New Computer Goes Black After a Few Minutes
Hi folks!
I built my wife a brand new PC for Christmas. Unfortunately, it is having problems right out of the gate.
Specifically, at seemingly random times, it appears to just "die." In other words, the screen goes black, the keyboard and mouse have no power (as indicated by the lights going off), and not even the buttons on the front of the PC like reset and power will respond. You have to power off the system with the switch built on to the power supply and then turn it back on. However, when this happens the system still has power, as all of the fans in the system continue to spin.
I've tried running various diagnostic tests, but I can't nail down a problem because it keeps happening at random times, even during the tests, regardless of what device is being tested. I can't get a single consistent test result to pin the problem on. I've tried shuffling the RAM sticks, trying it with only one stick of the pair, etc., and that makes no difference. I added additional fans in case it was overheating. Nothing.
Any suggestions? I know I've gotten some bad hardware that I need to exchange, but I can't even isolate what hardware it is. I don't know if it's CPU, RAM, power supply, motherboard, etc. I've never seen this set of symptoms before.
Thanks,
Ithizar
Specs of System:
AMD FX-8350 Eight Core 4 GHz CPU
MSI 760GM-P23 ATX Motherboard
Ultra LSP-750 750 Watt Power Supply
Cooler Master Elite 430 Mid-Tower ATX Case
Patriot Gamer 2 Series 16 GB DDR3 1333 MHz RAM (2 x 8GB)
Transcend SSD-320 64 GB Solid State SATA Drive
Western Digital VelociRaptor 250 GB 10,000 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s Hard Drive
Floppy Drive & USB 2.0 Card Reader Combo Drive
LG 12x Internal Blu-ray Combo Drive (SATA)
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 660 2 GB DDR5 PCIe Video Card
I built my wife a brand new PC for Christmas. Unfortunately, it is having problems right out of the gate.
Specifically, at seemingly random times, it appears to just "die." In other words, the screen goes black, the keyboard and mouse have no power (as indicated by the lights going off), and not even the buttons on the front of the PC like reset and power will respond. You have to power off the system with the switch built on to the power supply and then turn it back on. However, when this happens the system still has power, as all of the fans in the system continue to spin.
I've tried running various diagnostic tests, but I can't nail down a problem because it keeps happening at random times, even during the tests, regardless of what device is being tested. I can't get a single consistent test result to pin the problem on. I've tried shuffling the RAM sticks, trying it with only one stick of the pair, etc., and that makes no difference. I added additional fans in case it was overheating. Nothing.
Any suggestions? I know I've gotten some bad hardware that I need to exchange, but I can't even isolate what hardware it is. I don't know if it's CPU, RAM, power supply, motherboard, etc. I've never seen this set of symptoms before.
Thanks,
Ithizar
Specs of System:
AMD FX-8350 Eight Core 4 GHz CPU
MSI 760GM-P23 ATX Motherboard
Ultra LSP-750 750 Watt Power Supply
Cooler Master Elite 430 Mid-Tower ATX Case
Patriot Gamer 2 Series 16 GB DDR3 1333 MHz RAM (2 x 8GB)
Transcend SSD-320 64 GB Solid State SATA Drive
Western Digital VelociRaptor 250 GB 10,000 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s Hard Drive
Floppy Drive & USB 2.0 Card Reader Combo Drive
LG 12x Internal Blu-ray Combo Drive (SATA)
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 660 2 GB DDR5 PCIe Video Card
ASKER
I am running Windows 7 Professional x64. I've checked the power settings, but it's not happening on any consistent schedule. It happens at random. Also, if I boot a diagnostics disc, completely separate from Windows, it happens there too.
No UPS. Just a surge suppressor.
No UPS. Just a surge suppressor.
Hmm.
Test on another screen. I suspect the screen is faulty or the video card, one of the two.
Test on another screen. I suspect the screen is faulty or the video card, one of the two.
Boot up in safe mode and let it run awhile and see what happens
I would disconnect the:
Western Digital VelociRaptor 250 GB 10,000 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s Hard Drive
Floppy Drive & USB 2.0 Card Reader Combo Drive
LG 12x Internal Blu-ray Combo Drive (SATA)
and see if you still have the problem. these aren't necessary components and will at least rule them out.
Western Digital VelociRaptor 250 GB 10,000 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s Hard Drive
Floppy Drive & USB 2.0 Card Reader Combo Drive
LG 12x Internal Blu-ray Combo Drive (SATA)
and see if you still have the problem. these aren't necessary components and will at least rule them out.
ASKER
Test on another screen. I suspect the screen is faulty or the video card, one of the two.But if it were the screen or the video card, why would the keyboard and mouse lose power when it happens? The lights on the keyboard, and the optical mouse, go out the moment it occurs. Also, the buttons on the front of the case -- reset and power -- which work normally, no longer work at all.
Boot up in safe mode and let it run awhile and see what happensDoesn't matter what it's booted into. Normal mode, safe mode, a LiveCD, a diagnostic CD. Eventually it happens regardless.
If you have an extra video card lying around you can swap it out and see if that is where your problem is.
Same thing with the power supply.
Same thing with the power supply.
If a card try that first but I am betting that it is either the CPU or the mother board.
Do you have on board video? try that and remove the card.
One other thought. How about the memory? have other memory you can try
Still betting on the cpu or mother board at this point
Do you have on board video? try that and remove the card.
One other thought. How about the memory? have other memory you can try
Still betting on the cpu or mother board at this point
But if it were the screen or the video card, why would the keyboard and mouse lose power when it happens? The lights on the keyboard, and the optical mouse, go out the moment it occurs. Also, the buttons on the front of the case -- reset and power -- which work normally, no longer work at all.
True. Didn't read your initial post correctly.
Can you check your BIOS and see if there are any power saving options or hibernate options enabled. If so then disable them. Also check and see if there is a BIOS update for the motherboard.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
it looks like a mobo problem to me
but try restting the Bios, or clearing it by removing the AC and battery for a minute
i always use the minimum setup as described in my article for troubleshooting :
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Components/Motherboards/A_1945.html (Short-overview-of-how-to-
in case your disk has problems, :
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Storage/Hard_Drives/A_3000-The-bad-hard-disk-problem.html
but try restting the Bios, or clearing it by removing the AC and battery for a minute
i always use the minimum setup as described in my article for troubleshooting :
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Components/Motherboards/A_1945.html (Short-overview-of-how-to-
in case your disk has problems, :
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Storage/Hard_Drives/A_3000-The-bad-hard-disk-problem.html
Such diagnostics are not overly difficult, but must be done in an orderly manner.
First, remove all from the case. It is possible that there is an issue with a standoff.
1. Fire the system up on a sheet of cardboard or a wooden table, Mobo, video card if used, 1 stick of RAM, PSU. No HDD. Is it stable in bios?
2. Yes? Add a hard drive - install an OS.
3. No? Update the bios. Try again.
Once it is OK at a point in time, add items until it fails. If it has failed already, then the culprit should be easy to identify.
Chris B
First, remove all from the case. It is possible that there is an issue with a standoff.
1. Fire the system up on a sheet of cardboard or a wooden table, Mobo, video card if used, 1 stick of RAM, PSU. No HDD. Is it stable in bios?
2. Yes? Add a hard drive - install an OS.
3. No? Update the bios. Try again.
Once it is OK at a point in time, add items until it fails. If it has failed already, then the culprit should be easy to identify.
Chris B
ASKER
Thanks to everyone. I ultimately took the advice to just RMA the most likely culprits, but I appreciate all the suggestions!
If Windows have you checked the power setting in control panel?
You might have a hibration issue
Check you system board settings for power options also.
Do you have a ups connected to the computer?