Hey everyone, I'm having a problem with my computer since I moved to a new place. It's about 2 years old and worked perfectly where I lived before. Now, when I turn it on, it runs for about 5 minutes, shuts off, and then won't turn on for around 3 hours. When I try to power it up again, only the RAM lights up.
I've tested the PC at my old house, and it runs without any issues there. I also checked the power outlets here with a multimeter, and they're showing the correct voltage (120V). I even verified the ground connection with an outlet tester, and that seems fine too. I'm really puzzled about what could be causing these problems.
3 Answers
Have you tried plugging it into different outlets, maybe in different rooms? Sometimes an outlet can test fine but still not supply enough power. If your desktop is working fine otherwise, make sure you’re using a good surge protector too. A watt meter could help you find any hidden issues with the current supply.
I had a similar issue with my Dell desktop, and a BIOS update fixed it. It's worth a shot! Also, just getting 120V at the outlet doesn't guarantee that power isn't being overloaded. Be sure to check if all your fans are running when you start up the PC. You might also pick up a thermal gun; they’re pretty cheap and handy to check component temperatures right after shutdown.
I’ll try the BIOS update when I go back to my old place; I want to avoid any shutdowns during the process. I’ve checked the temperatures, and they appear normal.
It sounds like your PC might be overheating. When it heats up, it shuts down and won't turn on again until it cools off. Since you mentioned it worked fine at your old place, maybe the heatsink came loose during the move, or some fans might not be working. Have you checked the PSU fan from the outside to see if it's spinning? Just keep an eye on that.
The temps look fine at around 60°C, and I had it running for 6 hours at my old place without any issues.
I've tried different outlets, and it's the same issue. The monitor is working fine as well, but I haven’t used a watt meter yet.