Random system resets affecting GPU and HDD components.
Random system resets affecting GPU and HDD components.
Hey everyone, thanks for your support! My computer has been acting up lately—after a while it freezes briefly and then restarts like a normal reboot. It happens even when the system is under light use, like browsing or doing ray tracing with high detail. It seems completely random, and I haven’t noticed any link to anything I’ve done. I’m not an expert, but it feels more like a full crash than just a brief freeze. When it restarts, the screen freezes three times, but I can still hear my teammates on Discord and they can respond. After restarting, the screen loses signal and then comes back. There haven’t been any blue screen error messages.
Recent actions: I replaced the GPU in its riser, reattached the riser, fixed all RAM connections, updated drivers, wiped all drives, and reinstalled Windows. This happened before the reset, but it’s getting more frequent. (It even happened when I bumped the desk lightly—though that was probably just a coincidence. Still, I tried to recreate it by bumping the desk myself.)
PC problems I’ve noticed:
- GPU sometimes shows as having no load in Task Manager, even though games are running.
- My Windows background on monitors turns black unexpectedly.
- HDD isn’t my boot drive; it holds only certain games and World of Warcraft files.
- SATA SSD refused to appear in BIOS or Windows, possibly indicating a dead drive.
- I attached the CPUZ parts list and a few other details that might help.
Anyone else experiencing similar issues? Thanks for your help!
I noticed you're using PCIE 4 on a B450 motherboard. That BIOS version is quite old and might be the issue. Updating it would help. The RTX 3070 shouldn't cause problems with a PCIE 3 x16 connection, so performance should remain similar. You mentioned it restarts only during games—would testing with just one RAM stick clarify that? Also, try using a single RAM stick to see if the restarts persist.
The problems began only recently, without any hardware modifications during that period. I'm unsure if my configuration versus BIOS caused these issues from the moment I assembled the PC. These problems occur not just in games but also when browsing Facebook or watching YouTube. My friend mentioned my GPU is set to 3.0 x 8 for some reason. GPUZ screenshot attached.
Also noticed this while streaming my screen on Discord for a friend. 75% GPU usage.
Typically GPUs reduce their speed when not under heavy use or bandwidth demand, and the PCIe link does this to conserve energy. This is standard behavior across most modern GPUs. I still recommend updating the BIOS for potential stability improvements, even if it doesn’t resolve the problem. If the fix isn’t achieved, you can revert to your existing version to maintain PCIE 4 compatibility. Do you recall when this issue began? Was it following a Windows update?
I noticed the CPU model mentioned indicates PCI-E 4.0 support, but my board actually runs PCI-E 3.0. It might be a software glitch or an update issue. Some recent updates have handled this, even though it was originally an EVGA X299 dark build. A BIOS update could help, though I’m not sure. Wolfsview seems to cause problems with certain apps, Razer’s drivers are often unreliable, Firefox uses a lot of resources and can slow down performance, and GeForce Experience might interfere with settings and monitoring. It’s definitely not ideal.
It might be due to a higher resolution setting or Discord's handling of the content. Could be a misunderstanding about the platform's behavior.
It shouldn't be an issue with the crash time; just send back, reply, or quote and I'll notify you. There should be a way in GPUZ to load the PCIe bus if I remember correctly. When running Furry Donut, the link isn't always activated. Check the question mark next to the highlighted/red boxed GPU link speed in your screenshot—it should open a window with an option to test the connection.