Desktop unit attempts to reboot itself

[skong1988]

Hi Tomshardware Community,

I think my computer died and I have trouble diagnosing the problem. I'm not too good with computers.
The computer I have is the:
Acer Predator AG3-605-UR1D Desktop (3.4 GHz Intel Core i7-4770 Processor, 12GB DDR3, 2TB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760, Windows 8.1)
Link to motherboard:
https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/517756/manual-for-motherboard-ms-7829

Some context: I have bought this computer 4 years ago. 2 months ago I have just started to render videos. These past 8 days I have not turned off the computer and I started to render a video that took 8 hours to complete (I think it's normal, it's a 3 hour video). After the render, I started playing games for 7 hours.
The problem: After the 7 hours, the computer suddenly shut down and attempted to reboot. Almost half a second it would retry, turn off and attempt to reboot itself. Turn off and reboot itself. The fan spins and turns off as it tries to reboot itself.
What I did:
1. Holding down the power button to force shutdown doesn't work as the computer would just retry to reboot itself.
2. I cleaned the system unit using the metro vac duster with the anti static wrist strap attached. Not too much dust in the system unit.
3. My room is the coldest especially in the winter so heating should not be the problem.
4. I re-mounted the RAM sticks like YouTube videos suggested.
5. I inspected the motherboard, didn't find any burned capacitors.
6. No beep noise during the attempts of reboot. When the computer would work, I would here a beep during boot.

Is there a safe and easy way top test the power supply? Before I bought this computer, there were some reviews that says the 500W Power Supply is bad. I've attempted to upgrade the PSU in the past, but wouldn't fit in the case. Would a 600W or 650W be enough? I'm not even sure if the PSU is the problem... I hope it isn't the hard drive

I'm on a really tight budget and would like to save money too. Is there anything I can salvage? What can I do? I'm really at a lost. Thank you for any and all suggestions.

I'm going to re-attempt to remount a single RAM stick to another slot tonight. I use 2 6gb RAM sticks.

 

[g-unit1111]

Do you have another PSU available? If so I would try it with another PSU and see if it boots up. You can hook it up outside the case before you screw everything in. Honestly the hard drive is probably the least likely component in your PC that is corrupted. But if you manage to power it back on the first thing you should do is backup your data.

 

[skong1988]

I have a question, I bought a 650w PSU because of 500w wasn't powerful enough for what I'm doing now. But I found out the PSU uses 24 pin instead of 12 pin for my motherboard. The PSU I bought is this: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-438...

Instead of replacing the PSU is it a good idea to buy an adapter for a 24pin to 12pin PSU? Thank you. If there are any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much again

 

[skong1988]

Okay.. I think it is the PSU.. I couldn't get the new 650w PSU to work.. But I tested the old PSU and it turns out that when I take out the GPU and leave the 12 GB of Ram in. It would boot.
However if I take out one RAM, and leave the other one in, and put the GPU in.
My assessment is the PSU isn't supplying enough power to the GPU, causing boot issues. I hope I'm right. Please any considerations and advice would help. Thank you

 

[skong1988]

I bought the same PSU that is in my system unit. It just came in and it's defective. What luck! I tried my old one again though it's dying. It still slow some life (the system unit would attempt to reboot). But the new PSU that came in today wouldn't even make my computer turn on. I'm returning the new PSU... Please any considerations and advice would help. Am I doing something wrong? I can't afford a new computer right now. I'm trying to fix this one. Thank you.