PC randomly restarts ?
PC randomly restarts ?
Hey everyone, I’ve been facing this problem for a few weeks now and I’m struggling to find a solution.
The Situation
It began when my monitor suddenly stopped working. After swapping it out, I realized my PC wasn’t showing any output. The debug LED stayed on the CPU. I’ve fixed it before—reinstalling RAM and clearing CMOS worked—but now the system restarts randomly, whether I’m playing games or just browsing YouTube.
Previous Issues:
A few months back, enabling XMP/EXPO caused my PC to crash or restart. Turning it off resolved the problem temporarily, but even with default BIOS settings, it keeps restarting.
What I’ve Attempted:
- Reseated CPU and RAM
- Cleaned the entire PC
- Replaced CMOS battery
- Updated BIOS
- Reinstalled drivers
- Checked Event Viewer → saw Event 41 (Kernel-Power)
Each time I try something, it works for a short period before the random restarts return.
Details:
Specs:
CPU: Ryzen 5 5600
Motherboard: MSI B450M Mortar Max
GPU: GTX 1060
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 16GB (2x8GB) 3200 MHz
Power Supply: Seasonic 620W (Modular)
Storage: Teamgroup 256GB M.2 SSD + WD Blue 1TB HDD
Unfortunately, I don’t have spare parts to test, so any advice or insights from others would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
The PSU model or part number is provided. Its age and whether it was purchased new or used/refurbished are also clear. Considering the wattage, it appears to be an M12II-620 EVO. If confirmed, this unit is quite old and should be replaced soon. For a PC with a dedicated GPU, a Tier A PSU is recommended. Examples include Seasonic Focus/Vertex/PRIME, Corsair RMx/RMi/HXi/AXi, and Super Flower Leadex Gold/Platinum/Titanium. The PSU tier list can be found here: the provided link. Tier A is suitable, while Tier A+ is preferred. A 550W unit works well, and a 650W unit is also acceptable. My two PCs are powered exclusively by Tier A+ PSUs. I own Seasonic PRIME 650 Titanium (Tier A+) and Seasonic PRIME Ultra 650 Titanium (Tier A+). Detailed specifications and images are available in my profile.
Yeah it's the Seasonic M12ii Evo 620W I got the PSU from a friend a few years back. It's pretty old now, honestly. I was worried about the PSU being the issue, but after doing a lot of troubleshooting, I got confused about what might have caused the problems. Some fixes worked temporarily, and I ended up just restarting. Would a failing PSU show the debug LED for the CPU or the RAM issues I've faced before? Sorry, my head was all over the place because of my PC!
Keep in mind that your power supply unit is regulated by a group, which can lead to many problems in today’s systems built for DC-DC regulated units. This issue might affect your ability to put your PC to sleep or to wake it from sleep mode, because group-regulated PSUs often lack the necessary wattage to maintain sleep states or quickly bring the system back to life.
Since the PSU supplies power to all components, it is crucial for the overall performance of the PC. That’s why you should never compromise on quality. Also, avoid purchasing or using a PSU that is not genuine.
The M12II EVO series was launched in 2013, meaning your unit is at least 12 years old. It originally came with a 5-year warranty. Seasonic is recognized for its reliability, but even the best units don’t last indefinitely. For example, my PSU is 9 years old and I own a Seasonic PRIME 650 80+ Titanium [SSR-650TD]. It has a 12-year warranty and was one of the top 650W options available in 2016 (Aurora build, specs included).
I also used Seasonic M12II-850 EVO for some time. It powered my retired Haswell build from 2015 to 2020 before I upgraded to a Seasonic PRIME Ultra 650 80+ Titanium [SSR-650TR]. When I upgraded my older Haswell system, I reused the PRIME PSU, which now runs on an AM5 platform (Astral specs in my notes).
Yeah, it's quite outdated now and wasn't a solid power supply from the start. I'll fix it soon, and I hope it resolves my issue without affecting anything else.
In fact, at the time of its release, it stood out as one of the top power supplies for group-regulated units. The absolute peak among them was the Seasonic S12II series, such as the S12II-520, first launched in 2009. I personally used it for three years. Later models like M12II-520 EVO and M12II-620 EVO were fully modular versions of S12II, coming a few years after. However, M12II-750 EVO and M12II-850 EVO offered DC-DC regulation. It was interesting to see varying regulations within the same model range, but that was quite common back then. I think group-regulated solutions weren't sufficient for higher power ratings.
Great to hear! Please consider swapping this old PSU at any rate, that should hopefully resolve the random restarts.