I upgraded my power supply and graphics card last night. The system worked for several hours, although the GPU hotspot reached 104°C and began thermal throttling, so I planned to return the card. While gaming, the keyboard and mouse RGB suddenly turned off, the case fans stopped, and only the CPU fan kept spinning. I removed the side panel and heard an unusual noise from the PSU fan. Even after unplugging the system, the noise continued briefly. I later noticed that the CPU power cable had somehow come loose while the computer was running. I reseated it and checked the other connections, but I'm worried something may have shorted or been damaged. What should I do next?
4 Answers
First, make sure every modular cable is the one that came with the new PSU. Don’t mix cables from the old power supply, even if the connectors fit. With the PC unplugged, reseat the 24-pin motherboard cable, CPU power cable, GPU power cables, RAM, and graphics card. Check for melted plastic, scorch marks, damaged pins, or a burning smell before powering it on again.
The PSU model matters here, especially since a defective replacement unit is possible. Try a different wall outlet and avoid repeatedly powering the system on if the PSU is making clicking, buzzing, or grinding noises. If the sound continues or you notice heat or a burnt odor, stop using it and replace or warranty the PSU.
A 104°C GPU hotspot is very high, but it can be caused by poor case airflow, an uneven cooler mount, or the card’s cooler design rather than a short circuit. Improve airflow and verify the GPU fans are working, but deal with the sudden shutdown and loose CPU cable first. Don’t assume the temperature alone proves the graphics card caused the failure.
A loose CPU power connector can cause the system to shut down or stop booting, but it doesn’t automatically mean the whole PC is dead. Once you’ve inspected everything, try starting it with only the motherboard, CPU, one RAM stick, and graphics card connected. If it still behaves strangely, test with a known-good PSU or have a repair shop check the board and power supply.
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