Problem with PC persists continuously across multiple issues.
Problem with PC persists continuously across multiple issues.
I had to buy a PC upgrade during the peak shortages in 2021, which meant I ended up overpaying for the CPU (before the 5800x3d was announced or released). The system I got came with a Ryzen 5900X, an aircooler, 32GB of Team Group Edition 3600mhz RAM, an MSI MAG B550 TomaHawk MOBO, a Lian Li case, and two WD SN550 NVME drives that were highly rated and well-recommended. However, I soon realized they were subpar—lacking a DRAM cache and being poorly advertised. I kept the GTX 1080ti and EVGA SuperNova G2 1000W from my previous PC.
Since then, my setup has been plagued by issues. My Asus ROG Swift 1440p monitor stopped working, the Ethernet cable failed, my headset broke, the mouse had double-click problems, and eventually the PC would reboot randomly. Over time, it became more frequent, leading to crashes or freezes lasting up to ten minutes. After a long troubleshooting phase, it turned out the CPU was defective (not due to temperature) and had to be returned via RMA. To fix it, I bought a new PSU (MSI MPG A850G), a replacement storage drive (SN850X), and another MSI B550 TomaHawk, all of which turned out to be a waste. The PSU also needed immediate replacement because it wouldn’t boot at all; the second one worked.
Three weeks after getting a new CPU, I’m still facing problems. After reinstalling Windows 11, everything seemed normal until the PC randomly shut down while watching a YouTube video. The power button didn’t respond, I tried using a different adapter and it booted for about three minutes before shutting down again. Switching the PSU power plug to the one from my old EVGA unit lasted roughly five minutes before it stopped working. I replaced the socket adapter, but it had no effect. The monitor still functions when the PC powers off.
Could this be another issue, or does it point to something specific? I’ve spent a lot of time trying to identify the problem, but so far, nothing seems to fit. This system is mostly brand new or barely used, except for the GTX 1080ti, RAM, and airstream cooler from 2021.
I’m really struggling with these faulty components. I have no clue what’s causing the problems this time. It’s a total nightmare trying to figure out the issues, and it seems like something is consistently going wrong for me.
The system was working smoothly until it unexpectedly shut down while playing a YouTube video. The installer for your operating system was obtained from where? Did you install it without going online? The OS usually downloads and installs drivers automatically, which can cause problems. It's recommended to install the latest drivers in an elevated command, such as right-clicking the installer and selecting Run as Administrator.
You may want to check if your motherboard supports a different BIOS version. It could be helpful to move the PC to another location and see if the issue continues. Sometimes grounding issues or static buildup can trigger such problems.
Are you connected to a GPU riser or using any cable extensions?
I recently updated and installed Windows 11 immediately after the CPU was installed on the 26th of December. The Windows installer I downloaded from the internet and saved to a USB drive was used during setup. I entered my Windows login details at that time. At that moment the Ethernet connection was active, but this issue started about two days ago. No recent software updates were applied, and several important drivers were downloaded manually. These included Nvidia drivers, Realtek Ethernet, Realtek audio, chipset drivers, and BIOS. The BIOS version is the latest one from MSI, but I should verify the exact version on the website. Edit - 7C91VAF 10/24/23
The only unusual thing I observed was an entry in the Device Manager concerning Nvidia Audio. I removed it from the GPU driver package, though a version from 2020 is already installed. I disabled that setting almost a month ago as well.
I’m not sure about the riser cable extensions. My mother’s partner will inspect it tomorrow and move it downstairs to a different power outlet.
I tend to worry the most about these kinds of matters. Either it becomes extremely hard to pinpoint the problem, or it turns out to be the most costly replacement.
Today everything turned out okay...
The PC was moved to the dining area and connected to a different power outlet using one of those surge-protected sockets. It kept shutting down, and no power was detected when I tried again. The reset switch worked for a short time, but then the power cut off once more. The case was opened, components removed and reinserted, yet the same problem persisted. An old PSU was tested as well; it produced identical results. A GTX 980 from another computer in the house was installed, and again the issue occurred. The Mobo was swapped with an identical spare ordered earlier, which helped pinpoint the CPU problem. We entered the BIOS, and it showed a version from March 2023—almost a full year without a functioning PC. All settings were back to default, and after about 40 minutes it restarted. I changed the RAM profile back to XMP in the BIOS, and it ran for 14 minutes and 33 seconds on Windows. I was about to scan the SN850X NVME health via the WD Dashboard when it abruptly shut down again.
I think I’ve reached my limit here.
I’m facing some serious bad luck. I don’t have the budget to keep replacing or testing components, and I lack the skills or confidence to handle hardware troubleshooting. My mother’s partner spent around seven hours on this today, but he still doesn’t know what caused the latest failure.
I’m deciding to stop. The PC is unstable, with multiple issues. I leave everything at the factory setting, so whatever breaks will happen without my knowledge. The temperatures have always been fine. Thanks to someone who replied, but my time with PCs is coming to an end. This experience with this machine is really frustrating.
There seems to be a lot of concern about power issues at home. Do you know someone with a completely 'display only' graphics card that you could use for this setup? Are there any other Event Viewer entries besides Event 41 and Reliability History? I’d also like to mention things like sfc/DISM along with some memory tests, but the system needs to remain active. If you only boot into BIOS, will the machine continue running?