Question Computer constantly restarting

[pray4power]

Hi everyone!

I’m trying to figure out why my computer keeps restarting, and I wondered if anyone had any suggestions or had encountered this issue.

For the last month or so, my computer will reboot itself multiple times throughout the day. Sometimes, I can get as far as logging in, and starting to reopen some windows before it shuts down again. More often, it will reboot as soon as I enter my password, or it will reboot multiple times in a row. I ran into this same problem about a year ago, but a thorough dusting of the PSU intake fan on the bottom of the case seemed to fix last year’s reboot issue. I’m still having this issue now even when it’s dust-free.

This started up again once the weather got warmer, and sometimes I can get the computer to stay on through the night when it’s cooler. This led me to believe it’s a temperature issue, but I checked my system and none of the components are abnormally hot.

The computer has yet to self-reboot while in safe mode, when I’m able to boot into that. This leads me to believe that it potentially isn’t a hardware problem, or that safe mode puts less strain on whatever faulty hardware is causing a problem. I haven’t installed any new software or hardware since this was resolved last year.

Here are my specs: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/6vWJrr

The next thing I’m planning to try is checking the thermal compound on the CPU. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated!

 

[pray4power]

So just to clarify, the next step should be to get another motherboard and CPU to use as tests? I don't have any spares from a previous build, so I won't able to do that without buying new ones.

You've been exceedingly efficient narrowing down the issues, so I'll do my best to follow whichever steps you recommend I take next to fix the problem for good.

 

[COLGeek]

Do you have a friend/co-worker/family member that could assist in a swap?

 

[pray4power]

No, I don't have anyone for that, unfortunately : (

 

[COLGeek]

Try to find the cheapest compatible CPU for your motherboard, like a Celeron and see what happens.

https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-z270e-gaming-model/helpdesk_cpu

This is the easier of the two remaining items (CPU and motherboard) to swap and should help to isolate the issue.

 

[pray4power]

Thanks for the link! I ordered a new CPU and it should come next week, so I will try it out then. I'll report back with what happens. Fingers crossed!

 

[COLGeek]

Thanks for the link! I ordered a new CPU and it should come next week, so I will try it out then. I'll report back with what happens. Fingers crossed!

Good luck! Standing by.

 

[pray4power]

Hello again!

As I mentioned in the original post, I now went through with reapplying a new thermal paste (Artic MX-4) to my current CPU first to rule out that as a possibly before I tried the new one. Unfortunately, the reboots cropped up again several hours later so I don't believe it helped, or temporarily alleviated it at best. During the first few hours after the new thermal paste, I tried running a stress test program called HeavyLoad (jam-software.com/heavyload). Only a few seconds before the 3 hour test ended (took a safety picture in advance) where it ran without any issues, I received the attached blue screen picture. Maybe unrelated, but wanted to mention it just on case.

The Celeron G3900 CPU was much worse. With the Celeron CPU inside, after a reboot would occur, my PC would struggle to even start back up. The noises it would make on startup would begin, but the PC would give up and power back down with the accompanying noise. It eventually got stuck in a loop where it would just barely start powering up before immediately shutting down, not even being able to be considered a reboot at that point. When it got like that, I couldn't even hold the power button down in front of the case to force a shutdown and had to flip the power supply switch.

If the worse level of reboot occurred with the weaker CPU, does that mean that the better CPU is somehow keeping the problem at bay more, and thus the CPU is related to the cause of the reboots even if the CPU isn't the sole cause? Is there anything I should test with the Celeron CPU before returning it? If this means something on the motherboard is faulty, whether that be a temperature censor or something else, are there any troubleshooting techniques or tests I can do without buying a new mother board as well?

 

[COLGeek]

I think the motherboard needs replaced, at this point.

 

[pray4power]

Is there anything else I could possibly test with the tester CPU before I return it? My current motherboard is barely out of warranty, so I would have to get a new one anyway. Do you have any recommendations for replacement motherboards that are as good or better? I don't want to pay $1000 for the same one.