I've been having issues with my PC shutting off unexpectedly since I upgraded from a Ryzen 5 3500X to a Ryzen 7 5700X. It worked fine for three years, but now when I run RAM-intensive tasks, especially with games like Valorant, my system shuts down. For example, it crashes when I have a browser open while gaming, but if I limit my FPS and close the browser, it runs fine. I've ruled out power and thermal issues because it doesn't shut down during CPU and GPU stress tests. I tried using the Windows memory diagnostic tool, but my PC shuts off before it finishes. Single RAM stick tests seem fine, but the shutdown happens when both 8 GB DDR4 sticks are in. I've read online that my RAM speed might be too high for my motherboard, so I dropped it from 2666 MHz to 1866 MHz, which helped a bit but the problem has started again. I'm concerned because these RAM sticks worked well with my old CPU, and a friend suggested I might need a new motherboard to fix this. Can anyone help me clarify what's going on?
1 Answer
First, double-check that your motherboard's BIOS is updated to the latest version. If your PC is completely shutting down rather than crashing, consider the power supply as a potential issue. The Ryzen 7 can draw more power, so knowing the exact PSU model you have is important. Also, running RAM at lower speeds can affect performance, so if you can, try enabling XMP in BIOS to boost it back to the rated speed—ideally around 3200 MHz, which your motherboard supports.
I monitored the power usage closely. The 3500X and 5700X have the same TDP, and even under 100% utilization, the system didn’t turn off. I've noticed it shuts down under less demanding scenarios. I’ll check the XMP settings and get back to you. Thanks for the advice!