I recently upgraded from a Ryzen 5 3600 to a 5800XT, paired with an RX6700XT GPU and a 650W Fractal Anode PSU bought in 2023. My motherboard is an MSI B450M PRO-M2 MAX, and I made sure the BIOS was updated before the CPU installation. The system runs smoothly while idling around 28°C and under gaming loads at about 70°C. I can stress test the CPU and GPU individually without any problems, but when I put them under combined loads using Cinebench R23 and Heaven, my PC randomly restarts without any BSOD – just an instant reboot, especially right after a benchmark finishes or when the load decreases. At the time of the restarts, CPU temperatures hover around 85–90°C and the GPU around 70–75°C. I've tried multiple solutions including a BIOS update, CMOS reset, disabling XMP, updating chipset drivers, using separate PCIe cables for the GPU, adjusting PPT limits, and undervolting, but nothing has resolved the issue. When I disable Core Performance Boost, the system becomes stable but with lower performance. So now I'm wondering if I should stick with CPB off or consider upgrading to a B550 board to allow for better power delivery and performance.
3 Answers
It really could be a power issue since the 5800XT has high power demands. The B450 boards, especially older versions, aren't built to manage that efficiently. If you're considering a motherboard upgrade, look into solid options like the ASUS STRIX B550-F, which goes on sale occasionally and has great features and VRM capabilities.
Have you checked if the PSU might be contributing to the issue? Sometimes, if the VRM gets too hot, it can lead to CPU throttling, which might cause the system to restart without warning. I noticed that your PSU is rated lower on tier lists; it could be at the edge of its limits under heavy load, which could be part of your problem.
From what I've gathered, sudden power drops might trigger protections on the PSU or VRM, leading to those restarts. I thought the PSU being rated enough might help, but maybe it's worth looking into upgrading that too.
It sounds like the B450 board might be struggling to handle the 5800XT at full load. If you mainly use your PC for gaming, which doesn't require max CPU power all the time, it might be best to stick with your current setup as is. You'd avoid the hassle of upgrading just to potentially run into the same issues. Disabling CPB does reduce performance, but the gaming boost is still noticeable from your previous CPU.
Yeah, gaming is my primary use for the PC too. I know there's a performance drop with CPB off, but it'd be nice to utilize the full capability of the CPU when needed.
Thanks for the tip! I'm on the fence about making a switch but appreciate your insight on those boards.