A PC can experience a wide variety of problems that cause it to malfunction. All of these problems usually have various solutions, the last option being replacing certain faulty parts. To prevent you from paying more than you should, we’re going to explain the main hardware failures a computer can have. You’ll be able to check how each one works to determine the problem with your PC and, if possible, fix it.
If you’ve never tried to identify the essential parts of your computer, we recommend doing so because many faults are easily identified when we understand how it works, its workflow, and what type of problem can occur depending on the source of the problem. That’s why we’re going to explain in a simple way all the unknowns that are currently bothering you.
Having a computer that works perfectly for many people can be a headache, because there are a large number of situations that can occur in which everything seems to be working as it should, but for some reason an error occurs that prevents us from enjoying its performance, or even from using it properly.
That’s why we’re going to organize this article in a very specific way, highlighting the types of problems that could occur from the perspective of the component involved. This will help you rule out the source when these scenarios arise where something fails, but it doesn’t seem to. Or even does, which would be even more serious.
How to know what components my PC has
Before we begin to look at each of the problems a computer can have, we must first identify each of the hardware components so we know what to look for in each case, and if necessary because there’s no other solution, replace it. There are several ways to find out what components a PC has. The main one, and the most basic, is to check the product packaging or your purchase receipt to verify the component models. That is, to see the exact model of each component and thus be able to identify if they have a specific error or manufacturing defect.
Another way to find out physically is to look at the serial numbers on each component. They’re printed on the serial numbers along with the version name and manufacturer, so you only need to glance at them. In addition, there are also ways to see them directly from the operating system. In Windows, for example, you can search for “System Information,” which will bring up a document showing all the specifications for each of the computer’s components.
The main problems that a PC can have
There are a large number of faults that can arise in a computer system. It’s normal that, given the configuration of these types of devices, there are one or more things that can cause problems, whether due to manufacturing, improper installation, or simply due to overuse. For this reason, we’re going to break down each of their components, along with the main faults they can cause, as well as how to investigate and resolve them.
Processor problems
One of the most important components found in a computer is the processor, which is also the least likely to cause problems on its own, since most of the time only two things can happen: it either works or it doesn’t. It’s rare for the PC to enter a state where it malfunctions due to a problem with the processor. In general, most errors tend to be in the hardware associated with the CPU itself, although we can’t rule out the possibility of failures that we ourselves cannot control and that are related to a poor factory configuration.
The clearest example of this is the problems we saw with Intel’s 13th and 14th generation processors, where a problem arose that caused them to burn out when requesting more voltage than they could handle, although these types of failures are not very common. In addition to this, which is not a common occurrence, the most common problem with a CPU is that it has very limited power or is simply not compatible with the motherboard, so we should always check which socket it has to avoid these types of problems.
The only way to check if the problem is with this component, not counting the catastrophic failures that could cause it to fail to boot, is through programs that generate stress on the processor itself, such as RealBench, AIDA64 in FPU and Cache, or Prime95 in Blend Test. Furthermore, we must always keep in mind that this component is very susceptible to high temperatures, so we should ensure that it does not exceed its maximum voltage.
Motherboard problems
When we talk about the faults that a motherboard can have, we must always keep in mind that if there is no manufacturing defect such as missing pins from the socket or a broken part, most cases are usually due to overheating of the voltage regulator modules (VRM). This mainly generates stability problems, and in most cases they usually appear when they are overclocked to have superior performance in certain components, since under normal circumstances temperatures are usually well controlled.
In this case, if we want to check how these modules perform, the best thing to do is to use HWinfo, while we can also use Prime95 to see the temperatures they reach under maximum load caused by stress tests.
Other problems can be directly due to improper placement of the various components. If the fault lies, for example, in how we positioned the processor, it’s likely that we bent the pins, so we’d need to replace it (or try to straighten them). Furthermore, the fact that the motherboard can become deformed due to excessive pressure on the processor retention system, the excessive weight of certain components, or heat and thermal cycles can cause small power leaks on the PCB.
Because it is such a general component that includes many buses, ports, and small management systems, it is very difficult to pinpoint the specific hardware failure.
RAM problems
Moving on to the components that most frequently experience errors that can be easily repaired, we have RAM. One of the main issues is misalignment in the slots, meaning the modules aren’t making proper contact with the motherboard pins. For this, you just need to remove all the modules and reinsert them; it’s not complicated at all.
On the other hand, there are the issues that can occur where they can simply stop working, causing the computer to become constantly unstable, causing other components such as the graphics card to not boot, causing corrupted files, or causing incorrect information about the amount of RAM available. The easiest way to check this is with the MemTest86 program, which runs a series of tests on the modules to determine the problem. If we repeat this with all the modules and they all fail, the problem is likely with the motherboard.
Another problem we often overlook is one related to the RAM capacity our PC requires. That is, we use programs that consume more RAM than we have, causing the legendary BSOD, which can also occur if we have a faulty module. In this case, there really aren’t many options; we can simply use software that consumes less RAM or simply replace the memory modules to increase the total system RAM.
Problems with the graphics card
The graphics card is one of the components that can cause the most problems in a PC, like all expansion cards, this one being even susceptible due to the fact that it is a system in itself, which can have failures in the GPU, VRAM, heatsink or even the PCB itself.
The worst fault we can encounter is that the PC does not recognize it, and the only way to check if it is not a problem with the card is to reconnect it, making sure it is perfectly inserted, changing the power cables and making sure that the problem is not in the screen cables or the monitor, obviously, if this does not work, you will have to look for a new one.
Stuttering and performance drops in games are usually related to the graphics card, but also to the processor, as this can be caused by various failures such as bottlenecks or Thermal Throttling. In the first case, we must ensure that the power difference between the graphics card and the processor is not too large, while in the second, we really only have to control the temperatures, changing the cooling to achieve a better airflow that removes the heat.
To find out the temperatures of this component, we can use HWinfo. If we find it necessary to reduce the power or increase the fan speed, we can use MSI AfterBurner, but be very careful, as this could break the card. In addition, there are also benchmarks that allow us to stress the graphics card to find out its maximum temperatures. If they are too high, we should clean the heatsink, change the thermal paste, or even apply an undervoltage if necessary.
Problems with storage units
Depending on the type of storage drive we have, we are likely to encounter some errors or others. In the case of HDDs, problems can be detected by a failure in the SMART protocol, which informs us that it is not functioning as it should, as well as other aspects such as internal shocks and strange noises. This causes performance drops when storing and reading data. The way to locate the problem is to use CrystalDiskInfo, as it can inform us of possible errors with the drives we have.
If you detect a problem, the best thing we can do is move the data to another drive without fail, and if we can’t do that, we can always use the HDD Regenerator program to remove the data from it.
However, if we have an SSD, the failures can be much more varied, as they are not only caused by a defect, but can also be temperature-related. Unlike HDDs, solid-state drives can operate at extremely high temperatures, something we can see especially with M.2 drives, which can reach temperatures of 50 or 70 degrees Celsius. This can cause faster deterioration or even lead to thermal throttling.
We can also use CrystalDiskInfo to check for errors, while it is recommended, if we have an M.2, that we use cooling systems to prevent it from overheating, as well as checking if the airflow is adequate.
Power supply problems
The failures that a power supply can cause are quite serious, unexpected computer restarts, certain components failing to start, and even, if we have a low-end one without protections, the fact that it can burn out certain components. To check if it’s working as it should, we would have to use HWinfo to find the voltage of each of the three main channels of the supply: +12, +5, and +3.3 V. The tolerance of these channels is ±5%, meaning that if they are far from the nominal value they should have, the PSU would have to be replaced.
Knowing if the PSU is actually failing isn’t easy, as you have to measure the amperage, frequency, voltage, and strain. But it’s clear that if, for example, we’ve verified that all the components are working fine but the PC shuts down automatically, the problem obviously has to be with the power supply. In these cases, the best thing we can do is make sure we have a good-quality power supply, since everything else we add to the PC depends on it, so we shouldn’t skimp on expenses.
Problems with PC cooling
Just like the rest of the components, everything related to the way your PC is cooled can also fail. Both the fans and heatsinks we use can experience a series of problems that cause the computer to malfunction. In most cases, we won’t encounter a major problem, but rather a series of minor setbacks that will reduce system performance due to certain conditions, such as thermal throttling, which we’ve mentioned several times, or extremely annoying noises.
In the case of fans, the real solution is to check that they’re properly connected, clean them thoroughly, and if the bearing has broken due to use, replace them with new ones. On the other hand, AIOs, depending on the one we have, may have one fault or another. If it’s a water block, we may have to change it if it doesn’t work properly, as they usually last about 2 or 3 years working like new. Those that use liquid cooling and can be refilled will need to be replaced occasionally, approximately every 6 months.
In addition to this, if we have a custom liquid cooling system, we must bear in mind that there is another problem to add to the list: if the tubes become loose, this would spill all the liquid over the configuration, rendering it practically useless. Therefore, we must ensure that they are properly secured and check them every time we change the coolant.
Problems with computer software
Having listed all the physical problems a computer can have, we can’t forget those related to the software, as an incompatibility can cause it to stop working altogether, but there are other aspects to consider. If, due to a hardware failure such as RAM that corrupts files, we have problems with the operating system, for example, after replacing this component, we will very likely have to reinstall the operating system itself, as it may have corrupted some essential components that prevent it from functioning as it should. Once the error has occurred, the solution involves a complete cleanup that leaves no trace of the state prior to the solution.
To this, we must obviously add the numerous errors that can occur in the drivers of any piece of hardware, with the graphics card being the most susceptible to performance issues, especially when it comes to errors within certain games. Checking for a software error is much simpler since we’ll simply see that something is wrong with the program itself and that it doesn’t affect the PC’s overall performance. So, imagine how difficult it can be to keep track of everything that can happen to your computer. It’s practically endless.