing installing updates. Open up task manager to make sure there are no unfamiliar programs running, and check for viruses in your antivirus.

 

[simon12]

+1 I find skype does this occasionally on my PC if I get a new message or call but 9 times out of 10 it doesn't I think my Antivirus did it once when it wanted to update but both are seriously rare maybe you have a program that just does it.

 

[Mother Russia]

It has the feel of some other process causing this, but I don't notice anything unusual in task manager, and no viruses. I am running malwarebytes and bitdefender for security.

The only thing I can think of is I have a few gadgets running? CoreTemp, Network Meter, and Drives Meter.

 

[expl0itfinder]

It has the feel of some other process causing this, but I don't notice anything unusual in task manager, and no viruses. I am running malwarebytes and bitdefender for security.

The only thing I can think of is I have a few gadgets running? CoreTemp, Network Meter, and Drives Meter.

I would kill the gadgets, then try. If the problem persists, kill nonessential processes in task manager until you find the culprit.

 

[alex2740]

One of the processes running in background drops the game or video driver not up to date.

1. Update GPU drivers to latest.
2. Open taskbar and kill unnecessary processes.
3. Open Ccleaner or similar and stop unneeded startup processes

I had same problem, stopped Samsung KIES and DAEMON tools processes and problem solved.

 

[blaz.vrtacnik51]

One of the processes running in background drops the game or video driver not up to date.

1. Update GPU drivers to latest.
2. Open taskbar and kill unnecessary processes.
3. Open Ccleaner or similar and stop unneeded startup processes

I had same problem, stopped Samsung KIES and DAEMON tools processes and problem solved.

DUDE YOU ARE A LEGEND!!!

 

[chuwee]

One of the processes running in background drops the game or video driver not up to date.

1. Update GPU drivers to latest.
2. Open taskbar and kill unnecessary processes.
3. Open Ccleaner or similar and stop unneeded startup processes

I had same problem, stopped Samsung KIES and DAEMON tools processes and problem solved.

I registered to this forum just to tell you that
YOU ARE A LEGEND