PC fails to power on despite the dealer indicating a CPU issue; uncertainty remains.
PC fails to power on despite the dealer indicating a CPU issue; uncertainty remains.
Hi
The situation involves my PC with an AMD Ryzen 3500G processor and an Asus B450M motherboard. It functioned normally until last year when it suddenly stopped booting. There was no POST sound, the fans didn’t start, and the hard drives didn’t spin up. However, the GPU power light was on, but the system didn’t respond to the power button. I attempted to use a paper clip to jump the PSU even though it was connected to the motherboard, but that also failed. Eventually, I used a hair dryer to warm the PC, which worked temporarily before it stopped again.
Back then, I tried running the AC to try and revive it, and after about half an hour it would turn on once more. This happened several times until it finally ceased working completely. I took it to a dealer who replaced the motherboard with the same model, but the problem persisted.
This year, the issue recurred during rainy weather with high humidity (around 90% according to Google). For a few days, the PC would occasionally refuse to boot, but instead of using a hair dryer, I switched on the AC, and after roughly half an hour it would power up again. This occurred a couple of times, though two days ago it completely stopped working.
Personally, I suspect the humidity is affecting the motherboard. I’m not sure if it’s a PSU problem because the GPU power light was on and the PSU passed the paper clip test. The dealer suggested this might be a known issue with AMD components and recommended replacing both the CPU and the motherboard.
I find his explanation unlikely since replacing the board once shouldn’t have resolved the problem, right?
What are your thoughts? Could it be an expensive CPU or a motherboard issue?
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
When sharing a troubleshooting thread, it's important to provide complete system details. Please list your specifications in the following order:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
Include the age of the PSU along with its make and model.
I attempted to use a paper clip to 'jump' the PSU while it was connected to the motherboard, but it failed (dangerous, I know).
Alternatively, you might consider obtaining another PSU that is well-built and has more power than your system requires. This way, you can test if the problem lies with the PSU, motherboard, or CPU without risking other components during troubleshooting.
CPU model is Ryzen 3500G, cooler is stock with air cooling. Motherboard is Asus B450M. RAM is Teamgroup DDR4, 16 GB capacity, though I can't recall the exact type. Storage includes an 80GB Seagate SSD and a 1TB Western Digital HDD. GPU is Nvidia RTX 2060. Power supply isn't specified, but it seems sufficient since I upgraded during GPU purchase. The PC is around two years old. Chassis is unbranded. Operating system supports dual boot between Linux Mint and Windows 10. Monitor is a Lenovo model with 160Hz refresh rate.
Operating computers above 80% RH is not recommended. There's too much chance of starting up the machine with small water droplets (condensation) forming on components, leading to potential short circuits and permanent damage. Ideally you need to reduce the humidity level in the room and allow the computer to dry out for an hour or two, before plugging the power lead into the mains outlet. Unless the ATX PSU or laptop PSU is completely isolated from the mains, the motherboard will remain powered up in standby mode, even when the PC/laptop is supposedly switched "off". Alternatively, you could fit a small heating element inside the computer case (10 to 20W) to keep the air inside warm and reduce the possibility of condensation forming. The element should be left on all the time the computer is not not running Windows, etc., to prevent condensation forming inside. Other people simply leave their computers switched on and running all the time (not in standby or completely powered off). Long term high humidity can lead to corrosion of contacts under the gold plating of CPUs and DIMMs. In extreme cases, this eventually destroys the component when power is applied, due to short circuits via corrosion. https://forums.