Member Avatar for KalebG

My computer has this odd problem of turning off halways. What i mean is that i could be doing anything (gaming, programming, webbrowsing, running a adaware scan, etc) and it well shut off. The moniter gives me the power saving nbow activated message and it goes into power saving mode. But the computer itself still has power. The keybaord has power as well but its lights begin to flash on and off. Same thing happens to the laser mouse. I've replaced the powersupply with a newer one but it still continues. My computer whiz of a brother said it might be the motherboard. I would just like some insight on what the problem is before i do any major changes.

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Summary of the situation and focused next steps based on the thread: the system loses video (monitor goes to "power save") while the PC remains powered and USB LEDs blink. has already swapped the PSU and checked for obvious capacitor bulging. and raised motherboard/graphics/driver possibilities. The next actions should separate software causes from hardware and then isolate which board or component is failing.

Recommended diagnostic checklist (in roughly this order):

  • Boot a clean live Linux USB for several hours. If the same blackout/USB cycling occurs outside Windows, the issue is almost certainly hardware.
  • Run Memtest86 for multiple full passes to rule out intermittent RAM faults.
  • Perform a minimal "bench" boot: remove all drives, extra RAM sticks, unplug front-panel USB/reset, and run with only CPU, one DIMM and onboard video (or a single known-good card).
  • Swap the video card into a different working machine or try a different known-good GPU in this system to see whether the fault follows the card.
  • Verify PSU rails under load with a multimeter or PSU/rail tester. A replaced PSU can still be faulty or under-spec on the 12V rail under load.
  • Inspect the motherboard around PCIe/VRM areas for hairline cracks, cold solder joints, scorch marks, or capacitors that can fail without visible bulging.

Collect OS-level evidence before assuming a board fault: check Event Viewer (System/Application) and Reliability Monitor for display-driver or kernel errors timed with the incidents, and see whether Safe Mode reproduces the problem (stability in Safe Mode points at drivers/software). Only after hardware isolation is clear should a BIOS or VBIOS update be attempted, and then with a known-good PSU and power.

If the minimal bench configuration still shows the behavior, the motherboard or CPU/VRM is likely; if the fault appears only with the discrete GPU installed, the GPU is the prime suspect. Document timestamps, running apps, and reproduce steps — those data will pinpoint the cause and make RMA or repair decisions straightforward.

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Member Avatar for jbennet

bad drivers or overheating CPU/RAM/Graphics Card is what id usually say but the flashing lights indocate a bad mobo. Are there any leaking capacitators in it?

Member Avatar for KalebG

Well after the computer running for 4 hours with a game running and webbrowsing and whatever, everything seems fairly cool and running at an average temp. The capacitors on the motherbaord seem fine... same with them on everything else. Could it be a faulty video card?

Member Avatar for JANINE

Have you checked the power saving and standby options in both your operating system and the BIOS?

I agree with jbennett on a faulty motherboard but I would also look at the possibility of the graphics card gone bad.

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