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Recently my PC has been randomly restarting. Sometimes it just restarts automatically, other times it just sort of dies, leaving a black screen. Nothing I can do seems to be able to restore it other than manually shutting the system down with the power button and restarting.
I'm by no means an expert, but I've been doing some of my own diagnostics. Firstly I tried testing all the voltages on the PSU, they were all within range, so I don't think that's the problem. Then I tried taking the GPU out (and using the HDMI out of the motherboard instead). This seems to have stopped the random restarts, however I want to be certain that it is in fact the GPU before I bin it and buy a new one.
I don't know enough about hardware to be certain it isn't maybe something to do with the motherboard (or maybe even something else?) causing these issues. Is there some way it could instead be the motherboard output to the PCI slot that's the problem?
Specs:
GPU: Nvidia GTX 960
PSU: 500W
mobo: Asus Z97-AR
Cutter
Posted 2020-01-28T13:46:02.170
Reputation: 379
1Normally this kind of issue is because of the PSU. What model is it exactly? I suggest trying another PSU with the recommended wattage for your GPU. – Natsu Kage – 2020-01-28T13:56:14.060
It's a gtx 960, recommended at least 400W, I'm using 500W. Is that alright or could it still be the PSU you think? – Cutter – 2020-01-28T14:00:11.023
2What 500W model exactly? It's usually written on the label on its sides. Some 500W PSU are too weak on the 12V line and can cause issues. – Natsu Kage – 2020-01-28T14:14:22.527
It's a Corsair CX500 – Cutter – 2020-01-28T14:28:39.257
The CX500 is one of the PSU with the worst reputations around. xD Also, they're pretty old now (7+ years), so I suggest getting a new PSU just because that's past what I'd call service life. – Natsu Kage – 2020-01-28T14:35:06.740
Oh dear. Okay will look into it. Do you think taking the GPU out fixes the problem temporarily because the PSU doesn't have to supply it with power then? – Cutter – 2020-01-28T14:59:06.797
I don't want to replace the PSU and still have problems. I'm trying to avoid unnecessary spending because I'm a broke student :/ – Cutter – 2020-01-28T14:59:52.390
1A computer without a GPU uses less power, so the PSU doesn't work as hard. . A new GPU will cost you way more than a PSU, so you should start with that. Buy one at amazon or a supplier with free returns, in case it isn't your issue. A cheap EVGA 500White is good enough for the GTX960. – Natsu Kage – 2020-01-28T15:04:53.113
3 things: 1) this comment thread should be an answer; 2) straight power-off strongly implicates the PSU; 3) I personally had a similar issue and GPU load is what did it: sudden load, sags power (similar to brownout), motherboard shuts down. If the OP has access even temporarily to a second PSU, they should test it. – Yorik – 2020-01-28T15:20:03.883
Thanks @Yorik. I would like to add that it's not immediate power off, like a power cut would be. You can hear the fans continue for a while and then it restarts (or I have to manually restart if it doesn't itself). – Cutter – 2020-01-28T15:58:15.900
1@Cutter a PSU browning out can, depending on what it is powering, cause a whole host of weird issues. Components can power down and come back up and effectively crash the system while it "seems" to still be up. Watchdog timers can reboot a system that is hung in a weird way, or they may fail as well depending on what has crashed. I agree that the cheapest and best thing to replace first is the PSU. At the very least a good replacement is always a worthwhile update to keep a system going well into the future. – Mokubai – 2020-01-28T16:03:37.467
Okay I'll try the PSU first. Thanks everyone. – Cutter – 2020-01-28T16:05:12.223
So I've tested a new 600W PSU, the GPU is still under performing. I'm getting 30fps on Novabench. Which is the same as it was before with the old PSU (a very poor score for a gtx 960 apparently). So I'm guessing it must be the GPU that's the problem not the PSU. – Cutter – 2020-01-29T13:43:40.117
Although I guess the underperforming GPU and the random restarts could be different problems. It just seems too coincidental. – Cutter – 2020-01-29T13:50:16.853