Frequent restarts, attempted all possible solutions I could imagine
Frequent restarts, attempted all possible solutions I could imagine
Hello! I'm reaching the end of my PC troubleshooting journey. Despite all my efforts, I still can't pinpoint the issue. I'm hoping you can assist me. I'll keep the formatting clear so it's easier to understand the situation.
Problem: My computer shuts down unexpectedly. It feels like someone just pressed the restart button. This happens while playing games, watching videos, or even when I open this forum. There are no warning signs, and the error codes in Event Viewer don't seem very informative (though maybe they're for you!).
First time it occurred: The initial reboot happened on April 13th, 2023. I installed Fabledom, a new game that just came out. After about 30-45 minutes of playtime, my PC restarted. Since then, the problem continues. It might just be a coincidence, but I'm not sure.
What I've tried:
- Uninstalled the game
- Downloaded the latest NVIDIA drivers
- Installed the newest Windows updates
- Checked temperatures – everything normal
- Swapped one RAM stick and then the other back in
- Updated BIOS to version F62
- Replaced the motherboard battery with a new one
- Ran multiple System File Checker commands in CMD
- Restored Windows update and NVIDIA drivers to January 2023 versions
- Swapped my PSU with a fresh one, including the cables
- Updated RAM first, then swapped old and new
- Performed a full Windows 10 reset and reinstall
- Cleaned all data during a full reset
- Ran stress tests using Cinebench and FurMark
- Maintained stable temperatures (around 59-62°C) for both GPU and CPU
- Conducted memory diagnostics – no issues found
- Searched Event Viewer logs – nothing revealing
- Used software like Discord, NVIDIA Control Center, Chrome, etc.
- Ran GPU and CPU stress tests without crashes
Software in use during most incidents: Discord, NZXT CAM, Google Chrome, NVIDIA Control Center, etc.
My original specs (when the issue started):
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
- PSU: Corsair AX760 760W
- RAM: G.Skill 16GB DDR4-3200 (2 sticks of 8GB)
- Motherboard: NZXT H500i
- SSD: NVMe Samsung 970 SCSI 1TB
- Case fans: 2 stock fans
- Operating system: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
If you need more details, I'm happy to share. Just remember, the old GPU has been sent to ASUS for repair and isn't available for testing. I've attached a copy of the Event Viewer logs for your reference.
Please let me know if anything else comes to mind!
It hurts when things don't work after all the troubleshooting. Often when I'm at my last resort like you are, I take the whole setup out and test it outside the case to see if the problem persists. If it doesn’t happen outside then there might be a grounding issue between the motherboard and the case, check if your standoffs are set correctly, ensure the back plate isn't having any metal prongs in ports, or maybe one of the fans, RGB lights, or USB ports is interfering. If the issue continues after moving it outside, it’s likely an NVME card or the motherboard itself.
Use Samsung Magician to manage your SSD, NVMe, or SCSI device and verify available updates.
This didn't resolve the problem, since I experienced another crash or reboot.
I’d prefer a fresh clean installation of the operating system. It’s free and usually finishes in under 15 minutes with modern hardware. If your system files are badly damaged, Windows updates might not fix it. Since everything else except the motherboard is new, this should be the best option if a reinstall doesn’t work. Have you reinstalled Windows after swapping the CPU?
I did, indeed. The window cleaning was done this morning, and since then I've experienced two crashes or reboots. That's making me suspect the motherboard might be the issue...
I thought we were using a new setup. If the old system isn't working and you've checked everything else, it seems like the problem might be with your NVMe drive or motherboard. Try swapping in another NVMe slot if possible. If that doesn’t help, you could clone the system onto a spare SSD or HDD (Macrium Reflect is still free, but the 30-day trial should work). A temporary clone on SSD/HDD fails then we look at the motherboard, which is usually the issue. Outside of that, try moving the setup to another room and then to a friend’s place to see if the problem persists. If it does, a UPS should resolve about 90% of the time.