PC acting strange - could it be the PSU?

Philtre

My PC is a self-built desktop, spec as follows:

• Asus Z97-A motherboard
• Intel Core i5-4690K CPU (Quad Core 3.5GHz, Socket H3 LGA-1150)
• 2x 4Gb Crucial RAM
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 970
• Aurum 650W CM Quiet Modular PSU, 80+ Gold (https://www.quietpc.com/fsp-aurum-psus)
  
• SSD
• Windows 10
  

Built this 3 years ago and it's been fine until a few weeks ago when it started playing up.

It would very often not boot up and the red POST LED (DRAM_LED) would remain on. A few presses of the restart button would clear it but the problem persisted. After checking the RAM and the slots and still getting the error I eventually updated the BIOS to the latest firmware version (2801, it was on 2205). This fixed the problem and I was happy.

However, just this week it's been playing up again. Sometimes it will boot into Windows, momentarily freeze and then reset and reboot itself. Sometimes the VGA_LED red POST led stays on. I've now removed the Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 card and I'm using the onboard graphics on the i5 and the problem has gone away.

I'm wondering if these are symptoms of something else rather than the graphics card. Could it be a dodgy PSU? Another strange thing that started a few weeks ago is that occasionally turning the machine on at the wall socket will trip the mains breaker.

FarleyUK

Have you overclocked the RAM? I often get that if I try OC'ing it too much.

Phil_aka_Pip

Philtre said:

Sometimes it will boot into Windows

Annoyingly facile response: I think you've just highlighted the problem

Philtre

FarleyUK said:

Have you overclocked the RAM? I often get that if I try OC'ing it too much.

No. All BIOS settings are defaults.

scrumhalf

Re-check your cables.

I had a problem a few years ago where the cable to the boot drive was damaged in some way and on cold days it took ages to boot. Replaced the cable - problem gone.

57Deluxe

Bad sectors on the HDD. It plays up when it can't access a a cached driver or data dump. Would be a random event and can manifest in several traits.

Funkfingers

Philtre said:
All BIOS settings are defaults.

If these are backed up using a battery, it may need replacing.

Philtre said:
I've now removed the Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 card and ... the problem has gone away.

While the card is out of the computer case, check its cooling arrangements. Clean any dust and fluff out of fans and heatsink fins.

Foster

Call a catholic priest, it may be haunted

Ravenous

Funkfingers said:

Philtre said:
All BIOS settings are defaults.

If these are backed up using a battery, it may need replacing.

That's a very good point. If it's one of those lithium coin cells, you can take it out and give it a good clean with a tissue, then pop back in.  Even if it's not the cause here, it's good practice when looking at hardware that's been running for a few years.

Philtre

CMOS battery's been replaced with a new one. Hard drive checks out OK.

Axe_meister

Do you or have you ever had a secondary drive?
Sometimes (usually after applying windows update) mine will try and boot from the second drive and fail.
Only a proper power off on the power supply will fix the problem.

strtdv

Do you have an old PSU from another PC you could try? I had similar sounding problems before that were due to a dying PSU

Myranda

I had a considerably annoying time off things on boot with my GPU installed, and taking it out remedied the problem...

When it was running it would be fine, but it failed booting enough that Windows would try and make me reinstall it frequently. 

If you find it is the PSU let me know. Might even has a 7 year warranty so I can get that RMAd and be back up to speed again 

Clashman

Try Looking in Event viewer You just right click on the square in bottom left  of screen to get there

Philtre

Done all the suggestions here, thanks for trying to help.

Rebuilt the PC, but still the same problem with the GFX card in, not a problem with it out.

The interesting thing is it's only a one-off boot error, once the PC has re-started everything is fine. This is what makes me think the BIOS POST is detecting something is wrong when it isn't. Apart from that, it may still be the PSU. So I need to think about borrowing one to test.

Clashman

Mine has been freezing since a couple of months. I'm thinking it could be my Graphics card  gfx too..

Jalapeno

Check the wattage needed - might not be enough - GPUs are power hungry things

Philtre

More than enough wattage - it's 650w

Heartfeltdawn

Does the machine still trip the mains breaker with the graphics card out?

Maynehead

From what you have said I think it’s worth gambling on a new PSU.

Philtre

Heartfeltdawn said:

Does the machine still trip the mains breaker with the graphics card out?

Don't know, it happens so sporadically. But I know what you mean - perhaps it's pulling too much juice.