The PC stops working unexpectedly?
The PC stops working unexpectedly?
Hello and welcome everyone, I’m experiencing some unexpected shutdown issues over the past few months. My computer frequently powers off abruptly, sometimes for about twelve hours without shutting down completely, but eventually it does turn off. When it does, the screen displays a signal loss message, and both the fans and lights shut down as if it were a standard restart. What’s unusual is that the small USB monitor connected to the motherboard remains active, showing the last recorded data before the shutdown.
This problem has occurred with two power supplies: a Game Factor PSG650 (new) and a Thermaltake Smart 750w. I’ve reviewed the Windows event logs and found recurring errors in the Event Viewer, specifically related to a blue screen error that has persisted for years. Despite never changing the graphics card, I suspect it might be failing.
I’ve also checked my system temperatures—CPU stays below 50°C, GPU under 78°C—and run MemTest86 to check RAM, both passing without issues. It’s unclear whether my graphics card is deteriorating or if there’s another underlying cause.
My PC was built with a Biostar motherboard, and prior to this build, I had a Gygabyte GA-970A-DS3P that started failing on the front audio and USB ports. Eventually, it stopped working entirely, prompting a visit to a technician who diagnosed it as dead. I replaced most components except the video card and Thermaltake power supply. About two years ago, after installing the Game Factor graphics card in March, I resolved the audio and port issues.
Here are my system details:
- Motherboard: Biostar A320MH
- RAM: 8GB Kingston FURY Beast DDR4 (2666MHz) + 8GB Kingston HyperX DDR4 (2666MHz)
- CPU: Ryzen 5 2600
- GPU: GTX 750ti (2GB)
- CPU Cooler: Cooler Master 212 Evo
Thank you for your attention.
Hello there! It seems you haven't specified the details about your chassis and power supply. Could you share that information so I can assist you better?
My frame is a Naceb Hydra Atx NA-0602 and currently I possess just these two power supplies.
To eliminate issues related to Windows drivers or damaged files/Registry, consider installing a new Windows operating system on a 120GB 2.5" SATA SSD. These units are available for under fifteen dollars. Euros, pounds.
This approach may be simpler than purchasing a used motherboard, CPU, GPU, power supply, or RAM, and then gradually replacing components until the problem is resolved. By the time you complete this process, you’ll likely have sufficient parts to assemble another machine.
Do you know someone with spare components who is open to lending them?
Have you inspected the pins on the 2600 to ensure they are straight and free from tarnish or corrosion in the ZIF socket? This is especially important in humid conditions. You may need fresh TIM (thermal paste) after removing the heatsink, but be careful not to drop the CPU during removal.
Also, check the two rows of gold-plated DIMM contacts—are they clean and free from dust or debris in the sockets?
Your USB temperature monitoring display likely draws power from the 5VSB supply rail, which stays active until you disconnect the rear PSU or unplug it from the mains. The motherboard remains powered when connected to the mains, so avoid removing RAM, GPU, or other components unless you’re certain the system is fully off.
I was considering RAM as the probable reason for the random shutdowns, then I reviewed your specifications, and now I'm convinced it's the RAM issue. You have two distinct sets of RAM installed, which is typically a significant problem. It seems these are single 8GB modules rather than two separate kits of 2X4GB. If that's the case, removing one to test the system could be challenging since you'd lose dual-channel performance, but it might be worth trying.
I haven't had time for a fresh installation of Windows. My PC has always been clean, and what I tried previously was removing the video card and restarting the computer, which surprisingly lasted 32 hours before I had to turn it off again to reinstall the graphics card.
A fresh setup on an extra drive to the Windows Desktop screen takes under an hour. Reviewing for missing drivers, launching key applications, and customizing Windows feels like a worthwhile effort after about two hours. Another hour is needed to run diagnostics on a problematic system. It's worth investing a few hours to build a clean system free of unnecessary files that could be the issue.
I performed a fresh installation on June 27th, updated the drivers first with DDU and everything functioned properly so far. It hasn’t shut down twice yet. I’m wondering if the issue might be related to the GPU or the motherboard, though I don’t have any parts to test.