Troubleshooting a PC That Requires Heat to Start: An Unusual Dilemma

When it comes to computer issues, some problems are more perplexing than others. One such case involves a PC that refuses to turn on unless subjected to a bit of unconventional treatment with a hair dryer. Allow me to share my journey with this frustrating yet intriguing challenge.

Hardware Overview

My setup includes:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
• Motherboard: Asus PRIME B350M-A (with the latest BIOS update)
• RAM: 2x HyperX FURY 8GB 2400MHz
• Power Supply: Thermaltake 600W 80 Plus White Smart Series

All components are relatively new, aged between 1.5 to 2 years. Notably, there have been no overclocking attempts or voltage adjustments—everything runs at factory settings.

The Issue at Hand

Every time I power down my PC at night, it refuses to wake up the next day unless I apply some heat. After a few minutes of focused air from the hair dryer, the system springs back to life, functioning seamlessly for hours or even days afterward.

In an effort to diagnose the problem, I reassembled the unit and tested it with a single stick of RAM and minimal peripherals connected. Stress tests using Prime95 lasted around 9 hours, with no errors reported and CPU temperatures peaking at 89°C. Additionally, Memtest86 and OCCT CPU tests confirmed that everything appeared to be functional.

Environmental Factors

Living in a tropical city means facing consistently high temperatures, ranging from 24°C to 32°C, coupled with high humidity throughout the year. Unfortunately, I do not have access to a spare power supply unit (PSU) or motherboard for alternative testing.

Seeking Solutions

This situation has left me pondering potential causes. The repeated need for heat suggests there may be a poor connection on the motherboard. Another odd issue has emerged: my Windows clock consistently falls behind despite being set to auto-update, with manual synchronization proving only temporarily effective.

Update on the Situation

Just yesterday, I turned off the computer once again, and sure enough, it failed to start this morning. Yet, employing my hair dryer technique—this time carefully avoiding direct heat to the PSU—allowed it to reboot after about 4 to 5 minutes. This incident further solidified my suspicion of a connection problem