My workstation stops working almost unpredictably.
My workstation stops working almost unpredictably.
Hello everyone,
My computer stops working unexpectedly.
Suddenly, the screens go dark, the fans begin spinning at their normal speed. The machine doesn’t completely shut down; there’s no output whatsoever—no sounds, just the fans running. Even the power button on the front case won’t respond. I usually have to position myself against the back of the case, switch it off and on, then restart the PC.
This issue appears every other day, sometimes twice a day, and occasionally for a few days at a time. There’s no clear cause. It can happen while I’m working, during games, or even when just opening a web browser right after turning on the system. It seems more frequent when I’m using software like 3dsMax or CAD, but it also occurs when nothing is running and I’m simply browsing in the desktop view.
It tends to happen more often while I’m focused on tasks, though it might be influenced by how I’m using the computer.
I’ve tried various solutions:
- Ran antivirus and antimalware scans
- Checked disk health with diagnostic tools
- Performed a system file check
- Updated drivers, including UEFI ones
- Cleaned the registry
- Reviewed Event Viewer logs (none linked to crashes)
- Ran memory tests from a USB drive
- CPU temperature checks showed normal readings (max 69°C / 156°F), usually between 55-60°C (130-140°F)
- No GPU temperature logs, but assumed it stays around 37°C (98°F) since no GPU usage during crashes
- Cleared the registry and looked at logs after a system reset
- Updated Windows from Win10 to 11
Despite these efforts, I’m still unsure what’s causing this problem.
I’ve also considered possible power supply issues, but I lack detailed information about voltage, wattage, or logging methods during shutdowns.
I’m hoping for guidance from someone experienced who can help pinpoint the problem before I start replacing components one by one. This process scares me because I recently replaced my PC 20 years ago—it was an old machine and not essential to my work. Plus, a good repair shop isn’t nearby.
Thanks for your understanding.
You can download Cpuid Hwmonitor,
https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
it will display your voltages alongside the expected values. Slightly above is acceptable, but anything lower might indicate issues. I understand you mentioned running Memtest, but you could attempt removing one RAM stick at a time to observe if the problem persists before moving to another stick. You might also experiment with various Windows power configurations to determine their impact on the behavior.
Are there any peripherals connected via USB ports? You can test by unplugging them one by one to see if this changes the outcome.
I've been trying to locate a 128GB (2 x 64GB) Patriot Viper 4 Blackout memory kit online and so far I've not found any data sheets. They all seem to be 2 x 16GB (32GB) or 2 x 32GB (64GB).
If possible, can you pull a stick of RAM and post the exact part number on this forum.
It might be an an idea to check in your RAM is in the Qualified Vendors List for your mobo.
I understand why you need 128GB, but I was slightly surprised to learn that 64GB DDR4 DIMMs are available. Perhaps I'm just not keeping up with the times.
From your description, my first thoughts are the problem is RAM related. Did MemTest pass with zero errors?
Are you running your memory at stock DDR4 speed or do you have XMP memory overclocking enabled?
If your RAM is currently running XMP at 3600MT/s or similar, switch off XMP and see if the system becomes stable at the JEDEC default DDR4 RAM speed (probably 2133 or 2400MT/s).
If any of your friends are prepared to let you "borrow" RAM from their PCs, it might be worth swapping out your RAM to see if their RAM is more stable. This presupposes they have compatible DDR4, not DDR3 or DDR5.
Although your PSU is roughly 7 years old, the RM750X series should be capable of supplying a 5950X and GTX1650 with ease. It might be worth checking the spec for your particular RM750X to see if it came with a 7 or a 10 year warranty.
This is quite an old card (I've got a standard GTX1650 in my old multimedia rig). Are you running NVidia's Game or Studio Drivers?
In theory the Studio Driver (if available for your card) might be more stable than the Game Driver. I run NVidia Studio drivers on the GPU in my 7950X editing rig.
I assume you have a decent (big) CPU cooler on your 5950X? Something like a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 or a 240/360/420mm AIO?
As this review shows, it's not difficult to push the 5950X up past 200W dissipation in some circumstances.
https://www.techpowerup.com/review/amd-r...0x/19.html
I see 190W to 200W on my 7950X (Noctua NH-D15 cooler) at 85 to 92°C all cores during Handbrake conversions in HWMonitor.
https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
If you're using a really small CPU cooler, your 5950X might be throttling or overheating.