I recently upgraded from a Ryzen 5600G to a Ryzen 7500G, and a few weeks later the computer began powering off almost immediately after pressing the power button. The fans and lights run for about two seconds, then everything stops, and there is no display or other activity.
The CPU temperature never exceeded 68°C, it was not overclocked, and plugging the computer directly into the wall instead of using a UPS made no difference. I also replaced the coin-cell battery and disconnected everything from the USB ports except the power cable.
I'm not very experienced with PC troubleshooting. How can I determine whether the power supply, motherboard, CPU installation, or something else is causing this?
3 Answers
The most reliable way to distinguish the PSU from the motherboard is to test with a known-good, compatible power supply. A paperclip test only shows that the PSU can turn on; it does not prove that it can deliver stable power under load, so it shouldn’t be treated as a complete diagnosis. Don’t open the PSU itself, and make sure any modular cables stay with their original PSU.
Please list the exact motherboard, PSU model and wattage, RAM kit, and CPU model. A newer processor may require a BIOS update or a motherboard that supports the correct socket, and the CPU power connector must be attached. If the system was recently upgraded, verify the board’s compatibility list and BIOS version before assuming the processor is dead.
The two-second start-and-stop behavior points more toward a power, motherboard, memory, or compatibility problem than overheating. Start with the simplest checks: unplug the system, reseat the 24-pin motherboard cable and the CPU power cable, remove and reinstall the RAM, and try booting with only one memory stick in the recommended slot. Disconnect drives, USB devices, and other expansion cards. Also check the motherboard’s diagnostic LEDs or beep codes if it has them.
I’m nervous about doing the paperclip test because I don’t want to damage anything. Is there a safer way to narrow it down?
You can also briefly bridge the two power-switch pins on the motherboard with a screwdriver to rule out a faulty case button, but check the board manual first and only do it with the correct pins.