Something's broken, but I don't know what I need to replace.
Something's broken, but I don't know what I need to replace.
I've recently encountered problems with my desktop that keeps crashing, freezing, or rebooting frequently. It often freezes during POST, especially when the VGA or boot LED lights up on the motherboard. Once past that point, it may display a bluescreen or shut down during startup. Trying to access BIOS usually results in a black screen, and even if I manage to enter the menu, it freezes again shortly.
I've tested various RAM setups, different GPUs, removed all components except the motherboard, CPU, RAM, GPU, and power supply, yet nothing resolved the issue. Sometimes it hangs in other areas, like endless window loading or both the DRAM and CPU LEDs flashing. I've reset the BIOS multiple times, but sometimes a gigabyte splash screen appears, warning of system failure, which then freezes again and requires a restart.
Based on what I know, it seems to be either a CPU or motherboard problem, though I'm unsure which one needs replacing. My system specs include a Ryzen 5 2600x, Gigabyte Aorus Elite B450 motherboard, Corsair Vengeance RAM (16GB), Asus Strix GTX 1080 Ti, an RTX 2070 (which works fine), a 875-watt power supply (likely Thermaltake), an NVMe SSD from a laptop, two WD Blue 2TB drives, and a CPU cooler (model uncertain). I've attempted overclocking the CPU with limited success. The system has operated intermittently for over two years, mainly used for gaming and rendering with the GPU.
Past crashes and boot failures were occasional and could be resolved by a restart. Any guidance on which components to replace would be helpful.
Sometimes it happens, but not always. I verified the memory; if it’s failing suddenly more often than expected, it could be an issue. The traditional memory test might be better then. Another idea is to extract as much data as possible and observe if the problem persists. If it works without most devices, add them one by one until it stops. The speed of memory and the PSU details aren’t noted and might be crucial.
My phrasing wasn't ideal, sorry about that. I meant to say it would eventually happen. Sometimes it takes longer than others, but it tends to stop around an hour. I didn't realize I mentioned running a memory test—it showed no problems. I also checked DIMMs one by one without success. The speed is around 2400, and I've tested everything from the motherboard to the GPU. The PSU is a Thermaltake Toughpower XT 875 watt unit, which is decent but still reliable. I haven't faced any issues with it, and the BIOS voltages look normal.
It’s normal for memtest86 to run for hours, which can be excessive. Testing RAM is inexpensive but slow. If both memory modules show problems, it’s likely the issue isn’t RAM. Usually, a problem affects just one stick. Clearing the software—resetting CMOS, re-flashing BIOS—might help.
I believe the problem isn't the RAM, since it's very unlikely both sticks failed simultaneously. I've reset the CMOS settings and booted from a Linux drive, but the same issue persists, leading me to suspect a hardware fault. I think the motherboard might be faulty and could be replaced for a reasonable price, but I don't want to invest in a new board just to fix this.
CPU tends to be the priciest component, but getting one is easier than you might think. A 2600 works fine even after the Ryzen3 release. The Am4 won’t surpass the performance of the 5xxx chips. Things could get worse, so double-check your BIOS supports your setup—it can be a headache if there are clashes.