Which is to blame, my PSU or GPU?
Which is to blame, my PSU or GPU?
Hi everyone, I've noticed my GPU making a lot more noise lately but it's generally functioning okay. After checking, I found the fan was loose or misaligned, so I tightened it and gave it a clean. It worked temporarily, then the PC would shut down after a minute or two. Looking online, it seems like the power supply unit might be the issue, though it only started acting up after I adjusted the GPU. The usage and temperature were low when it powered off, and Windows would sometimes fail to start properly, prompting me to restart occasionally. I'm planning not to try to boot it again until the problem is fixed. Thanks for any advice!
Specs: CPU - Ryzen 9 5900x GPU - ZOTAC GeForce 1080Ti PSU - Corsair CX650 Mobo - Gigabyte A520M 32gb 3200MHz RAM
Updated: Replaced PSU, which seems to have solved the problem.
Edited March 10, 2025 by marabout
I don't have a PSU to check, but I can help you with any questions you have!
I reviewed the energy use of each part. GPU max draw is 320W, CPU base around 105W, and overall system reaches 142W (max). MOBO power usage is suggested at 500W for RAM and 3W otherwise. I’m unsure if this matters with an aging power supply; it might be rust or dust inside the PSU. Consider replacing the PSU if needed.
Verify that the power supply was the root cause; the recent upgrade appears to resolve the problem.