I've run into a strange issue where my PC won't turn on when I'm at home, but it works perfectly at my sister's house. I've tried all the outlets here, with and without a power strip, and the only sign of life is a red light—no fans are spinning, and nothing else activates. I even tried a temporary grounding solution by connecting the PC case to a metal rod in the ground, but that didn't help. I did replace the SSD recently, which might be worth mentioning. My PC specs are as follows: Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, 8GB 3000MHz RAM, MSI A320M-A Pro motherboard, and a 500W power supply with a 240GB SATA SSD. Just for context, my house is old, the wall outlets were recently replaced, and other appliances work fine on the same outlet. Has anyone experienced this issue or have any idea what could be causing it?
5 Answers
Since your outlets were recently replaced, it might be a good idea to get an outlet tester from a local hardware store to check if they’re wired correctly and that the voltage is stable. It seems odd that all the outlets would be faulty, but have you tried using multiple outlets in your home?
Try opening the PC case and unplugging everything for a good cleaning. Use an eraser on the connectors to remove any oxidation and then reconnect everything. Sometimes connections can loosen when you move the PC around. A similar case happened before; a quick tap on the case helped, but the key was making sure everything was plugged in tightly. Give it a shot!
Given your situation, it might be wise to invest in a higher-quality PSU that can handle unstable power situations better. Right now, you're using an Aerocool VX-500, which might be too sensitive. I'd recommend looking at options like the EVGA SuperNOVA series or Corsair RMx series for reliable performance.
I had a similar situation with a friend. His PC was always great at my place, but at his, it wouldn't turn on. After a lot of troubleshooting, we discovered it was a standoff screw causing the problem. Make sure everything is seated properly!
It sounds like you might want to check the power supply unit (PSU) first before assuming the issue is with your house. If other devices like your TV and microwave work fine, then there may be something off with the PSU itself.
I get what you're saying, but since the PC runs perfectly at my sister's place, I feel like if it were a PSU issue, it would show up there too. Here, it just shows a red light and won't turn on.
Yes, I've tried multiple outlets, even an outdoor one. Some weren't replaced, so I have to use a T adapter for those.