My six-year-old PC has started powering off unexpectedly. It usually runs for around 15 minutes before shutting down, and using a different power supply produced the same result. The display works normally while the computer is running, so the graphics card seems less likely to be the cause. Could this be overheating, faulty RAM, the motherboard, or the CPU? What checks should I perform before replacing more parts?
3 Answers
If the temperatures look normal, reset the BIOS to its default settings, reseat the RAM, and test with one memory stick at a time. Disconnect unnecessary USB devices while troubleshooting. Windows Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer may also show whether the shutdowns are accompanied by hardware errors, although sudden power loss often only appears as an unexpected shutdown.
Other possibilities include a motherboard short, failing voltage-regulation components, or a damaged motherboard. Run a hardware-monitoring tool as soon as the system starts and check CPU temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds before it powers off. If the readings are normal, testing with known-good RAM or another motherboard may be necessary.
This sounds a lot like a thermal shutdown. Check the CPU temperature immediately after booting and watch whether it climbs rapidly. Clean out dust, make sure the CPU fan is spinning, confirm the cooler is mounted firmly, and consider replacing the thermal paste. Also check that the case fans and vents are clear.
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