Troubleshooting a PC That Turns Off After Boot with GPU Fans Spinning at Maximum Speed
Experiencing unexpected shutdowns and hardware issues can be frustrating, especially when troubleshooting GPU-related problems. If your PC crashes shortly after booting, with the GPU fans spinning at full speed, there are several potential causes and solutions to consider. This article walks through a common scenario involving an NVIDIA RTX 2060 and how to address such issues effectively.
Understanding the Issue
A typical symptom of this problem includes:
- The PC boots up, but shortly after reaching the desktop or lock screen, it powers off unexpectedly.
- The GPU fans ramp up to maximum speed during the crash.
- Driver issues or hardware conflicts might be involved.
In this particular case, the user repurposed an RTX 2060 from an old prebuilt system into a new PC build. After cleaning and reinstallation, the card experienced crashes post-lock screen. Similar issues were observed with other GPUs like an RTX 3050, indicating a possible systemic or configuration-related problem.
Steps Taken and Observations
-
Driver Removal Using DDU
Using the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode, all existing GPU drivers were thoroughly removed. This step is essential to eliminate corrupted or conflicting driver files. -
Booting in Safe Mode and BIOS
The system was able to recognize the GPU and operate normally in Safe Mode and during BIOS, suggesting hardware detection isn’t the core issue. -
Booting Without Drivers
After removing drivers, booting into normal mode was successful, indicating that driver conflicts may be a factor. -
Reinstalling Drivers
Installing the latest NVIDIA drivers led to the recurrence of the problem, with the system crashing shortly after boot, sometimes just seconds after driver installation. -
Changing Thermal Paste & Testing Other GPUs
Updating the thermal paste and testing with other GPUs, such as the RTX 3050, confirmed that the problem could be related to thermals, power delivery, or GPU hardware.
Possible Causes and Solutions
1. Power Supply Issues
Ensure your PSU provides sufficient wattage and stability. An underpowered or failing power supply can cause system shutdowns, especially when GPUs draw maximum power.
2. GPU Hardware Problems
GPU artifacts, overheating, or manufacturing defects can lead to crashes. Testing the card in another system or with different drivers can help
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