I'm having trouble with my custom-built computer which includes an I5 12600k CPU, GIGABYTE Z790 Eagle AX LGA 1700 motherboard, 64GB RAM, an RTX 3090 graphics card, a custom water cooling setup for both CPU and GPU, six fans, and a Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 850W 80+ Gold power supply. When I run stability tests on my CPU and memory separately, everything works fine. However, when I run a full test with both the CPU and GPU maxed out, my computer instantly shuts off, goes black, and then reboots. This issue started when Borderlands 4 crashed a few times, culminating in a complete black screen shutdown during the stress test. I've checked online, and it seems my power supply should handle my components, but I'm wondering if it's actually the problem.
3 Answers
If your computer shuts off like someone flipped the power switch, then that's usually a sign of a failing power supply. But if it's just the display going black while the fans keep running, that's more likely a GPU crash. Make sure your drivers are updated, including the latest BIOS. If you can borrow or test with a known good PSU, that would help pinpoint the issue better.
I think you're right to consider the PSU as the culprit. One thing to note: if you have access to another PSU, even if it's lower wattage, swap it out just for testing. Just make sure to use the original cables. If everything works with the new PSU, then you'll know the old one is failing.
Unfortunately, the only spare PSUs I have are older and under 600W, so they aren't compatible with my setup.
It sounds like your power supply could be the issue, especially if it’s overloaded. You might be using 650-700W at full load, and if there are power spikes over 850W, that could trigger shutdowns. Checking the Windows event log might give you more clues about the power issues. Also, if you can, try getting a higher wattage PSU to see if that resolves the problem.
Thanks for the advice! I'll look at the event log for anything specific and consider upgrading the PSU for future-proofing.
It completely shuts down and then reboots suddenly; that’s got to be an issue with the PSU. I can’t imagine my good 850W unit shouldn't handle the load, right?