Periodic unexpected resets without issues, crashes, or alerts.
Periodic unexpected resets without issues, crashes, or alerts.
It's a lengthy troubleshooting discussion but I haven't received any replies elsewhere. Here are the details: CPU model i5 6400 GPU MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G Monitor DELL 1708FP connected via HDMI-VGA adapter Mobo MSI B150M PRO-VDH RAM Kingston 2133Mhz 8GB single-channel Storage 240GB Intel SSD + 512 GB Hitachi HDD PSU SilentiumPC Vero L2 Bronze 600W I recently purchased this PC and used it casually for YouTube, Discord, and some games like CS:GO and War Thunder. Recently, I experienced a few instances where the screen would go black without any BSOD or error messages, then restart after a short time. This time I was ready for the reboot. I didn't see the error indicators before it restarted, but after turning it off and back on I noticed a flashing VGA light. Overall the system functions normally. During those black screen periods the GPU logo LED would blink. Windows Event Viewer logged entries related to these events. I don't have clear guidance on what the flashing lights signify here. I've already reinstalled NVIDIA drivers via DDU, cleared CMOS, and updated BIOS completely. Restarts occur unpredictably, roughly every couple of days, without a specific trigger or load type—it's sporadic, sometimes after playing games, sometimes just browsing. It seems unrelated to overheating; my CPU never exceeded 51°C during intensive tasks, and the GPU stays below 80% even during long FurMark sessions. Since I wasn't gaming or streaming during those times, it's unlikely a power or load issue. The PC operates perfectly otherwise. If anyone has advice or additional information, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'll also make notes if this happens again and encounter new error codes.
This appears to be an outdated setup, likely around 7-9 years old when the Gen6 was released. The PSU has been deteriorating over time. Disks may experience write errors and fail to log data properly, even though a blue screen should occur under heavy power draw. I recommend testing with a more robust PSU or a replacement of equal wattage. A black screen followed by a reboot without any error messages is typically a sign of PSU failure due to unstable power delivery.
The PSU is brand new, I replaced the old one during installation. I’m missing another PSU to test or a budget option. There should be an error log if something needs reporting, though. The Windows install uses the SSD and runs smoothly. The system keeps turning on even when it shouldn’t, with LEDs still lit and the VGA error light active. Also, can you clarify why the PSU handles full game load without issues but crashes during a YouTube video?
It seems like a solid PSU choice. For a Samsung model, consider downloading Samsung Magician to assess firmware updates. You might want to boot without the front panel connectors for a reset. Running the system with a screwdriver is necessary too.
The PSU is a SilentiumPC Vero L2 600W, possibly faulty but not certain. I’m not sure if it’s broken or just behaving oddly. During heavy tasks like FurMark and Prime95, it seems to deliver power without problems. Restarts occur unpredictably during activities such as chatting in Discord or writing in Word. The SSD is an Intel SSDSC2BW240H6 and the issue happens randomly—maybe within the next few days or even within minutes depending on conditions. I’m unsure how to test it without the connectors. Edited January 22, 2024 by Lynxium
It's tough to fix these issues, but the safest approach is to turn off everything except the system drive. Leave other peripherals connected but unplug anything else, including the CPU fan. Keep checking the connector panel and USB devices until it stops happening. If it still occurs, the problem is likely with the CPU, RAM, power supply, motherboard, or disk. You could try a different PSU if possible. Elimination is the main method, though it can take a while if the failures are unpredictable. Also, since you have an SSD, it might be overwriting data that caused the failure—runing sfc /scannow in safe mode or using the troubleshooting command window could help.
I understand, I think disconnecting and restarting might help. Also, I powered off and turned it back on, and the lights showed a few blinks: CPU, DRAM, and VGA lights. The system stayed lit until it booted into OS. That could be useful. I also have the old PSU that came with the PC, but since it lacks PCI-E connectors, swapping it in won’t fix the issue—no gaming performance.