Hey everyone! I'm having a really puzzling issue with my computer setup. I have a small Fractal Terra case that sits on my desk, and sometimes I put my phone on top of it to save space. However, I've noticed that a couple of times, my computer powers on by itself even when it's completely off but still plugged into the surge protector. I have a few theories about why this might be happening: 1) Maybe some part of the power button's front panel is exposed, but that seems unlikely. 2) It could be that my power supply is exposed and static electricity from my phone is triggering it, which feels more plausible. 3) Or maybe my house is haunted, though that's probably a long shot. I suspect the clicking noise I hear under load could be from the voltage regulators tripping due to power surges. Before diving into replacements or extensive testing, I wanted to get some input from you all. What do you think could be causing this? Thanks a bunch!
5 Answers
Try putting your phone in airplane mode and then see if the problem persists. Might help narrow down the cause.
It’s definitely possible that magnets are playing a role here. I’ve seen odd things happen with hardware too, like my Bluetooth range improving drastically when I had a flashlight near my PC.
Honestly, I’m not sure how a power supply could turn on the motherboard like that, but I’m not an electrical engineer. Could still be something odd happening with the setup.
Have you tried seeing if it powers off when your phone is placed there while it’s already on? My guess would relate to wireless charging interfering with the power button. I had a similar experience with a ham radio once - it was acting weird with the antenna near my PC.
Good point! I actually have a MagSafe case on my phone; I'll definitely test that theory out next time!
You might be experiencing some weird interaction, possibly related to NFC. Some motherboards can wake up from a sleep mode triggered by certain signals. Check your BIOS settings for any wake-on-event options that might be enabled.
That could be it! Some features might be responding to signals from your phone. Maybe consider disabling any settings like that for a test.
You might be onto something! The wireless charging coils are supposed to pick up magnetic fields, so it might mess with your PC. Try putting your phone in airplane mode next time.