I've been having a really frustrating issue with my PC. It keeps shutting down randomly without any warning or blue screen, whether I'm gaming or just idling. Sometimes, even though it shuts down, the GPU and CPU lights/fans stay on for about 30 seconds before it reboots itself. Other times, it completely shuts off, and I can't get it to turn back on even if I unplug the PSU and plug it back in. I have to wait a few minutes for it to start again. The only second-hand component in my PC is the PSU, so I'm wondering if that's the culprit. I've ruled out overheating by checking all temperatures and reapplying thermal paste, plus I've replaced the RAM. Is it safe to say the PSU is likely the issue? I'd really appreciate any help!
3 Answers
From what you've described, it really does sound like a PSU issue. The random shut downs, especially when the PC needs a few minutes before it'll boot again, are classic signs. Since it's second-hand, you can't really trust its reliability. Make sure all your power connections are tight, but overall, swapping out that PSU for a new or borrowed one is a good plan. If it turns out it's the PSU, that would be a huge relief!
I think the PSU is your best bet here. Depending on your graphics card, it might be drawing too much power for your PSU to handle. If you've changed your GPU recently, maybe recalculate your total system wattage to ensure your PSU can keep up with the demand.
Thanks! I'm using a Corsair HX1000, 1000w PSU with an RTX 3080ti.
You should definitely check your event logs through the Event Viewer. It might be a bit tricky to interpret, but take a look for any messages that could indicate what happened just before your computer shut down unexpectedly.
How do I access the Event Viewer?
I appreciate that! Just today it shut off completely again, then the fans and lights turned on after 20 seconds but it still wouldn’t boot. I had to hit the restart button. I’ll look into trying a different PSU soon.