My computer won't restart after a power cut.
My computer won't restart after a power cut.
I experienced an outage today and my PC was linked to a UPS. After powering it down, I turned off the UPS as usual. When electricity returned, I reactivated it and waited until it was fully operational before attempting to start the system. Once back in, the display went dark, but the fans on the GPU were active while the CPU and system fans remained silent. This pattern led me to believe the PSU might have failed, especially since my PC has been stable otherwise. I replaced the PSU, but the same problem persists. Specifications include an i7-4790 CPU, Noctua NH-D9L cooler, EVGA RTX 3050 GPU, Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI motherboard, and a 4TB Western Digital HDD with a 2TB drive. The PSU was 550W before and upgraded to 600W. I also have a DVD drive, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a system fan. I’ve tried booting with just CPU, board, and RAM, but still can’t get it to POST. Occasionally the CPU fan spins, yet it’s unpredictable. I’m now leaning toward a potential issue with the CPU or motherboard. The outage doesn’t seem to be the root cause, as similar events have occurred before without damage. My GPU and HDD are functioning normally. As of this writing, I haven’t tested with a single RAM stick and have already spent considerable time troubleshooting. I’m taking a break and need rest. I haven’t swapped components or tried alternatives. Should I consider replacements? Updated September 26, 2023 by dgl
It seems the problem might be related to the motherboard itself. The CPU fan should spin even when connected to the CPU fan header. Because the board is nearly eight years old, replacing the CMOS battery could help if it hasn’t been swapped out yet—it might be dead and causing odd behavior. If swapping the battery doesn’t fix things, the board is likely faulty due to age.
You're considering whether to buy a used motherboard or go for an upgrade. It might help to weigh the pros and cons of each option based on your needs and budget. A used board could save you money but may come with unknown risks. An upgrade ensures reliability and performance, especially if you're experiencing issues now. Think about how critical stable power is for your system and whether a new board would address the underlying problem.