Random PC power-offs
Random PC power-offs
Hi everyone, I’m evaluating a client’s PC that was said to shut down unpredictably or restart unexpectedly. During testing, I performed internal cleaning as requested, followed by rigorous stress tests with AIDA64, OCCT, Prime95, and FurMark. I also ran several hours of gaming and regular use. The results were promising: the system operated flawlessly for multiple days, with no shutdowns, crashes, or instability. Temperatures remained within safe ranges, and only one unusual incident occurred—trying to power it on immediately after a shutdown left the power button unresponsive. On the second attempt, it worked normally. All other ~10 power cycles proceeded without issues. My conclusion is that this might be due to the power button not being pressed firmly enough or the PC not having completed its shutdown properly, which is similar to behavior seen in TVs. Regarding your concerns: based on this testing, the PC appears stable overall. The single power-on hiccup seems minor and likely not a major issue. Unless you notice recurring problems, it probably isn’t something to worry about. Thanks in advance for your help!
Appreciate the clear formatting—really helpful. To be honest, the issue appears to be related to the power supply unit or motherboard. It might be best to replace that component. While I don’t like replacing parts, having a spare could help identify the exact problem.
That’s my perspective too. The challenge is lacking a backup PSU for testing, and the problem didn’t occur during my tests. If I swap the PSU now and claim it fixes things, it wouldn’t truly confirm it was the root cause since it had always worked for me. That’s why I’m cautious about changing components without first experiencing the issue. Do you understand my concern?
The BIOS has likely never been updated. If it hasn't, that might be the problem. Stability concerns are usually addressed in the release documentation.
If the PC is functioning properly, the issue might lie elsewhere. The client may not have a stable power supply at home. You could use a backup UPS to provide temporary power and test if it resolves the problem.
I informed the client about it. He mentioned that having a laptop on the same outlet doesn’t cause the same issues, even though I understand laptops don’t draw power in the same way. I still brought it up with him. He also shared that three individuals tested the same machine at their homes and encountered the same problem he did. The idea that three people tested it seems improbable to me, since if it were true he would already have a confirmed diagnosis. I don’t have an UPS.
Weak clues suggest the PSU isn't problematic. Do you have any details about the PC in question? (such as a specific model like Corsair RMx 850w/Thermaltake Toguhpower GF1 750W, etc.) It's interesting that they moved the PC to another home and it also failed there. Would you be keen on extra diagnostic tools if you often work on PC troubleshooting? It might be a socket issue or possibly a power strip connected to the PC. If so, it's unclear whether they're bringing just the PC or a full setup including power strip and monitor. Have you checked all USB and display ports? It could be related to USB, ports, or another external device connected to the PC or the same power strip.
I’m not currently aligned with the PC, but I’m thinking... : Intel core i3 9100f ASUS asus prime h310m-r r2.0 Eurotech FATX700R50 PSU G.Skill Aegis DDR4 2x8gb, I don’t recall the speed now. KFA2 NVIDIA GTX 1650 EX 1-CLICK OC eurotech slayer rx23 pro PC case is solid, wouldn’t you think? I’ve also used Unigine Heaven and Superposition. That’s a good question... but I’m quite doubtful. My USB ports were all checked, though the case ports only briefly. I only tested the DP port on the GPU. Still, I’m not sure that’s accurate. If three different people had noticed the same problem, I wouldn’t send it back to someone who might have misdiagnosed it. This PC was already at my place before. This is my second test. The first time it felt stable, but the next day he showed a reboot video. I asked him to bring it back for more testing and deeper checks. He said he’d return but first wanted to clean the dust. I repeated the cleaning as instructed, even though I knew it wouldn’t fix the issue. After all, I haven’t seen any problems since then and temperatures stayed normal. Ultimately, he didn’t clean the dust himself, saying he would. There were just a few screws on the rear fan—two spun nonstop, so maybe he tried.