PC random restarts

[Noxia]

The other week I had RE8 going for about 8 hours and my PC suddenly shutdown and tried to reboot, it couldn't get power though as the fans kept trying to spin up but the power cut a few seconds later, eventually it got into the bios where all my settings had been reset. I thoguht maybe it was the PSU overheating as my case doesn't have the best airflow now I have a AIO GPU (radiator pushing air out top, CPU AIO pulling in, bottom 3 drawing up)
The day after I used the PC fine all day for gaming, there is no issue with temps from what I can see. I cannot replicate this with any consistency.

Yesterday it did it twice when watching youtube, this morning I noticed my bios settings had reset again, but I did walk out the room after turning it on so not sure if anything happened there.

Does this suggest PSU? It's an EVGA P6 1000w, about 3 years old, I am hoping it is PSU related as it will be a nightmare trying to diagnose the other bits. Event log just shows unexpected shutdown stuff.

9800X3D (was underclocked? at the time -20 curve thigny)
X670E-E, latest bios (coincidentally this issue started the day after I updated).
5090 Liquid something
Some ram..

Also, wondering if I should add a 120mm exhaust fan on the back, currently all the hot air is going through the GPU radiator fans.

Edit: just restarted when browsing, bios reset itself again (not changed anything, just get the CPU fan detection error as I have to ignore it).

Ok it did it again but this time didn't come back on right away, then about 20s later it starts doing this which it's done before.

 

[Noxia]

Do you change anything in the BIOS after the resets?


It would be nice to revert to rule that out, but could be risky if your PC is so unstable.

I have put the bios back to previous settings, like the CPU settings and setting DOCP. However, I have also left it all default with the same outcome.

Weirdly, after I took that video it has been fine since, the only other thing I changed was I flicked the eco switch on my PSU as I think I accidentally pressed it before thinking it was the power switch, a fairly big Reddit thread about EVGA eco mode messing up people's PC's but allegedly all it does it control fan behaviour, so that seems odd. I've had it running some 3d benchmarks for over an hour.

I update bios via usb and the button on my motherboard because doing it through bios stopped working a year or so ago, it always loads the file, resets, but then boots to Windows instead. Not had issue using the flashback button. I can only roll it back two updates as that one made previous ones irreversible. However, I'm thinking I'll only try that if it restarts again, because it's weird it has been fine since I flipped eco.

 

[Noxia]

I got a new PSU arriving tomorrow but also rolled the bios back two versions (as far as I can go). Took about 4h before it turned off again (idle on desktop).

Edit. Still happens on older bios

Edit 2. Just to clarify because RGB is cringe, it's only on because the bios resets it to 'aura on', normally it's all off.

 

[Noxia]

Touch wood but not had any restarts with the new PSU, I got it from somewhere I can return until the end of Jan so that gives me plenty of time to test and hopefully get a replacement from EVGA if indeed it does turn out to be the cause. The PSU I have has some horrible coil whine or fan noise though when it ramps up, it then shuts up (Lian-Li Edge Gold 1200).
I'll also keep an eye out for any deals on a 1200 in case I decide to go with one of those and sell the EVGA replacement, or just keep as a spare perhaps.

 

[Noxia]

Spoke too soon. This morning (idling on desktop) it reset itself (and bios reset) too.
I'm beginning to wonder if the fact the BIOS keeps resetting it points to something wrong with the motherboard, in which case I'm probably going to leave this a while because I really cannot be bothered with the hassle of changing that.

I suppose I should also try a different plug socket and or power cable (using the same kettle lead)

 

[Noxia]

i know im probably way off here
but isnt crashing during idle a vaguely common symptom of an unstable oc on am5?
im probably wrong on this one though

Could well be mate, but I've had the crashes on default bios settings too, and the pc had previously restarted when it was in the bios screen itself. It's odd because normally googling this stuff means you'd find someone with a similar issue, but I haven't found someone with these symptoms together(random restarts + bios resetting when it does)

 

[Noxia]

It points towards some type of power issue. As to what and with what component is anyone’s guess.

Yeah it's really annoying, especially with the fact it can go 12h without doing it, makes diagnosis really hard.

Is there anything in event viewer before the shutdowns? I'd also check the cmos battery with the BIOS losing settings when this happens. The weirdest problems can occur when the cmos battery is done.

No just the standard kernel fault because it detected unexpected shutdown. I'm not really sure what I can check with CMOS battery other than removing it and making sure it's still sat properly. The motherboard is only a couple of years old but I suppose anything can happen.
If they are cheap I could just get a new one anyway I guess to rule that out too.

Edit. Oh apparently it's just a CR2032, I have one spare.

 

[Noxia]

If you had it working on a previous BIOS, downgrade it.

Unfortunately I cannot roll it back to the version I was on before because they put a cut off. I could only roll it back two versions.

 

[Noxia]

When say "Bios reset" is that back to out of the box factory settings, or a last known good (i.e it retains at least some custom settings)?

For it totally reset to factory settings says it's not overclock/RAM settings, or power to me. That feels more like a BIOS/board hardware issue, or maybe something to do with UEFI.

Yes out the box settings, I only had about 4 settings changed in total prior to when this kicked off, and I've left everything default since.
Until it happens again I can live in denial and put it down to the kettle lead which I've changed..
The inconsistency of the restarts is the most frustrating thing, I can't seem to do anything to make it happen.

 

[Noxia]

When it resets does the time and date reset too?

If it does I'm inclined to think it's a BIOS battery like @Tart suggested. Did you replace it in the end?

Oh I didn't notice that actually. I assume that because it's been back into Windows now it will have updated the clock somehow (showing correct), so I'd have to check next time it happens.
Not done the battery as GPU is in the way, will do after work. Although I'm not going to know if that was the issue for a day potentially lol

 

[Noxia]

Have you got a multimeter? I'd check the voltage on the old one, if it's below 3v that might explain things. Very uncommon for a 3 year old BIOS battery to fail I admit, but it definitely feels like something in this area.

You'd have the check the clock in BIOS before getting back into Windows else it'll automagically reset it via NTP.

I'll have to dig around for one I definitely did have one.. Slightly interesting thing, the bios button on my motherboard is now not starting the update process since I rolled it back two versions, so I currently have no way to update it as neither method works.

Will fish out that battery asap, will be interesting to see if the EZflash in the bios works again after that.

 

[Noxia]

Seems like you're trying everything but when you say you've set the bios back do you mean a CMOS reset or just change the settings in the bios itself?

Turn off any PBO etc that might be on, your RAM, have you tried running it slowly and really loose timings? My recent issue i *think* was caused by me running timings too tightly, of course your issue seems a bit different but worth thinking about.

I had no choice in the matter, when the PC randomly restarts itself the bios is back to factory settings. I've not pressed the clear CMOS button, to be honest I thought that was the same as setting bios to defaults.
So the few settings I did have changed were undone, and I left them all default since this problem started

I have found some batteries on a plus, so that's one thing.

 

[Noxia]

Hmm, now that is interesting. Do you get any LED light flashes from the button when that happens? Usually means it's having trouble reading the USB/.cap file or something like that.

Just the three initial ones to confirm it's trying to start and then it stays solid, I'm sure it's meant to flash when it actually is working.

Another interesting development, since replacing the battery I'm now getting a D6 (no GPU power) error and it won't even get to the bios.
It does when I use the HDMI for the onboard which I'm doing now, and guess what, EZflash is letting me update to the new bios.

I'll let it update, then see if it boots using my GPU, I may have dislodged the riser or something as I was manhandling it out the way.

Update. Works with GPU after I did the update. All very odd

 

[Noxia]

Until it resets again I have no idea if any of the changes have been successful, And as I've done multiple ones now, there's a chance it could potentially be fixed without ever getting to the bottom of it.

The reason I have a riser is on my previous card, the power cable was squished up against the glass when mounted normally which made me nervous. I also have no room on the bottom of my case for anti sag bracket as it's covered by fans. I'm not sure how this one will be, it's smaller as it's got an AIO but still heavy.
The bios update thing is weird though, I've definitely tried cmos reset in the past to fix the EZflash issue.

 

[Noxia]

The problem is the RGB, the computer is ashamed of what it's been paired with, and know's that it's not a disco, it's a computer. Thus tries to kill itself.

I've addressed this! The RGB is set to off in the bios. It's only on because the BIOS reset itself

 

[Noxia]

What has that got to do with the fact you whilingly exchanged money for this tat

Spoiler

None of us believe it's disabled

If you can point me towards fans I can wirelessly link and don't have RGB I'll gladly exchange them

Everything was done for build convenience.

 

[Noxia]

I hope that's a threat

I'd be amazed if they exist so yeah. Only other ones I saw were Phanteks and yes they had RGB. It seems harder to find stuff without nowadays.
Anyway stop distracting me, I'm putting the old PSU back in

 

[Noxia]

Well now my PC is working worse than before!
No GPU undetected error but can't get a picture, I did at first but monitor was stuck at 1024*768, GPU showed and said it was working properly.

Booted in to windows using onboard, got in but couldn't do anything because everything was really zoomed in so I think things were opening off screen.
Although to make things even bloody weirder, all my taskbar icons were missing and those would have been visible.

I will try direct connect the GPU next to motherboard, and possibly just wipe everything, all went downhill after that battery change lol

 

[Noxia]

lol harsh - quick try the original battery!

If you take out the GPU and the riser and just connect onboard graphics to the monitor Windows should boot up with the expected resolution for the monitor. If that works OK then you can put the discrete GPU back in without the riser and see how that gets on. Maybe lie the machine on it's side if you're worried about sag from the graphics card not being supported safely?

Will do that now. The weird thing is the login screen shows for windows but the signal goes straight after.

 

[Noxia]

Well it got into windows once when I plugged GPU in direct. I think it might be time to 'borrow' a mobo and see what happens because if this was my GPU all along that would be annoying lol.

Oh I tried the other pci lane too and nothing happened.