Question:

Could you provide your expert opinion on the following issues I’m encountering with my computer peripherals and system responsiveness? During resource-intensive tasks such as gaming, as well as occasionally while browsing the web, I experience random disconnections of USB and Bluetooth devices. Additionally, my system sometimes fails to register mouse clicks, only recognizing them within the application that was active when the malfunction began. The only temporary remedy seems to be initiating the CTRL-ALT-DEL command. Other symptoms include involuntary tabbing out of games, uninitiated keystrokes, and brief disconnections followed by reconnections of peripherals, which disrupts my microphone’s functionality. Despite a fresh Windows installation and various troubleshooting steps, the problem persists. I suspect it may be related to CPU usage spikes or conflicts between the integrated and dedicated GPUs. Below are the specifications of my custom-built PC for your reference.

Answer:

The issues you’re experiencing with your custom-built PC, particularly during high-resource applications like gaming, are indeed perplexing and can be quite frustrating. The random disconnections of USB and Bluetooth devices, the system’s failure to register mouse clicks, and the temporary remedy of using CTRL-ALT-DEL to regain control are symptoms that suggest a few potential underlying problems.

1.

Power Supply Instability

: Your power supply unit (PSU) may be inadequate for your system’s peak power demands, especially under load. The CORSAIR CX550F RGB White 550W PSU might struggle to provide stable power during spikes in CPU and GPU usage, leading to peripheral disconnections.

2.

Driver Conflicts or Malfunctions

: Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause erratic behavior with peripherals. Even though you’ve performed a fresh Windows installation, it’s crucial to ensure that all drivers, especially chipset and USB controller drivers, are up to date.

3.

USB/Bluetooth Bandwidth Overload

: High data transfer rates or interference could be overloading the USB or Bluetooth bandwidth, causing disconnects. This is more likely if you have multiple devices connected and active simultaneously.

4.

Hardware Faults

: There could be a fault with the motherboard’s USB or Bluetooth hardware, or even with the peripherals themselves.

5.

CPU Spikes

: The spikes in CPU usage to 100% could indicate background processes or system malfunctions that temporarily monopolize system resources, leading to unresponsiveness.

6.

GPU Conflicts

: Having both integrated and dedicated GPUs can sometimes lead to conflicts, especially if both are trying to handle the same tasks. Ensuring proper graphics settings and drivers might mitigate this issue.

Expert Recommendations:

–

Power Supply Evaluation

: Consider testing with a higher wattage and quality PSU to ensure stable power delivery.

–

Driver Verification

: Double-check that all drivers are current and properly installed. Use manufacturer websites rather than relying on Windows Update.

–

Peripheral Management

: Try reducing the number of simultaneously connected devices to see if the issue persists.

–

Hardware Testing

: If possible, test the USB and Bluetooth components on another system, or test with alternative peripherals to rule out hardware faults.

–

System Monitoring

: Use system monitoring tools to track CPU and GPU usage and temperatures to identify any anomalies.

–

Integrated Graphics Settings

: Explore BIOS settings to disable the integrated GPU when the dedicated GPU is in use, preventing potential conflicts.

Given the complexity of these issues, it may be beneficial to consult with a local PC hardware specialist who can perform hands-on diagnostics. Additionally, the forums you’ve linked to might offer community-driven insights specific to your hardware configuration. Remember, troubleshooting such problems can be a process of elimination, so patience and systematic testing will be your allies.

PC Specifications for Reference:

–

CPU

: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

–

CPU Cooler

: CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

–

Case

: CORSAIR iCUE 5000X RGB

–

Power Supply

: CORSAIR CX550F RGB White 550W

–

RAM

: CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro SL 16GB

–

Graphics Card

: GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX 3060 ELITE 12G

–

Motherboard

: ASRock B550M PRO4

–

Hard Drive

: Seagate BarraCuda ST2000DM008 2TB

–

SSD

: SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2 1TB

–

Operating System

: Microsoft Windows 10 Home, 64-bit

By addressing each potential cause methodically, you should be able to narrow down the source of the problem and find a suitable solution. Good luck!