I built a gaming PC mostly from used parts, and it randomly crashes or restarts every 10–15 minutes. Windows sometimes attempts automatic repair but fails, and I often have to change the boot order in the BIOS repeatedly before it will start Windows again. The system may then work briefly before crashing again.
The build has 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. Everything except the PSU was purchased used. One USB port on the motherboard also does not work.
CPU temperatures are around 40–50°C and GPU temperatures are about 55°C, even when usage is high. Sometimes the PC freezes instead of restarting: the mouse still moves and programs appear on the taskbar, but the screen stays mostly black and opened windows are not visible. Could the motherboard be defective, or should I be checking something else first?
1 Answer
The temperatures do not point to overheating, so I would not assume the CPU is degraded yet. The repeated boot-order problems suggest checking the boot drive, its connection, and the Windows installation first. A failing SSD, loose M.2 drive, corrupted Windows files, or a motherboard that is losing its storage connection could all cause repair loops and boot-order changes.
For troubleshooting, load BIOS defaults, temporarily disable XMP, reseat the RAM and graphics card, and check whether the SSD is consistently detected in BIOS. Run a memory test and check the drive's health from another working system if possible. You can also test with one RAM stick at a time and disconnect unnecessary USB devices. Since the board has a dead USB port and came from a used-parts sale, motherboard failure is definitely possible, but the storage drive and RAM should be ruled out before replacing it.
It does not always restart. Sometimes it freezes with a black screen, but I can still move the mouse and see programs listed on the taskbar even though their windows do not appear. Would that still fit a motherboard or storage problem?