Identifying unexpected shutdowns Analyzing intermittent power failures
Identifying unexpected shutdowns Analyzing intermittent power failures
(Full specs listed at bottom) I've run into an inconsistent yet reoccurring issue where my computer will seemingly randomly completely shut off. This started happening shortly after I upgraded a significant portion of my machine in fall of 2019 when I swapped CPU, MOBO, RAM, and added an NVME SSD. After doing these swaps, I noticed that about once a week or so my BIOS would reset and I'd have to go in to re-enable certain features like XMP, custom fan profiles and such. Eventually, the power drop off issue started happening so naturally I figured, "well darn, one thing I was hoping to get away with was not needing to swap the PSU, guess I have to now" and swapped out the PSU. Exact same issue still persists even after putting in a new PSU. Next I figured it was likely either a RAM issue or an overheating issue. I've ran memtest86 twice and no errors were found either time. Then I pulled out the CPU and GPU and re-applied thermal paste to make sure I had good contact underneath to diagnose the potential overheating (machine runs warm but never anything close to HOT but wanted to make sure). Even with memtest86 returning no errors, I have found that the issue only ever happens when running in single channel mode. If I am using only one stick (tested both) of my 2x16gb kit (with or without XMP enabled) I never run into the issue of BIOS resetting or power offs. I have tried every possible arrangement of RAM possible with the 2 stick kit I have. dual channel in the 'correct' slots, dual channel in the 'incorrect' slots, single channel with both sticks (slots 1&2 or 3&4) as well as only one stick in every slot (tested both sticks in this manner). This leads me to believe there is something wrong with my MOBO or CPU since those are all that is left after the part upgrades I did. I've checked for bent/loose pins on the CPU and everything seems in order there as well. If anybody knows of any way to narrow down whether it's a MOBO or CPU issue without the need of a secondary machine for testing, you'd be doing me a massive service. System specs: CPU: Ryzen 5 3600x MOBO: GIGABYTE x570 AORUS Elite RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB 3200MHz C16 (2x16GB) GPU: PNY XLR8 1070 8GB PSU: MSI MPG 750W CPU Cooler: Deepcool Gammax GT STORAGE; NVMe SSD: Intel 660p 1TB SSD: Samsung 850 EVO HDD: Seagate 2TB
SuperHugo1
03-25-2022, 12:51 PM #3I'm currently back to normal operation in dual channel mode since the problem appears consistently regardless of settings. Running HWmonitor multiple times hasn't revealed any alarming signs like overheating or extreme temperatures. I use all-air cooling and run fans aggressively because noise isn't a concern for me. I've also tested various BIOS updates, always confirming the issue remains. Temperatures fluctuate randomly, not just during gaming; they often spike when the system is under load, which accounts for about 80% of the incidents.
Have you checked the event viewer logs following a crash? Did you perform a new Windows installation after upgrading? Are the AMD chipset drivers current? Also, what settings are your XMP values using? With my 3600 model, it tends to be selective about timing. I've experimented with running at 3000 instead of 3200.
Volkaninat_07
03-25-2022, 12:51 PM #5no output displayed on logs; no fresh install done, should have been; chipset drivers are current; operating at 3200mhz via XMP, but still encounter this problem with multiple RAM sticks regardless of profile. Either stick at 2133mhz or XMP works, though adding a second stick—stock or XMP—triggers BIOS reset and the system crashes completely before resuming. For context, I recently ran Furmark and CPU Burner simultaneously for 30 minutes, reaching CPU temps of 78°C and GPU temps of 75°C.
Skywonder216
03-25-2022, 12:51 PM #6Check if it supports testing with another RAM configuration, such as two 8GB sticks.
MONSTERmoose91
03-25-2022, 12:51 PM #7Unfortunately no. I've used all my options regarding hardware availability without activating the parts cannon, which means my budget is now gone. However, while exploring the GIGABYTE bios for this MOBO, I discovered an "Power Down Mode" in the RAM settings. It seems enabling it could cause instability if not turned off explicitly instead of using auto. I've adjusted it and also requested high frequency support at Level 1 for 3200MHz rather than auto. Following the scientific method would suggest testing one change at a time, but I'm tired of this cycle and am open to flipping all switches simultaneously if it prevents future issues. Haha!
xXJay_BugXx
03-25-2022, 12:51 PM #8The bios reset indicates something serious. No external tools can perform this reset. I’d test other bios versions—it’s improbable given the system always has power. Perhaps swapping the CMOS battery could help. It seems the issue points to a major problem with the motherboard.
This was my initial idea. I haven't spent enough time adjusting my previous bios configurations. I've learned about RAM issues with Ryzen processors and how the auto settings in BIOS, especially for RAM, can cause problems. Since switching to this new MOBO version in 2019, I've tested six different BIOS updates and double-checked the CMOS with a voltmeter. Now I'm pretty sure it's either a faulty MOBO or some unstable RAM settings. I've tried various fixes I could think of, hoping this will stop me from having to spend money.
