PC crashes or restarts every 5 minutes when a single GPU is present, but not when none are connected.
PC crashes or restarts every 5 minutes when a single GPU is present, but not when none are connected.
Hey there, Hivemind. It seems the accidental key press didn’t trigger anything. Yesterday my PC froze while playing Rimworld. Since installing the RTX3070 two years ago, it’s been running smoothly until now. It rebooted instantly without me adjusting RGB settings—normally it turns off briefly after a restart. When it came back online, only the RAM, CPU, and VGA lights were active; the BIOS indicator stayed off. After letting it cool, the lights stopped cycling except for VGA. I removed the GPU, moved it to the second PCIe slot, which let the system boot normally. But within minutes of starting, it crashed again—still with RGB on. I tried a GTX960 in the first PCIe slot; it worked there too, but restarts kept happening. Even after launching Windows Recovery or Safe Mode, everything functioned. If I rebooted Windows via recovery, it was stable. A minor Windows update 10 minutes before the first crash was logged. I went back to the original version three days ago, but issues remained. Occasionally, WHEA-Logger shows a processor core error. My thoughts: - Can I block certain components from being blamed? The RTX3070 seems fine in another slot, but it doesn’t solve the boot issue here. - Which part is probably causing the problem? I’m short on cash and need to act fast—my name’s listed with £20. - Any other steps you could try to diagnose further?
I've never experienced boot problems before, such as no lights, because something short was stopping the start-up due to security measures. I resolved it by cleaning the computer and reconnecting everything, just to be sure—dust was likely the cause. Try a thorough clean, then plug everything back in and see if the issue persists. You can leave the CPU and cooler out for now; just brush the cooler gently with a toothbrush. I hope your PC stays functional and be ready to dig deeper if this fix doesn't work.
Spent some time talking with a friend to exchange components. Here’s what I’ve learned about my setup: Cleaning the PC didn’t fix anything beyond making the air vents feel dusty and the fans run a bit quieter. It did reveal that the thermal paste had completely dried and stuck to the CPU. I went over with a friend yesterday to swap parts and check performance. Their system ran smoothly—CPU, GPU, RAM, and even their GPU with their own CPU and RAM worked well for at least ten minutes before we shut it down. My RAM also performed okay with theirs. I didn’t test my CPU with theirs, since I already had a spare GPU at home that showed the same problems. When I brought it back in, everything ran fine until I connected anything other than basic peripherals. Even with heavy gaming and demanding apps, the PC stayed stable as long as no extra devices were connected. This suggests the mainboard might be the issue. I checked both the front and back, but didn’t spot any visible damage—just tight space and a busy schedule. I’m not completely sure yet, especially since under stress the system held up. I’m still hoping for some holiday gifts to get a replacement board and test it. Until then, happy holidays and a great start to the year for everyone!
Welcome to 2025, the problem remains unchanged. I sent the PC to a repair shop for diagnosis. They suggested the most probable cause was the motherboard. They didn’t verify my CPU’s thermal paste or replace any parts during their check—just software tests. Before the end of 2024, MoBo was my top suspect, so I bought a new motherboard yesterday. Unfortunately, the issue persists: it won’t boot with my RTX3070 in the top slot and crashes with another GPU. It’s not MoBo. I’m considering returning it. My next step is to see if I can borrow a CPU or use the refund from MoBo to try a replacement. I’ll keep updating for others, but I assume this isn’t a common problem.
To ensure lasting solutions, I resolved the problem by replacing the CPU. Purchased an affordable model for €50, and everything is functioning properly now. Upgrading later is possible, but I’ll check if it’s a major concern first. Wishing everyone success.