PC resetting after adding memory

Craig R · 19 Dec 2022 at 20:43

I tried unplugging 2 of my storage hard drives and the case USB connectors. So far holding firm for around 40 mins on the original 2 ram sticks. Possible progress.

Craig R · 19 Dec 2022 at 20:53

Tetras said:
Logically, if the system worked 100% fine before you installed the new memory and you touched nothing else, then the answer should be no.

My best guess would be that you haven't restored the settings to whatever they were, when it was previously stable.

But, if the new memory is a red herring (i.e. concealing an existing problem) then yes, a dodgy PSU can cause resets, but then, so can other things, like the RAM, the CPU & the board, or even the case if something is shorting (or the front panel is faulty). Another left-field example: malfunctioning usb device that shorts or trips the ports.

Does it always reset doing the same things, or can it reset when gaming, when idle, when browsing?

It was totally random. Sometimes reset while idle, sometimes when launching a programme, sometimes even mid-boot.

Still holding firm at the moment though after launching a game.

Tetras · 19 Dec 2022 at 20:57

Craig R said:
It was totally random. Sometimes reset while idle, sometimes when launching a programme, sometimes even mid-boot.

Still holding firm at the moment though after launching a game.

Some Ryzen CPUs don't like being idle (can be tested by turning off c-states), but I think those resets would rule that semi-common issue out and I don't believe it's a problem that develops (they're like it out of the box).

RE: USB drives / case USB

When you put the PC back together, did you change which ports your hardware is plugged into? I wonder if you plugged them into ports with less power available and that is causing trips, but I don't know if your board has USB 2.0 ports.

Craig R · 19 Dec 2022 at 21:10

Tetras said:
Some Ryzen CPUs don't like being idle (can be tested by turning off c-states), but I think those resets would rule that semi-common issue out and I don't believe it's a problem that develops (they're like it out of the box).

RE: USB drives / case USB

When you put the PC back together, did you change which ports your hardware is plugged into? I wonder if you plugged them into ports with less power available and that is causing trips, but I don't know if your board has USB 2.0 ports.

Both usb 2 and 3.1 - I've reconnected these back in the same ports and tried sticking the new ram in again too. So far so good.

Yet to try reconnecting the hdds.

Craig R · 19 Dec 2022 at 22:16

Everything now reconnected. All 4 sticks of RAM now in. Seems OK so far.

What the deuce??

Tetras · 20 Dec 2022 at 01:50

Craig R said:
Both usb 2 and 3.1 - I've reconnected these back in the same ports and tried sticking the new ram in again too. So far so good.

USB 3 offers nearly double the power of USB 2, so it's possible if you plugged a heavy using device (like a large hard drive) into the USB 2 ports, it was tripping. It's also possible that a driver was malfunctioning due to the change in port, though I'd have thought they'd be designed for that occurrence and would be more likely to BSOD than reset the computer.

Craig R · 20 Dec 2022 at 09:45

Tetras said:
USB 3 offers nearly double the power of USB 2, so it's possible if you plugged a heavy using device (like a large hard drive) into the USB 2 ports, it was tripping. It's also possible that a driver was malfunctioning due to the change in port, though I'd have thought they'd be designed for that occurrence and would be more likely to BSOD than reset the computer.

I didn't have any devices connected to the ports though when it was tripping.

I can only think there might be a dodgy cable somewhere in my set-up.