PC randomly restarting

[MitjaHD]

I had this problem for a long time, pc shuts down itself and then reboots. Event viewer says Kernel power 41... which basically means system shut down improperly. Recently I replaced my hdd with new SSD and I did a clean Windows 10 install. From now on the restarts are way more frequent. Note that I had the same problem before but maybe few times a week, sometimes not once a week and sometimes multipe times a day, it's strange. Now it seems it started to occur more often again, but I highly doubt it's due to new SSD.

Whats even more strange is that the PC restarts when idle. I'm not doing anything, no programs running and it just shuts down, sometimes it shuts down during reboot itself, so it crashes and then crashes again when trying to boost again (this might be important, idk).

Sometimes I play games like Battlefield 1 and while I play this game I havent noticed a problem, I could play it for maybe 1 hour, 2 hours without any restarts. When I finished playing and left it on idle it restarted.

It might be PSU or PSU cable but I honestly don't know, because it doesn't restart when I play games, coincidance? Sometimes I listen to music on youtube and it does crash so it's not only when on idle.

Windows 10 Home
Geforce 1060 3gb
i5 3330 Cpu 3GHz
8gb ram
Samsung SSD
don't know PSU model but it's 750W.

This problem is really driving me nuts because I can hardly do anything and it's not good for my pc to restart so many times, any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Aeacus]

Is your Win10 legit with genuine license key or is your OS pirated?

Also, do look up your PSU make and model (or part number) since it's important here. Just open up your PC and read the make/model/part number off from PSU's label. And how old your PSU is?

Knowing CPU/GPU temps on idle and under load would help too.

 

[MitjaHD]

Yes I have original Windows 7 home sp1 and after installing it, I uograded to Windows 10, so not pirated.

I will look for model soon but the PSU is pretty old at least 3-4 years, hasn't been replaced yet.

I will look into temps but it would be more obvious that temps are higher when under load so it should shut down then, not when it's not under load.

 

[kenneth.mathis.simpson]

If it became more frequent after switching to your SSD I would think it's something to do with wiring. To my knowledge, SSD's consume less power than a HDD, so if anything I would expect the problems to decrease in frequency if it's a supply issue. My bet is a short at one of your connectors, maybe there's too tight a corner or too much tension pulling on a wire, and disturbing the wires to change your storage drive made it worse. Strange that it shorts at idle though, but I'd break out a flashlight and check your connector ends for crimped or loose wires

 

[MitjaHD]

Yes I was thinking the same. When I changed SSD I obviously has to unplug everything and then plug it again in. But I tired unplugging it again and again, trying to make it not too loose but it didn't help. Also the end of the cable goes into power strip adapter and I remember one time I touched it slightly and the computer shut down. I plugged it in again as far in as possible, also tired to switch to another socket slot but it is still the same.

I will try with another cable when I get one, but I think I already tired this a while ago, not sure, thanks for feedback tho.

 

[Aeacus]

My guess is that the issue is either with your PSU or electrical grid in your home. Without PSU make/model or part number, i can't say how likely it would be a PSU issue.

But in the mean time, unplug your PC from the power strip and plug it directly into the wall socket. See if it helps.

 

[MitjaHD]

I accidentily hit pc with my leg and it shut down, bad cable connection?

 

[Aeacus]

Either you have issues with your external power cables or your PSU is extremely sensitive to any vibrations.

Since you're at your PC, care to share PSU make & model or part number? Also, did you plug your PC power cord directly into the mains (bypassing power strip)?

 

[MitjaHD]

PSU is: Switching Power Supply SL-500K, hope thats the name, not really too familiar with pc hardware to be honest. I now think it's 500W only, thats what it says on the bottom. My two outlet slots are already taken so I can't plug the PSU cable in directly, I will try to find/buy another adapter with two slots and try plugging it in, but I can't directly, because I need it for power strip.

 

[MitjaHD]

I tired plugging it (psu cable) into the wall and it was the same, if not even worse. Pc crashed like 5 times without even booting to the desktop do I had hard time turning it off... This is really frustarating. I put this pc to service many times and it was always faulty HDD that was dead, but I don't think this is the cause of the problem,since I have brane new SSD, it is possible that this shut downs are damiging my disk to the point where it's dead and then on service they say the disk is dead and they put a new one, but restarts don't stop for me.

 

[Aeacus]

Bad news, it's your PSU.

The PSU you have is Inter-Tech SL-500K and that is crap quality unit. I recommend that you replace your PSU ASAP before it blows up, fries your PC and at worst, catches fire as well.

Since PSU powers everything, it is the most important component inside the PC. And if you care about your PC, you do not want to use that firecracker to power your PC.
Also, you said that you've had HDDs die on you. Thing is that HDD doesn't simply die on a spot, instead there are signs for aged HDD that show it's going to die soon, e.g far longer read/write times or 100% disk usage. Only thing that can cause HDD to die on the spot is crap quality PSU which overloads HDD with voltage, causing it to fry.

When it comes to the PSU build quality and it's pricing, there's a clear correlation between those. The cheaper the PSU - the worse it is.
For example, i can buy that very same Inter-Tech SL-500K for only €17 Euros! I won't look towards any 500W range PSU that doesn't cost at least €60 Euros. Since at €60 Euro price point, i can be sure that this 500W range PSU has good build quality in it and is safe to use in a PC, e.g Seasonic M12II-520 EVO @ €65 Euros in my local store.

For you, i also suggest going with Seasonic PSU in 500W range, e.g: M12II-520 EVO, G-550, Focus 550 or Focus+ 550,
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/TgW9TW,DPCwrH,bkp323,KmgzK8/

Focus and Focus+ are the newest PSU lines from Seasonic and they come with 10 years of OEM warranty. G and M12II EVO series PSUs come with 5 years of OEM warranty.
All my 3 PCs: Skylake, Haswell and AMD are also powered by Seasonic. Full specs with pics in my sig.

 

[MitjaHD]

In which money range should I look for CPUs. I don't think they have CPUs je listed in my country (Slovenia), I don't like buying online.

 

[Aeacus]

In which money range should I look for CPUs. I don't think they have CPUs je listed in my country (Slovenia), I don't like buying online.

CPU, as such, is Central Processing Unit and your CPU is i5-3330, which isn't a problem, despite it's age. PSU is Power Supply Unit and that's the culprit here.

Depending on market availability, it's hard for me to say the price point for Slovenia but after doing some digging and finding 3x Slovenian stores, i can see the price range of PSUs. For Slovenian market, €80 Euros and above are good quality units, e.g:

Seasonic Focus+ 550 in this store,
link: http://www.agt.si/racunalniska-oprema/napajalniki/seasonic-focus-80-plus-gold-modular-550w.html

2nd store also has same PSU but at higher price,
link: https://www.funtech.si/si/vsi-oddelki/komp/napajalniki/atx-modularni/od-500w-do-599w/55703/

And in 3rd store, Seasonic M12II-620 EVO is at the same price as Seasonic Focus+ 550 in 1st store,
link: https://www.mlacom.si/seasonic-m12ii-620-evo-620w

 

[MitjaHD]

Thank you very much, there is a store near me (Big Bang) that sells computer hardware, they also sell PSUs:
https://www.bigbang.si/gaming-napajalniki
I know I'm being annoying already but could you quickly look if here is something worth considering buying?


Sorry I was typing CPU instead of PSU without even realizing (face palm)

 

[Aeacus]

PSU selection in that store is poor and there aren't many good quality PSUs to choose from. Though, here are 3x that you can consider:

1. Corsair CX550M, link: https://www.bigbang.si/napajalniki/cp-9020121-eu-corsair-606901
CX550M is mediocre quality PSU and would do fine in your PC (OEM: CWT). Though, i, personally, wouldn't use CX550M in my PC and i'd go with better build quality PSU.

2. Cooler Master V650, link: https://www.bigbang.si/napajalniki/cooler-master-v650-rs650-afbag1-80plus-gold-650w-m-597936
V650 is good quality PSU and would be my 2nd choice (OEM: Enhance). It has a bit too much wattage for your PC but not enough to be overkill. Though, it's price is quite steep for a 650W unit.

3. Corsair AX860, link: https://www.bigbang.si/napajalniki/ax860860w80plus-atx-napajalnik-corsair-602911
That PSU is great quality unit and would be my 1st choice (OEM: Seasonic). Though, wattage wise, it's way overkill for your PC and it's price is something that i also don't like since it's way overpriced as well (most likely due to the scarce availability in that store).

Here, i'd rather buy Seasonic Focus+ 550 with €86,31 (which i linked above), rather than Cooler Master V650 with €134,99 or Corsair CX550M with €69.99.