Randomly shut down, red Cpu debug light

[Pear111]

Was casually browsing YouTube when my pc randomly shut down, it then followed by rebooting itself then having a red Cpu debug light on my mobo. 
 

now whenever I try to power on, all the fans spin but I get a constant red Cpu light for 1-2 seconds then the computer shuts off with the Cpu light flash red just before the system shuts down.  (See video)
 

things I’ve tried;

reseating the ram,cpu,gpu. 
clearing cmos

Having bare bones plugged in

checked for any cables that may be short circuiting the board

 

the only thing that stops the computer shutting down is not having the Cpu cable in the motherboard (from psu) but obviously then I’ve still got a red light and cannot do much with that, soon as that gets plugged in my computer will keep shutting down and restarting itself. 
 

Specs;

ryzen 5 5600

gtx 1660

16gb ram

500gb Nvme 

tomahawk max mobo

 

I have everything up to date, drivers etc so I cannot understand why it just randomly shut off. I want to say it’s my power supply given that if I remove the Cpu cable it doesn’t shut down but hopefully here someone will have an answer or dealt with this before. 
 

thanks. 

[TylerD321]

Do you have another cpu power port on your psu and/or cpu power cable? I’d try new cable in different cpu power if possible.

[Pear111]

9 minutes ago, TylerD321 said:

Do you have another cpu power port on your psu and/or cpu power cable? I’d try new cable in different cpu power if possible.

Thanks for the reply!
 

Only one Cpu power port on my psu, and only came with one cable otherwise that would of been my last resort to try that  I’m fairly certain it is that but you never know with these things. 
 

 

[Crunchy Dragon]

Do you get any POST codes(such as beep codes), other than the CPU debug light?

 

CPU debug light points to an issue with your CPU, either in the form of power delivery or the CPU/socket itself. The easiest way to test is to buy the cheapest CPU supported by your motherboard and BIOS, and try booting with that installed.

[Pear111]

34 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Do you get any POST codes(such as beep codes), other than the CPU debug light?

 

CPU debug light points to an issue with your CPU, either in the form of power delivery or the CPU/socket itself. The easiest way to test is to buy the cheapest CPU supported by your motherboard and BIOS, and try booting with that installed.

no beeps or codes. All that happens is what is in the video. 
 

even if I take out ram sticks/gpu those lights don’t light up or anything which is weird. 

[Crunchy Dragon]

3 hours ago, Pear111 said:

no beeps or codes. All that happens is what is in the video. 
 

even if I take out ram sticks/gpu those lights don’t light up or anything which is weird. 

Usually if POST fails, it won't continue checking for other things.

 

I'm not 100% sure on the order it checks hardware, but I'm pretty it sure it starts at motherboard > CPU > RAM > GPU. So it makes sense that if it fails POST at the CPU, it won't continue on and fail at RAM or anything else.

[Beerzerker]

10 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Usually if POST fails, it won't continue checking for other things.

 

I'm not 100% sure on the order it checks hardware, but I'm pretty it sure it starts at motherboard > CPU > RAM > GPU. So it makes sense that if it fails POST at the CPU, it won't continue on and fail at RAM or anything else.

I agree - What that means is the board is trying to initalize the CPU but it's not working, hence the CPU LED remaining on.
I too suggest if you can find a cheap CPU, or maybe borrow one that will either confirm or rule out a bad CPU with the symptoms you're posted.

Is it a new build or something you've had for awhile now?
Another thing is were you running it at stock or did you have it OC'ed?

Now - I have to say it:
The pic of the machine seems to show a lesser (All aluminum) CPU cooler in place, one that doesn't look to be sufficient for cooling the CPU you have.
if it turns out the be a bad CPU, next thing would be to determine "Why" it died and from the system pic, I'm suspicious about the cooler not being up to task for properly cooling a 5600 chip.

[Pear111]

57 minutes ago, Beerzerker said:

Is it a new build or something you've had for awhile now?
Another thing is were you running it at stock or did you have it OC'ed?

Now - I have to say it:
The pic of the machine seems to show a lesser (All aluminum) CPU cooler in place, one that doesn't look to be sufficient for cooling the CPU you have.
if it turns out the be a bad CPU, next thing would be to determine "Why" it died and from the system pic, I'm suspicious about the cooler not being up to task for properly cooling a 5600 chip.

It’s a build I’ve had for around two years or so I think so quite a while, using the stock amd cooler (what usually comes with cpus) which has been replaced 5 days ago. 
 

I think I’ll take the cpu and gpu (don’t think that’s the issue here) to a pc repair store for them to test them to see if those work on their systems. Then I can narrow it down to the mobo or psu.  I think that will be easier then I can update here on the outcome. 
 

I never overclock my system or change the ram speed as I don’t run demanding stuff so to me there’s no point in doing so. 

[Beerzerker]

5 hours ago, Pear111 said:

It’s a build I’ve had for around two years or so I think so quite a while, using the stock amd cooler (what usually comes with cpus) which has been replaced 5 days ago. 
 

I think I’ll take the cpu and gpu (don’t think that’s the issue here) to a pc repair store for them to test them to see if those work on their systems. Then I can narrow it down to the mobo or psu.  I think that will be easier then I can update here on the outcome. 
 

I never overclock my system or change the ram speed as I don’t run demanding stuff so to me there’s no point in doing so. 

So, you replaced the cooler before the system started acting this way from what I'm seeing here.
Now - If you did replace it with the one you have in it now before the machine went wonky, what cooler did you have in it before and why did you replace it?

Personally I'd suggest at least a Wraith style cooler, the type that has heatpipes for that chip.
I'm well familiar with the various stock cooler types (I've got 'em running out of my ears here) and the one shown in your system pic does look to be a standard, all aluminum CPU cooler which is only suitable for smaller, low powered chips - Not for chips like your 5600.

You must remember the CPU cooler relies on air inside the case since that's the air it draws directly and if that air is already warm, your CPU will be warmer.
If the cooler itself isn't up to task for your chip in the first place, guess what's gonna happen?

I'll just say it...... From what I've seen I'm thinking the CPU was already running warm(er)/hot before the system stopped working...... It finally got too hot for too long and just died, resulting in the situation you're in now.

[Pear111]

8 hours ago, Beerzerker said:

So, you replaced the cooler before the system started acting this way from what I'm seeing here.
Now - If you did replace it with the one you have in it now before the machine went wonky, what cooler did you have in it before and why did you replace it?

Personally I'd suggest at least a Wraith style cooler, the type that has heatpipes for that chip.
I'm well familiar with the various stock cooler types (I've got 'em running out of my ears here) and the one shown in your system pic does look to be a standard, all aluminum CPU cooler which is only suitable for smaller, low powered chips - Not for chips like your 5600.

You must remember the CPU cooler relies on air inside the case since that's the air it draws directly and if that air is already warm, your CPU will be warmer.
If the cooler itself isn't up to task for your chip in the first place, guess what's gonna happen?

I'll just say it...... From what I've seen I'm thinking the CPU was already running warm(er)/hot before the system stopped working...... It finally got too hot for too long and just died, resulting in the situation you're in now.

before it was the same cooler which is why I opted to buy the same cooler since it was fine for quite a while. When I replaced it the Cpu itself looked perfect, no bent pins or weird marks on the back. 
 

but yeah I get what you’re saying with coolers! I’m currently en route to go test the Cpu etc so I’ll find out soon if the cooler fried my Cpu. 
 

I’m planning to upgrade on payday (few weeks away) to a new case, and was planning to buy a 240mm water cooler Cpu cooler but I’ve never dabbled with those which is why I’ve always stuck with normal Cpu fans. 

I just have to shop around and find one that will suit my system I have. 

 

[Pear111]

Little update;

 

took my Cpu/Gpu/ram into shop near me. All works fine so it just leaves the mobo and power cable from psu which I suspected was the problem. 
 

just need to wait and get replacement for both of those now

[Beerzerker]

Good to hear you're making progress but I'd still look into the cooler and see if there isn't something better to run with it.
At least now you have an idea of what's going on, keep us posted with what the problem turns out to be.

[Pear111]

22 hours ago, Beerzerker said:

Good to hear you're making progress but I'd still look into the cooler and see if there isn't something better to run with it.
At least now you have an idea of what's going on, keep us posted with what the problem turns out to be.

it was the psu cable! Can’t get another psu for a week or so but I had a friend try his cable. Not sure how it randomly got damaged or stopped working but given its a old system something was bound to break. 
 

so when I get another psu /mobo and case I think I’ll get an aio or water cooled system in place for the Cpu too given the advise here. 
 

thank you all for the advise and trouble shooting steps, it’s greatly appreciated

[TylerD321]

2 hours ago, Pear111 said:

it was the psu cable! Can’t get another psu for a week or so but I had a friend try his cable. Not sure how it randomly got damaged or stopped working but given its a old system something was bound to break. 
 

so when I get another psu /mobo and case I think I’ll get an aio or water cooled system in place for the Cpu too given the advise here. 
 

thank you all for the advise and trouble shooting steps, it’s greatly appreciated

Sounds like you got lucky if that worked (unless it was the exact same model). Psu cables aren’t typically interchangeable and can really destroy components if you mix and match.

[Beerzerker]

6 hours ago, Pear111 said:

it was the psu cable! Can’t get another psu for a week or so but I had a friend try his cable. Not sure how it randomly got damaged or stopped working but given its a old system something was bound to break. 
 

so when I get another psu /mobo and case I think I’ll get an aio or water cooled system in place for the Cpu too given the advise here. 
 

thank you all for the advise and trouble shooting steps, it’s greatly appreciated

Just be aware AIO's have a working life expectancy of about 4-5 years, a good aircooler can literally go as long as the fans last since the heatsink itself isn't subject to wear. If a fan or fans ever go bad, install replacement fan(s) and it's good to go again.

There are some good ones out there and they don't cost too much but as you'd expect some are kinda pricey too, same as anything else out there.

Scythe has some good coolers that aren't too expensive, Noctua has a couple that's well regarded and there's even one that's close to what watercooling itself can do too (IceGiant) and I have one of those here.
Pricetag is HIGH with that one so unless you have a really good budget I'd skip that one and find a good quality aircooler..... But at the same time a good AIO will provide good cooling with the caveat I pointed out.

[Pear111]

On 9/23/2023 at 8:34 PM, TylerD321 said:

Sounds like you got lucky if that worked (unless it was the exact same model). Psu cables aren’t typically interchangeable and can really destroy components if you mix and match.

It was the same model  but yeah my friend told me that before hand but I just wanted to make sure given I’m just buying a mostly new system soon anyways

 

On 9/24/2023 at 12:25 AM, Beerzerker said:

Just be aware AIO's have a working life expectancy of about 4-5 years, a good aircooler can literally go as long as the fans last since the heatsink itself isn't subject to wear. If a fan or fans ever go bad, install replacement fan(s) and it's good to go again.

There are some good ones out there and they don't cost too much but as you'd expect some are kinda pricey too, same as anything else out there.

Scythe has some good coolers that aren't too expensive, Noctua has a couple that's well regarded and there's even one that's close to what watercooling itself can do too (IceGiant) and I have one of those here.
Pricetag is HIGH with that one so unless you have a really good budget I'd skip that one and find a good quality aircooler..... But at the same time a good AIO will provide good cooling with the caveat I pointed out.

gotcha! Thank you for the information I will take a look at those coolers and shop around to see what will be the best fit.