I have a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, TUF Gaming B650M-PLUS WIFI motherboard, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, an RX 9070, a 750W power supply, and I'm running Bazzite. One of my fans was unusually loud, so I unplugged and reconnected it several times while the computer was running. I also tried a fan-control utility, but it didn't work. Since then, the PC powers off after roughly 30–40 minutes of use. The CPU cooler fan still spins, and temperatures seem normal—the system reached about 80°C while gaming. I also reset the CMOS by removing the battery with the PC turned off, but that didn't help. Could repeatedly connecting a fan while powered on have damaged the motherboard, or should I check something else before replacing parts?
3 Answers
Avoid plugging or unplugging internal components while the system is powered on unless the hardware explicitly supports hot-swapping. That said, a shutdown after a predictable amount of time doesn’t prove the motherboard is dead. First check CPU and GPU temperatures, motherboard VRM temperatures, and whether the shutdown happens under load or even while idle. Also inspect the fan header and nearby connectors for bent pins, damage, or a loose cable. Fan curves can usually be configured in the BIOS, so extra controller software shouldn’t be necessary.
Before buying a motherboard, test the power-delivery side. A loose 24-pin motherboard cable, CPU EPS cable, GPU power connection, or damaged fan header could cause instability. Check the system with only essential hardware connected, run a memory test, and look in the firmware or system logs for hardware errors. If possible, test with another known-good power supply; a failing PSU can cause abrupt shutdowns without producing obvious temperature problems.
A hard power-off after 30–40 minutes could also be protection from the PSU, motherboard, CPU, or a short—not necessarily a blown fuse. Make sure the CPU cooler is firmly mounted and that the pump or cooler fan is connected to the correct header. Try running the machine in the BIOS for an extended period: if it shuts down there too, the operating system and games are probably unrelated. A repair shop can isolate the faulty part before you spend money on a replacement board.
The CPU cooler fan still works normally, and temperatures have looked about the same as before. Gaming tests reached around 80°C, but the computer still suddenly shuts off. I already tried resetting the CMOS with no improvement.