The Gaming PC experienced a cardiac event.
The Gaming PC experienced a cardiac event.
Hi, former forum member, but today I’m registering to ask this question for the first time—something completely out of character for me.
I assembled this gaming PC back in 2020 and have kept it updated with new parts over the years (GPU upgrade, more RAM). It was functioning perfectly until one day it simply shut down. At first I thought it might be a Windows update, so I left it on. Later attempts to restart showed no power signal.
I checked several things:
- Used a PSU tester
- Switched to a new PSU and cables
- Experimented with different power supplies and connectors
- Removed peripherals, RAM, and GPU one by one
- Cleared thermal paste after removing the CPU and cooler
- Deep cleaned the case and components (it was quite dusty)
- Inspected motherboard and pins—no bent capacitors or pins
- Checked CPU pins and socket—everything looked good
I haven’t replaced the motherboard yet because I don’t have one nearby, and they’re expensive. I’m considering buying a new board, CPU, and case, reusing other parts. But before making that decision, I wanted to understand what actually caused this issue and if it could be fixed?
It never gave any warning signs or failures—just a strange shutdown.
Possible reason: Could humidity have played a role? It happened after moving into a new flat near the beach with humidity above 70%, and there was mold on the walls and ceiling. The humidity problem was resolved, but could high humidity have contributed? It was only a month since I moved in that my PC stopped working.
complete system specifications available. brand and model of the power supply included.
i5 10400F
Arctic Freezer 34 CPU Cooler
MSI MAG B460M MORTAR Micro ATX
Patriot Viper 4 Blackout 2x8GB DDR4
Gigabyte Gaming OC RTX 3060ti 8GB
Tecware Forge M ARGB Micro ATX Mini tower
Corsair TX550M 80+ Gold
Do you notice any indication of activity? A light from the motherboard? A faint pulse from the fan? What if you altered the power switch connections on the motherboard? If these attempts didn't work and you used a brand new PSU with all the included cables (excluding old ones), it might be the motherboard itself.
I don’t see any signs of activity, no fans, no illumination, everything is off. I haven’t attempted the jump power switch pins, so I’m unsure how to proceed.
I've been staying near the shore for about four months. It's just two blocks away, but using a dehumidifier wouldn't be a bad plan. The AC is already pulling out moisture.