Issues with PC stability and unexpected shutdowns are common. Need help identifying the cause?
Issues with PC stability and unexpected shutdowns are common. Need help identifying the cause?
PSU's degrade gradually, commonly appearing after 5-10 years. It will only provide reduced performance... depending on how much power it handles. This isn't your fault, but at 500W it will wear out faster. Don't worry, I'd recommend upgrading to a more robust model. Consider what you want in a new setup so you can upgrade later. The key with another PSU is swapping the cables too—many haven't and damaged their systems. On the PSU side, pinouts aren't uniform, so if that's not the issue, you should return it. When I say disconnect everything, I mean all of them, including the front panel connectors, which have caused problems before. EDIT 2: if it still fails, remove the mainboard and PSU, as I've seen cases where components got shorted or something fell behind the board.
I'm sure it's the power supply unit, I've owned this computer for around five years now and it's been used a lot. I've played games on it daily, even leaving it on for long periods while hosting servers. Over the years, the PC has had many parts replaced—CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage drives are all brand new. The only components that haven't been updated are the motherboard and power supply unit, which are likely the two main reasons for this problem. I've seen a 700-watt semi-modular 80+ gold PSU available for replacement, and based on what I've noticed, it's probably the PSU that's causing the issue. Even if it isn't the root cause, the unit is probably not in optimal condition.
I don't intend to upgrade this PC in the future. Eventually I'll purchase a new machine with fresh parts and the options available for a fresh PSU are limited to two choices within my budget: Seasonic Core GM 500W Semi Modular 80PLUS Gold and MSI MAG A650BN 650W 80 PLUS Bronze. I lean toward Seasonic because it's a more trusted brand for PSUs, it carries a Gold certification rather than Bronze, and it offers modular design. I've already used a wattage calculator to check load capacity—it comes in at 304 watts, with a recommendation of around 354. I'm aware it's wise to add an extra 100 watts for safety, bringing the total to roughly 450. Still, I'd like a second opinion on this selection.