PC keeps getting sudden power loss then rebooting

[Slazeus]

As in the title, about half an hour ago I was using my PC as normal, just about to go launch a game and my pc just losses power suddenly, like there had been a power cut or forced shut down or something. 2-3 seconds after that it rebooted itself and loaded into windows just fine, no error screens or anything, just a normal boot. 

15 minutes later it did it again, just sudden power loss and again 2-3 seconds later it rebooted but I powered it off before it did. It has been powered off (with the switch on the psu off aswell) since this happened. I don't feel comfortable feeding the system any power until I can hopefully get an idea of what is going on, the last thing I want is to fry a component if there is some hardware problem.

 

Has anyone had any similar problems to this? or have any ideas as to what could cause such behaviour? The only thing I could think off is some problem with the psu, but I'd like to try and know for sure (especially before ordering/buying any new parts). One thing that's probably worth noting is I could hear a sort of rattle noise every now and again (almost like something was loosely coming in contact with a fan or something) I was unable to pinpoint the source of this noise though and it may be nothing, just the only thing I have noticed before the problem started.

 

Also after rebooting the readout on my motherboard read A0, which means there were no problems detected, aka the motherboard couldn't detect any cpu / memory problems etc. 

 

My PC Specs:

Intel Core i7 8700k (paired with a NZXT Kraken X62 AIO)

MSI GTX 960 4Gb

ROG Maximus X Hero

16Gb DDR4 3200Mhz RAM

Corsair CX 850M 850 Watt PSU (80plus Bronze)

 

Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read or offer their advice.

 

 

 

[Jimkirk363]

First off did anything else in the home lose power?.

 

If not it sounds like a PSU issue.

 

Thermal issues would cut the power and switch the PC off not restart it.

[Slazeus]

No nothing else lost power, it was just the psu. 

 

I do suspect the psu is the problem just hoping to try find a way to confirm it before I drop money on a new unit. Especially as the Mobo didn't detect any problem on reboot. Not likely to be cpu / memory etc. 

[YaBoiWill]

Do you have a spare psu or have someone you know who you could borrow one from to check? 

It sounds like what I had where the system was drawing too much power, so it froze, but your 850 should be fine for the specs you have. 

are you running the psu of a breaker bar or directly from a wall outlet, because some breaker bars have overcorrect protection. 

We have them at work, but I don't know if they are really a "consumer" product, because these are designed for theatre

[Slazeus]

I do not sadly, the only spare ones I have are super old unbranded '450' Watt ones that probably wouldn't even power the system. 

 

I do run it through a 4 way power strip but I have done for some time without issue, I might try it directly into an outlet and see what happens.

[Rex_G]

12 minutes ago, Slazeus said:

No nothing else lost power, it was just the psu. 

 

I do suspect the psu is the problem just hoping to try find a way to confirm it before I drop money on a new unit. Especially as the Mobo didn't detect any problem on reboot. Not likely to be cpu / memory etc. 

Fluctuations in the main power can be a reason, try changing your power outlet. If that is not the case, then your PSU might be the issue. Did you check your AIO for any issue? Although from what you are describing thermal issues seem unlikely.

[Slazeus]

Yeah I'm going to try another outlet now. The house I live in is very old (likely built in the 70s) and the electrics are a bit on the crap side.

 

I haven't checked the AIO, but it's pretty new and as you said Thermal issues I believe are unlikely here. I'll check it to be sure once I try a boot though just as a sanity check.

[Gotham]

46 minutes ago, Slazeus said:

As in the title, about half an hour ago I was using my PC as normal, just about to go launch a game and my pc just losses power suddenly, like there had been a power cut or forced shut down or something. 2-3 seconds after that it rebooted itself and loaded into windows just fine, no error screens or anything, just a normal boot. 

15 minutes later it did it again, just sudden power loss and again 2-3 seconds later it rebooted but I powered it off before it did. It has been powered off (with the switch on the psu off aswell) since this happened. I don't feel comfortable feeding the system any power until I can hopefully get an idea of what is going on, the last thing I want is to fry a component if there is some hardware problem.

 

Has anyone had any similar problems to this? or have any ideas as to what could cause such behaviour? The only thing I could think off is some problem with the psu, but I'd like to try and know for sure (especially before ordering/buying any new parts). One thing that's probably worth noting is I could hear a sort of rattle noise every now and again (almost like something was loosely coming in contact with a fan or something) I was unable to pinpoint the source of this noise though and it may be nothing, just the only thing I have noticed before the problem started.

 

Also after rebooting the readout on my motherboard read A0, which means there were no problems detected, aka the motherboard couldn't detect any cpu / memory problems etc. 

 

My PC Specs:

Intel Core i7 8700k (paired with a NZXT Kraken X62 AIO)

MSI GTX 960 4Gb

ROG Maximus X Hero

16Gb DDR4 3200Mhz RAM

Corsair CX 850M 850 Watt PSU (80plus Bronze)

 

Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read or offer their advice.

 

 

 

I had a similar problem and it was a pc that i didn't end up doing a routine cleaning or dusting and it ended up being that my pc was overheating and i never cleaned out the cpu fan/intake 

[Slazeus]

Yeah that can be a problem, but it is a new build with the only old parts being re-used are the psu and graphics card. dust induced overheating is very unlikely here (I have an AIO too so no cpu fan to get clogged up)

 

Also I'm now typing this on the main pc. I have booted up with it plugged into a different outlet. 

 

There hasn't been any power loss yet (been on around 15 minutes now). I can confirm though that the noise I was hearing sounds more like crackling than a rattling and it does indeed sound like it is coming from the psu..

 

Should I risk continuing to run the system? or should I play it safe until I can get a new psu unit?  

[Creekwater X]

If it only happens when launching games and other intense task I'm thinking power supply. If it just shuts down a couple seconds of boot I would think cooling of your CPU, most likely thermal paste.

[Slazeus]

No It happens maybe anything from 15 min - 45 min after it boots. Doesn't shut down, just dies so to speak. 

[0x1e]

Only a PSU can cause the system to suddenly shut off.
Everything else would give either a BSOD, or a corrupted screen.

I've had it before but in my case it was because I was pushing my overclocks a bit too far.
PSUs are different from other parts of the system. PSUs can limp along even if they are damaged, but they reach a point where they hit a wall and then just shut off. They don't lower their output first.

Now will buying a new PSU fix the issue? No idea without first plugging the PSU into another machine.

[Slazeus]

20 minutes ago, 0x1e said:

Only a PSU can cause the system to suddenly shut off.
Everything else would give either a BSOD, or a corrupted screen.

I've had it before but in my case it was because I was pushing my overclocks a bit too far.
PSUs are different from other parts of the system. PSUs can limp along even if they are damaged, but they reach a point where they hit a wall and then just shut off. They don't lower their output first.

Now will buying a new PSU fix the issue? No idea without first plugging the PSU into another machine.

 

Yeah I thought the same thing. 

 

I don't have any manual overclocks set, I don't really know how to do that, I got components capable of it so I could try it if I ever learnt enough (or decided to learn).

 

There could be some auto turbo boost or auto overclock from my motherboard maybe?

 

Unless there is some auto-overclock thing happening that's drawing to much power or something that's causing it, I'm sure a new unit would fix the issue if it is indeed a mechanical fault with the psu no?

 

[0x1e]

10 hours ago, Slazeus said:

 

Yeah I thought the same thing. 

 

I don't have any manual overclocks set, I don't really know how to do that, I got components capable of it so I could try it if I ever learnt enough (or decided to learn).

 

There could be some auto turbo boost or auto overclock from my motherboard maybe?

 

Unless there is some auto-overclock thing happening that's drawing to much power or something that's causing it, I'm sure a new unit would fix the issue if it is indeed a mechanical fault with the psu no?

 

If you were overclocking a bit, even if you pushed your 8700k to 5.2Ghz you shouldn't hit the PSUs limit so you'll be fine.
I use a much older and more power hungry chip.

I would just replace the PSU and be done with it. What you're using now is pretty bottom of the barrel, so it wouldn't harm you in getting a better quality PSU.
Plus a good one would easily last you 5-10 years. My old one is pushing on 13 years and still holding strong, but that's what I expect from a high quality PSU.