I built my first PC, and it randomly powers off while I'm using it. After shutting down, it won't turn back on for a while. All of the parts are brand new: an MSI Gaming 5070 Ti, MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi motherboard, AMD Ryzen 7 9000-series processor, 16GB Patriot DDR5 memory, Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB SSD, ROG Strix 1000W Platinum White Edition PSU, and a Peerless Assassin 120 SE White ARGB cooler. I'm not sure where to start troubleshooting—could this be overheating, a power issue, or something connected incorrectly?
4 Answers
Start by checking every power connection, especially the 24-pin motherboard cable, CPU EPS cable, and graphics card power connector. Reseat them firmly and make sure no cable is loose or partially inserted. If the wiring is correct, the power supply or a short may be triggering its protection circuitry.
Monitor temperatures for the CPU, GPU, motherboard, and SSD. Use a hardware-monitoring utility, then run a CPU stress test such as Prime95 and watch whether the system shuts down. If CPU temperatures remain normal, test the graphics card with a benchmark or OCCT. A shutdown only under GPU load would point more toward power delivery or the PSU.
Pay attention to exactly when it happens. Does it shut off while idle, during normal use, or only when playing demanding games? That distinction helps narrow it down. If temperatures are fine and all connectors are secure, testing with another known-good PSU would be a useful next step.
A complete power loss followed by a period where the computer won’t start often means the PSU is protecting itself from excessive current, a short, or another power problem. Before replacing parts, check for misplaced motherboard standoffs, trapped screws, damaged cables, and any loose connection. If basic checks don’t find anything, professional diagnostics may save time.
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