Problems troubleshooting PC, random restarts/Crashes

[zxNebula]

PC Specifications:
CPU: I7 6700
GPU: GTX 1070
RAM: G.Skill 2x8 3000mhz CL16
PSU: MWE 500W 80+ Bronze from Cooler Master
Motherboard: H110M Gaming MS-7994
1 SSD and 1 HDD, 250GB 2TB respectively

So recently my PC has been shutting down randomly and I can't seem to figure out why. I've tried every troubleshooting method and nothing seems to give a definite solution.
It started last week when my PC randomly shut down when playing a game, it then started boot cycling, clearing BIOS and immediately restarting as soon as it started loading windows. I thought it was a driver issue with some of my periferals so I unplugged every USB except the mouse and ran a scan for corrupted files (( SFC /scannow on CMD prompt)) and that fixed it for a 3-4 days. But a couple of days ago it started doing the same thing, and this time nothing I did worked. I checked for CPU temps, GPU temps, I reinstalled windows (Which btw, it didnt crash during the whole installation process or during the update process), and it still kept crashing soon after I was done. At one point yesterday, it got so bad that even after unplugging the SSD which contains windows, it was still crashing every 30~~ odd seconds even while only being in BIOS.
Today though I tried booting it and it surprisingly held for a while before crashing again, I noticed that it messed up the configuration for my microphone cause the LED on the microphone went red (( should be blue or green )) and changing USB port worked, I tried stress testing and at 100% CPU and GPU load and 50+% RAM load it held for more than 10 minutes so I think that rules out it being the PSU.
I honestly have no clue what is causing this, I was confident it was the PSU yesterday but now im not so sure since it can hold big loads
 

[filpo]

3 hours ago, zxNebula said:

PC Specifications:
CPU: I7 6700
GPU: GTX 1070
RAM: G.Skill 2x8 3000mhz CL16
PSU: MWE 500W 80+ Bronze from Cooler Master
Motherboard: H110M Gaming MS-7994
1 SSD and 1 HDD, 250GB 2TB respectively

So recently my PC has been shutting down randomly and I can't seem to figure out why. I've tried every troubleshooting method and nothing seems to give a definite solution.
It started last week when my PC randomly shut down when playing a game, it then started boot cycling, clearing BIOS and immediately restarting as soon as it started loading windows. I thought it was a driver issue with some of my periferals so I unplugged every USB except the mouse and ran a scan for corrupted files (( SFC /scannow on CMD prompt)) and that fixed it for a 3-4 days. But a couple of days ago it started doing the same thing, and this time nothing I did worked. I checked for CPU temps, GPU temps, I reinstalled windows (Which btw, it didnt crash during the whole installation process or during the update process), and it still kept crashing soon after I was done. At one point yesterday, it got so bad that even after unplugging the SSD which contains windows, it was still crashing every 30~~ odd seconds even while only being in BIOS.
Today though I tried booting it and it surprisingly held for a while before crashing again, I noticed that it messed up the configuration for my microphone cause the LED on the microphone went red (( should be blue or green )) and changing USB port worked, I tried stress testing and at 100% CPU and GPU load and 50+% RAM load it held for more than 10 minutes so I think that rules out it being the PSU.
I honestly have no clue what is causing this, I was confident it was the PSU yesterday but now im not so sure since it can hold big loads
 

it may be the psu or your mobo, check debug light if you have it

[Robchil]

4 hours ago, zxNebula said:

PC Specifications:
CPU: I7 6700
GPU: GTX 1070
RAM: G.Skill 2x8 3000mhz CL16
PSU: MWE 500W 80+ Bronze from Cooler Master
Motherboard: H110M Gaming MS-7994
1 SSD and 1 HDD, 250GB 2TB respectively

So recently my PC has been shutting down randomly and I can't seem to figure out why. I've tried every troubleshooting method and nothing seems to give a definite solution.
It started last week when my PC randomly shut down when playing a game, it then started boot cycling, clearing BIOS and immediately restarting as soon as it started loading windows. I thought it was a driver issue with some of my periferals so I unplugged every USB except the mouse and ran a scan for corrupted files (( SFC /scannow on CMD prompt)) and that fixed it for a 3-4 days. But a couple of days ago it started doing the same thing, and this time nothing I did worked. I checked for CPU temps, GPU temps, I reinstalled windows (Which btw, it didnt crash during the whole installation process or during the update process), and it still kept crashing soon after I was done. At one point yesterday, it got so bad that even after unplugging the SSD which contains windows, it was still crashing every 30~~ odd seconds even while only being in BIOS.
Today though I tried booting it and it surprisingly held for a while before crashing again, I noticed that it messed up the configuration for my microphone cause the LED on the microphone went red (( should be blue or green )) and changing USB port worked, I tried stress testing and at 100% CPU and GPU load and 50+% RAM load it held for more than 10 minutes so I think that rules out it being the PSU.
I honestly have no clue what is causing this, I was confident it was the PSU yesterday but now im not so sure since it can hold big loads
 

did you disconnect your HDD too? 

try disconnecting EVERYTHING that is connected to your mainboard. and see if it still crashes in bios.. 

 

[zxNebula]

20 hours ago, filpo said:

it may be the psu or your mobo, check debug light if you have it

Wouldn't any damage to the motherboard cause the PC to completely brick? Cause I do have a suspicion that it's the motherboard causing it, i had a mic plugged to one of the back USB ports and in one of the crashes it stopped detecting the microphone correctly, and it did the same thing to the new port once i changed it, I'm afraid of trying USB ports due to voltage fluctuations on my PSU it might fry them so I'm scared to even try anything

[filpo]

20 hours ago, Robchil said:

did you disconnect your HDD too? 

try disconnecting EVERYTHING that is connected to your mainboard. and see if it still crashes in bios.. 

try this, i had a problem similar where my hdd infected one of my other drives and had to buy two new ones. 

1 minute ago, zxNebula said:

Wouldn't any damage to the motherboard cause the PC to completely brick? Cause I do have a suspicion that it's the motherboard causing it, i had a mic plugged to one of the back USB ports and in one of the crashes it stopped detecting the microphone correctly, and it did the same thing to the new port, I'm afraid I'm trying USB ports due to voltage fluctuations on my PSU  so I'm scared to even try anything

 

[filpo]

1 minute ago, zxNebula said:

Wouldn't any damage to the motherboard cause the PC to completely brick? Cause I do have a suspicion that it's the motherboard causing it, i had a mic plugged to one of the back USB ports and in one of the crashes it stopped detecting the microphone correctly, and it did the same thing to the new port, I'm afraid I'm trying USB ports due to voltage fluctuations on my PSU  so I'm scared to even try anything

try disconnecting all the storage devices like @Robchil said and see if it doesn't boot into bios

[zxNebula]

20 hours ago, Robchil said:

did you disconnect your HDD too? 

try disconnecting EVERYTHING that is connected to your mainboard. and see if it still crashes in bios.. 

 

Ive just done this, i disconnected every periferal, i disconnected both disks.The only things that were connected were CPU, RAM and GPU (it doesn't have onboard graphics, it needs a GPU), and front IO and USB 3.0. then i tried with both ram sticks in, and then with either of the ram sticks individually, both slots still reboots after 10-15 seconds.

 

[zxNebula]

22 minutes ago, filpo said:

try disconnecting all the storage devices like @Robchil said and see if it doesn't boot into bios

I just did, just updated as a reply to his message

[zxNebula]

So, for easier understanding I'll post this:

I have tried booting the PC with no periferals and no disks connected. Booted with:

CPU, 2 RAM sticks, GPU, Front IO and USB 3.0 main power connector

CPU, 1 RAM stick, GPU, Front IO and USB 3.0 main power connector

I tried both rams individually, in both slots

 

It boots into BIOS and crashes after 10-15 seconds every time. 

[zxNebula]

Also this might be useful, yesterday I tried using it and it booted, stayed alive for about 15 minutes then crashed.

I booted it again and it did hold for a good 4-6 hours.

During this time I stress tested the PC:

It held 100% CPU and GPU Load + 50% RAM load for about 15 minutes. Thermals on the CPU didn't reach over 75 degrees, one of the cores peaked at 72 and the others remained sub 70. GPU also didn't reach temperature that is usually rated for a Founders Edition 1070 (82 Degrees). It held at low 70's.

I gamed on it for a while and it eventually crashed and started boot cycling every 15 seconds again.

 

Something i found weird was: on the first crash my microphone was plugged on one of the back USB 3.0 slots and after the crash it wasn't being recognized by windows. I changed it to a front IO port and it immediately started working again 

 

[zxNebula]

I am pretty confident this is my PSU dying, but I'm not 100% sure since I've never had to deal with PSU related issues and I have a mild suspicion it might be the motherboard, but it's all very hard to troubleshoot and I don't fancy buying a new PSU and it not being the issue considering the current economy 

[Robchil]

2 hours ago, zxNebula said:

I am pretty confident this is my PSU dying, but I'm not 100% sure since I've never had to deal with PSU related issues and I have a mild suspicion it might be the motherboard, but it's all very hard to troubleshoot and I don't fancy buying a new PSU and it not being the issue considering the current economy 

PSU's degenerate over time, most seen in system 5-10 years. it will just deliver lower peeks... but it all depends on PSU's use. if it's more or less maximised on output it will live shorter. 

 

not saying it is your problem, but at 500W. i would try something a bit stronger anyway.. or look at what you would like to put in a new system and get that ..  so you can use it in a new system. 

 

the most important with another PSU is swap the CABLES too.. alot have not and fried their systems. As pin out on PSU side of the cables are NOT standardized. 

 

if that's not the problem you should be able to return it

 

EDIT: when i say disconnect everything i mean everything... also the front panel connectors.. those have caused issues before too. 

 

EDIT 2: if it still crashes, take the mainboard and PSU out, i've seen shorted cases too.. or something dropped behind the mainboard. 

 

[zxNebula]

5 hours ago, Robchil said:

PSU's degenerate over time, most seen in system 5-10 years. it will just deliver lower peeks... but it all depends on PSU's use. if it's more or less maximised on output it will live shorter. 

 

not saying it is your problem, but at 500W. i would try something a bit stronger anyway.. or look at what you would like to put in a new system and get that ..  so you can use it in a new system. 

 

the most important with another PSU is swap the CABLES too.. alot have not and fried their systems. As pin out on PSU side of the cables are NOT standardized. 

 

if that's not the problem you should be able to return it

 

EDIT: when i say disconnect everything i mean everything... also the front panel connectors.. those have caused issues before too. 

 

EDIT 2: if it still crashes, take the mainboard and PSU out, i've seen shorted cases too.. or something dropped behind the mainboard. 

 

I'm convinced it's the PSU, I've had this PC for about 5 years now and it's gotten very extensive use, I've been gaming on it every day and even leaving it on entire nights and days while hosting servers and such, the PC has had Alot of replacements over the years, CPU, GPU, both RAMS, both storage drives are new, the only things it hasn't gotten new are motherboard and PSU, which are the 2 possible causes for this issue.

 

I've gotten my eyes on a 700w semi modular 80+ gold PSU already to replace this one since every evidence points mostly to PSU over Mobo, if it's not the PSU the improvement isn't bad anyway for longetivety since, even if it's not the problem, that one is probably not in the best of conditions anyway.

[zxNebula]

On 3/28/2023 at 2:10 PM, Robchil said:

PSU's degenerate over time, most seen in system 5-10 years. it will just deliver lower peeks... but it all depends on PSU's use. if it's more or less maximised on output it will live shorter. 

 

not saying it is your problem, but at 500W. i would try something a bit stronger anyway.. or look at what you would like to put in a new system and get that ..  so you can use it in a new system. 

 

the most important with another PSU is swap the CABLES too.. alot have not and fried their systems. As pin out on PSU side of the cables are NOT standardized. 

 

if that's not the problem you should be able to return it

 

EDIT: when i say disconnect everything i mean everything... also the front panel connectors.. those have caused issues before too. 

 

EDIT 2: if it still crashes, take the mainboard and PSU out, i've seen shorted cases too.. or something dropped behind the mainboard. 

 

So I'm not planning on future upgrading this PC, eventually I will just get a new computer with all new components and the options i have available for a new PSU really all come down to 2 for my price range, these being:

 

Seasonic Core GM 500W Semi Modular 80PLUS Gold

 

And

 

MSI MAG A650BN 650W 80 PLUS Bronze

 

I am more inclined to Seasonic since it's a more reputable brand for PSU, it has a Gold certificate instead of bronze and it's modular.

I ran a wattage calculator test and load wattage is 304watts and reccomended is 354. I already know to add 100watts for safety on top of those which would total on 450 give or take.

This being said I'd love to get a semi modular PSU for cable organization sake but a second opinion on this would appreciated