I built a gaming PC using mostly used parts, and it randomly freezes, crashes, or restarts after about 10–15 minutes. Windows sometimes attempts automatic repair but fails, and I often have to enter the BIOS and change the boot order before it will start Windows again. The system then works briefly before the problem returns.
The build uses a Z790M-ITX Wi-Fi motherboard, an Intel i5-13600K, a Gigabyte Eagle RTX 3070 8GB, G.Skill DDR5 Flare memory, and a Thermaltake 850W power supply. The motherboard, CPU, GPU, and RAM came from a secondhand marketplace, while the PSU was purchased separately. One USB port on the motherboard also does not work.
CPU temperatures are usually around 40–50°C and GPU temperatures around 55°C, even when usage is high. Could the motherboard be failing, or is another component more likely responsible?
2 Answers
A defective or degraded 13600K is possible, especially if the system has unstable BIOS power settings, but the fact that Windows sometimes loses the boot device points more toward storage, motherboard, or memory instability. Check that the SSD is firmly installed, inspect its health, and try another drive or a fresh Windows installation if you can. If the computer still crashes with default BIOS settings and known-good RAM and storage, the used motherboard becomes one of the strongest suspects.
The temperatures do not suggest overheating, so I would start with stability and hardware checks instead of assuming the motherboard immediately. Reset the BIOS to default settings, disable any CPU or memory overclocking, and test the RAM one stick at a time. Run a memory test and check the SSD’s health and connection, because a failing or intermittently disconnected boot drive can cause repair loops and repeated boot-order changes. Also confirm that the BIOS is updated for the 13600K, but avoid changing settings randomly while troubleshooting.
The black-screen behavior with apps opening in the background could also be a graphics driver or GPU issue. Try a clean graphics-driver reinstall and test with another GPU if possible. Since the board has a dead USB port and was bought used, it is definitely worth treating the motherboard as suspicious, but test the RAM, storage, GPU, and power connections first.