- Joined
- Aug 4, 2020
- Messages
- 557
So I just built my 3rd PC in a year. First one was absolutely flawless and still working flawless, even after a recent upgrade. Second one (that I just built 2 weeks ago) went flawless except for a proven faulty MOBO that I later confirmed with the MFR that is in the process of being returned & replaced with a different type. The GPU becomes disengaged every 36 hours or so without touching it. Unclick it and click it back in - problem solved for another 36. Not a heavy card - EVGA 2080 TI Hybrid. Most of the weight is in the external radiator, just a single fan and thin heatsink onboard. Point is - I'm able to diagnose hardware pretty easily.
However, build #3 has me stumped.
Build #3 is actually for my business. *NO GPU*, new i3-13100, new SSD, new RAM, and the original MOBO from build #1 (#1 got an upgrade 2 weeks ago and some parts went to #2 and #3). Everything went just as smooth in assembly as the first two. It boots and runs windows fast and without error. Everything seems perfect. Then as I'm getting my preferences setup, I'm asked to get something out of my desk drawer. I close the drawer like I would any other time and POOF - the entire screen artifacts like crazy. Nothing is legible, just pure insane seizure-inducing artifacting across the entire screen. Had to do a hard shut down. The slight thud from the desk drawer was the trigger.
So me being the analytical type who feels the process of elimination always solves everything, I start going down the list. HDMI cable? Reseat it. Nope. Use a different one. Nope, still artifacts. Loose connection somewhere...anywhere? Nope. Aftermarket "pretty" MOBO cable faulty? Nope. I][/B] it's not that weird cable? Test it again. Nope. Eliminate the "pretty" cable completely. Nope. Fine. Reseat the RAM sticks. Nope. Ok, humor me. Recheck all connections again - SATA, PSU cables, everything. Nope. Could it be a driver issue? Maybe. I'm quite ignorant in the software department. I checked everything I know to check (which is limited). Everything is up to date. But I doubt it's a driver considering I can duplicate the artifacting 100% of the time with a light bump of the desk. Bad electrical circuit? Move it to the same outlet as #1. Nope. Bad power cable? Try a different one. Nope.
There is only one other odd observation that I cannot perfectly duplicate. The LED lighting (Corsair parts, ran by Commander XT) also flickers randomly as if you took a power blip. Infrequent, but definitely there, and definitely seems to be related to the bumping also. Best way I can describe it in car terms is like a bad ground or loose battery terminal.
Unless I'm not thinking of something, here's what I'm down to:
*Faulty PSU cables (single CPU, MOBO, single SATA is all that is installed).
*Faulty PSU.
*Faulty MOBO (not likely, it worked perfectly before transplant, was not injured or static shocked during transplant, and works perfectly every single time it boots...until bumped).
*The CPU isn't seated correctly (which seems impossible considering it works perfectly unless I bump it and it idles at 28C when ambient is 23. FWIW, I am running a Corsair H100i RGB Platinum SE AIO cooler).
*Some kind of software/driver issue (which is plausible because of my ignorance, but deniable due to the physical jolt being 100% replicable).
I will be swapping the SATA PSU cable tomorrow just to eliminate the variable. Ironically, I just ordered several spare cables direct from the manufacturer two days ago just for the sake of troubleshooting (jinxed myself), so I will be able to swap the MOBO and CPU cables once they arrive. That should prove or disprove the PSU cable theory completely.
I seriously doubt it's the MOBO, it worked without a single tiny issue for a year.
Here's the full part list:
*NEW Corsair 4000D Airflow Case
*NEW i3-13100
*USED Corsair H100i RGB Platinum SE 240mm AIO (which I just discovered as I type this has the apparently chronic pump LED issue. Ugh. Might be replaced soon.)
*NEW MSI Tomahawk Z690 DDR4 Wifi (New when purchased, 1-year old)
*NEW Corsair Dominator 2x8GB DDR4 3200 RAM (basic XMP enabled - running at 3200)
*NEW MSI Spatium M470 1TB
*USED Corsair Commander XT
*NEW 6x Corsair ML120 RGB Elite Fans
*USED EVGA 650 G3 PSU
I know, why put all of this in a work computer? When it's error free and complete, I'll post pics and you'll understand why, but that's another topic for another day.
My money is on a bad PSU. What do you think? Sorry for the long read, but I know details help in the computer world. Thanks for your time and input.
However, build #3 has me stumped.
Build #3 is actually for my business. *NO GPU*, new i3-13100, new SSD, new RAM, and the original MOBO from build #1 (#1 got an upgrade 2 weeks ago and some parts went to #2 and #3). Everything went just as smooth in assembly as the first two. It boots and runs windows fast and without error. Everything seems perfect. Then as I'm getting my preferences setup, I'm asked to get something out of my desk drawer. I close the drawer like I would any other time and POOF - the entire screen artifacts like crazy. Nothing is legible, just pure insane seizure-inducing artifacting across the entire screen. Had to do a hard shut down. The slight thud from the desk drawer was the trigger.
So me being the analytical type who feels the process of elimination always solves everything, I start going down the list. HDMI cable? Reseat it. Nope. Use a different one. Nope, still artifacts. Loose connection somewhere...anywhere? Nope. Aftermarket "pretty" MOBO cable faulty? Nope. I][/B] it's not that weird cable? Test it again. Nope. Eliminate the "pretty" cable completely. Nope. Fine. Reseat the RAM sticks. Nope. Ok, humor me. Recheck all connections again - SATA, PSU cables, everything. Nope. Could it be a driver issue? Maybe. I'm quite ignorant in the software department. I checked everything I know to check (which is limited). Everything is up to date. But I doubt it's a driver considering I can duplicate the artifacting 100% of the time with a light bump of the desk. Bad electrical circuit? Move it to the same outlet as #1. Nope. Bad power cable? Try a different one. Nope.
There is only one other odd observation that I cannot perfectly duplicate. The LED lighting (Corsair parts, ran by Commander XT) also flickers randomly as if you took a power blip. Infrequent, but definitely there, and definitely seems to be related to the bumping also. Best way I can describe it in car terms is like a bad ground or loose battery terminal.
Unless I'm not thinking of something, here's what I'm down to:
*Faulty PSU cables (single CPU, MOBO, single SATA is all that is installed).
*Faulty PSU.
*Faulty MOBO (not likely, it worked perfectly before transplant, was not injured or static shocked during transplant, and works perfectly every single time it boots...until bumped).
*The CPU isn't seated correctly (which seems impossible considering it works perfectly unless I bump it and it idles at 28C when ambient is 23. FWIW, I am running a Corsair H100i RGB Platinum SE AIO cooler).
*Some kind of software/driver issue (which is plausible because of my ignorance, but deniable due to the physical jolt being 100% replicable).
I will be swapping the SATA PSU cable tomorrow just to eliminate the variable. Ironically, I just ordered several spare cables direct from the manufacturer two days ago just for the sake of troubleshooting (jinxed myself), so I will be able to swap the MOBO and CPU cables once they arrive. That should prove or disprove the PSU cable theory completely.
I seriously doubt it's the MOBO, it worked without a single tiny issue for a year.
Here's the full part list:
*NEW Corsair 4000D Airflow Case
*NEW i3-13100
*USED Corsair H100i RGB Platinum SE 240mm AIO (which I just discovered as I type this has the apparently chronic pump LED issue. Ugh. Might be replaced soon.)
*NEW MSI Tomahawk Z690 DDR4 Wifi (New when purchased, 1-year old)
*NEW Corsair Dominator 2x8GB DDR4 3200 RAM (basic XMP enabled - running at 3200)
*NEW MSI Spatium M470 1TB
*USED Corsair Commander XT
*NEW 6x Corsair ML120 RGB Elite Fans
*USED EVGA 650 G3 PSU
I know, why put all of this in a work computer? When it's error free and complete, I'll post pics and you'll understand why, but that's another topic for another day.
My money is on a bad PSU. What do you think? Sorry for the long read, but I know details help in the computer world. Thanks for your time and input.