My PC has been running for a little over a year, but during the past month it has randomly powered off more than five times. The only recent change was disabling automatic sleep, and I generally don't leave the computer running unattended for long periods. All of the parts were purchased new.
Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- GPU: AMD Radeon 9060 XT 16GB
- PSU: Corsair RM750x SHIFT 80 PLUS
- Cooler: NZXT Kraken Elite RGB 360mm AIO
The shutdowns happen fairly often while I'm editing, although they have also occurred when I only had a few browser tabs open. Temperatures seem normal, with the CPU around 42°C at idle and the GPU around 28°C. Occasionally, the computer won't start again until I unplug, reconnect, or move some cables around; after that, the motherboard lights come on and it usually boots. What should I check first?
3 Answers
Run Windows’ System File Checker with the SFC command. It can identify and repair corrupted system files, although it may not explain a complete loss of power by itself.
Check the operating system’s event logs around the exact time of each shutdown. Look for unexpected power-loss events and any hardware, driver, memory, or processor errors. If the logs only show that the system lost power without explaining why, that points more toward a hardware or electrical issue than a normal software shutdown.
I found some messages about dropped audit events, along with an unexpected shutdown entry, but I’m not sure how useful they are.
The symptoms strongly suggest checking the power path. Test with another known-good PSU if possible, and reseat the motherboard, CPU, GPU, and PSU cables rather than just moving them around. Since the PC sometimes won’t power on until the cables are disturbed, a loose connection, faulty cable, or failing PSU deserves particular attention. If your household power is unstable, a UPS could also help provide cleaner, steadier power.
I’ll test the power supply and check all of the connections. Thanks!
I’ve run it now—thanks for the suggestion.