PC shuts itself off after a few minutes

6 months ago by QueenHawlSera to c/buildapc

So this started one day when I shut the computer down. I went to start and shut it down that way.

When I turned it on again it turned itself off after a few minutes. Then it wouldn't turn on until a few more minutes, then it again shut itself off...

I thought I heard a clicking sound when it goes off, so I think it's the power supply.

So I order a new one, wait a week, a slow painful week. And then I install the power supply.

Same issue.

I bring my tech guy over and he plays with the settings in Bios and updates my Bios. It never shuts off in bios so we think it's fixed..

He has to go because he's a streamer and he has a tournament. So I rush him home and think problem solved.

I go to be with my computer, get her out of BIOS and after a few minutes she shuts off and doesn't turn back on. Same problem as before.

So now I'm at a loss. I have no idea what's causing my problem.

Please. If anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear it. I just want my PC back.

OwOarchist 55 points 6 months ago

This is 100% a CPU overheating issue. Something is wrong with your CPU cooler or the way it's installed.

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Kongar 24 points 6 months ago

100% agree. Even if we’re wrong and it’s NOT a cpu cooling issue, you need to eliminate this as the next step in your troubleshooting.

Take the cooler off the cpu, clean off the thermal paste, apply new paste, reinstall. Check the manual, make sure you’ve installed the cooler correctly (orientation, correct brackets, etc). If you’re using an aio, make sure your radiator is higher than your cpu (so bubbles can’t get stuck in your pump).

Use a monitoring program to check your temps, run it through a stress test. Bios takes no load, booting into an OS does. That’s why it works in bios and fails when you start your OS.

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TheKracken 15 points 6 months ago

This is what I was going to say. If you have an all in one cooler check the pump hasn't died. Otherwise check your thermal paste.

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Aussiemandeus 4 points 6 months ago

Yeah i accidentally unplugged my cooler power supply once and had the exact same problem

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ShadowRam 2 points 6 months ago

Disagree.

If their computer was running fine previous, and there's not a huge buildup of dust/dirt (which should be obvious),

It's the motherboard failing to deliver full power to the CPU when it goes to draw a load.

Motherboard cap's fail just like PSU's do.

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14th_cylon 8 points 6 months ago

If their computer was running fine previous

the fact that their computer was running fine previously does not mean it will run fine until the judgement day. stuff breaks and any stuff that once broke "worked fine" just a second before.

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OwOarchist 7 points 6 months ago

Honestly, I kind of suspect a clogged or failed AIO cooler pump ... but I don't know if OP is even using an AIO cooler.

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14th_cylon 42 points 6 months ago

check cpu temperature

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DarrinBrunner 27 points 6 months ago

CPU cooler is not mounted correctly, or the mount broke loose so the cooler is lifted off the CPU, or the fan is dead, or your PC case is choked with dust. Something is causing your CPU to overheat, is my guess.

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Diplomjodler3 14 points 6 months ago

You did peel off the plastic from the cooler?

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QueenHawlSera 4 points 6 months ago

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Bubs 3 points 6 months ago

This. Forgot to remove the sticker once ages ago and had a very similar power down issue.

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Notamoosen 10 points 6 months ago

I'd agree it's most likely the cooler, but I've seen odd instances of a faulty motherboard or the motherboard being screwed too tightly to the case causing flexing and/or shorts.

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artwork 6 points 6 months ago

Wonderful day!

The click sound may not be related, if the same click happens when you shut it off via the power button.

Just to clarify, have you tried disconnecting everything from the motherboard except the RAM and try powering it on to check the time it stays on?

Also, do fans spin up fast right before it shuts off? For the "CPU temperature" mentioned by @14th_cylon@lemmy.zip in the comments, too.

The few ideas what may cause it are:

- 1. Overheating at some motherboard or PSU itself?
- 2. The storage drive malfunctions;
- 3. Memory gets malfunctioned; here, I would tried other RAM and/or try changing the sticks one by one.
- 4. It may come from the dedicated GPU malfunction, too, of course.

As mentioned, please do try experimenting with all the devices disconnected from the motherboard except the PSU and memory, since it may come from the peripherals where the motherboard or PSU shuts the whole machine off to prevent further damage.

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golden_zealot 4 points 6 months ago

Between that last good shutdown and the problem occuring did you plug something else in on the circuit? Could be failing to pull enough wattage to operate or something maybe.

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QueenHawlSera 1 point 6 months ago

I did not

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Kolanaki 4 points 6 months ago

Check all the pins and connections.

Reseat the CPU and cooler. Make sure to remove any cellophane that might be on the bottom of the cooler. Make sure your thermal paste is still tacky and spread evenly over the whole CPU where the cooler makes contact with it. Make sure the cooler is properly seated and bolted down.

Make sure every screw hole on the motherboard is screwed in. Make sure it is sitting on the risers and not making direct contact with the case.

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frongt 3 points 6 months ago

Does the bios have an event log?

Remove all nonessential devices (GPU, all but one stick of ram, etc.) and try again.

You can check the CPU temp by just touching the heatsink. It should be warm to hot, but not so hot that it's uncomfortable or painful to hold.

Are any other devices in your house having issues? Could be that it's not getting enough power or wrong voltage.

Does it shut down when you do anything specific like start a bunch of programs or a game? Can you make it shut down if you run a stress test?

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QueenHawlSera 1 point 6 months ago

Can't check PC isn't coming on at all now

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rimu 3 points 6 months ago

One of your cooling fans could be busted or you need new thermal paste between the cpu and heatsink.

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Treczoks 3 points 6 months ago

CPU overheating issue.

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QueenHawlSera 2 points 6 months ago

Replaced the CPU, it seems to work now

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Treczoks 2 points 6 months ago

Good!

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QueenHawlSera 2 points 6 months ago

Thank you

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Fizz 2 points 6 months ago

Is your power supply high enough for your cpu+ gpu? I had similar symptoms after putting an rx580 in my pc and it was drawing to much power.

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QueenHawlSera 2 points 6 months ago

Yes. It worked for years with a 750 and the issue didnt resolved with an 850

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owenfromcanada 2 points 6 months ago

Open the side panel, aim the largest fan you have in there on full blast. If that makes it last longer, it's likely a cooling issue.

I had very similar behavior that turned out to be a cooling problem.

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ShadowRam 2 points 6 months ago

People saying cooler,

But if this computer was running fine prior, and you already replaced the PSU,

I say its motherboard.

It's a power issue, and its the power distribution on the motherboard. Most likely a capacitor is done for,

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QueenHawlSera 1 point 6 months ago

Motherboard or cooling.. Anyway to narrow this down?

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14th_cylon 6 points 6 months ago

Anyway to narrow this down?

yes. check cpu temperature. there are software utilities for that. if it starts rising after boot and keeps rising until the reboot, then you found the problem.

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QueenHawlSera 2 points 6 months ago

Hrmmm.. now she isn't coming on at all. So I can't. Damn.

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frongt 2 points 6 months ago

Then it ain't cooling.

Or maybe it was, and now the CPU or something is cooked. You might see or smell evidence if you take it out.

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f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4 1 point 6 months ago