Question:

What could be causing my pc to randomly restart or freeze, even with low load?

I have a custom-built pc with the following components: “` CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler Motherboard: MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX ATX AM4 Motherboard Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory Storage: Samsung 970 Evo 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive Storage: Seagate Barracuda Compute 2 TB 3.5″ 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6 GB VENTUS XS OC Video Card Case: NZXT H510 ATX Mid Tower Case Power Supply: Corsair CXM 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply “` I have tried the following troubleshooting steps, but none of them solved the problem:

– Uninstalled the video card driver using DDU and ran the pc on integrated graphics

– Tested each memory stick individually

– Checked the event logs for any errors or warnings

I suspect that the power supply unit might be faulty, but I am not sure how to confirm that. I would appreciate any expert advice or suggestions on how to fix this issue. Thank you for your time and attention.

Answer:

How to fix a pc that randomly restarts or freezes

If you have a pc that randomly restarts or freezes, even with low load, you might be wondering what could be causing this issue and how to fix it. In this article, we will explore some possible causes and solutions for this problem, based on the following scenario:

You have a custom-built pc with the following components:

“`

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler

Motherboard: MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX ATX AM4 Motherboard

Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory

Storage: Samsung 970 Evo 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive

Storage: Seagate Barracuda Compute 2 TB 3.5″ 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6 GB VENTUS XS OC Video Card

Case: NZXT H510 ATX Mid Tower Case

Power Supply: Corsair CXM 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply

“`

You have tried the following troubleshooting steps, but none of them solved the problem:

• Uninstalled the video card driver using DDU and ran the pc on integrated graphics
• Tested each memory stick individually
• Checked the event logs for any errors or warnings

You suspect that the power supply unit might be faulty, but you are not sure how to confirm that.

There are many possible causes for a pc that randomly restarts or freezes, such as:

• Overheating: If your pc components are running too hot, they might cause the system to shut down or freeze to prevent damage. This could be due to insufficient cooling, dust buildup, faulty fans, or overclocking.
• Hardware failure: If your pc components are defective, damaged, or incompatible, they might cause the system to malfunction or crash. This could be due to faulty power supply, memory, motherboard, CPU, GPU, or storage devices.
• Software issues: If your pc software is corrupted, outdated, infected, or misconfigured, they might cause the system to behave erratically or freeze. This could be due to malware, viruses, driver conflicts, registry errors, or system updates.

Possible solutions

To fix a pc that randomly restarts or freezes, you need to identify the root cause of the problem and apply the appropriate solution. Here are some possible solutions for each cause:

• Overheating: To prevent your pc from overheating, you need to ensure adequate cooling and airflow for your components. You can do this by:
• Cleaning the dust from your pc case, fans, and heatsinks
• Replacing any faulty or noisy fans
• Applying fresh thermal paste to your CPU and GPU
• Adjusting the fan speed and curve settings in your BIOS or software
• Lowering the overclock settings or voltage of your CPU and GPU
• Monitoring the temperature of your components using software like HWMonitor or Core Temp
• Hardware failure: To diagnose and fix any hardware failure, you need to test your components individually and replace any faulty or incompatible ones. You can do this by:
• Testing your power supply using a multimeter or a PSU tester
• Testing your memory using software like MemTest86 or Windows Memory Diagnostic
• Testing your motherboard using software like PC Doctor or Hot CPU Tester
• Testing your CPU using software like Prime95 or IntelBurnTest
• Testing your GPU using software like FurMark or Unigine Heaven
• Testing your storage devices using software like CrystalDiskInfo or HD Tune
• Replacing any faulty or incompatible components with new or compatible ones
• Software issues: To resolve any software issues, you need to update, repair, or reinstall your software. You can do this by:
• Scanning your pc for malware and viruses using software like Malwarebytes or Windows Defender
• Updating your drivers, BIOS, and system using software like Driver Booster or Windows Update
• Fixing any registry errors using software like CCleaner or Registry Cleaner
• Restoring your system to a previous state using software like System Restore or Backup and Restore
• Reinstalling your operating system using software like Windows Installation Media or Recovery Partition

Conclusion

In

this article, we have discussed some possible causes and solutions for a pc that randomly restarts or freezes, based on a specific scenario. We hope that this article has helped you to fix your pc issue or at least point you in the right direction. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading and happy computing!