My computer only turns on when lying down. When I turn it upside it turns off with quiet "zap" -sound.

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Ninjo Lindell

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My computer only turns on when lying down. When I turn it upside it turns off with quiet "zap" -sound. If I try to turn it on upside down, it simply doesn't start. I have checked all cables multiple times. Even almost rebuilt the whole pc to make sure. I have yet to find a solution from googling.

My specs are:
-dual gtx 980
-i7 4770k @3,85ghz
-fractal design newton 1000w 80+ platinum
-32gb kingston hyperx blue 1600mhz ddr3
-kingston 120gb ssd
-barracuda 2tb 7200rpm hdd
And the case is cooler master haf-x, if it matters.

Thanks in advance for anyone who helps me!
 
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Sneezer

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That's really odd and probably a bad sign.

Orientation shouldn't play a role in any of your parts. Your HDD could be bad but that wouldn't shut your computer off. Even if you had your OS on the HDD, it would just shut down your OS - your computer would stay powered on.

The only parts that should be affected by orientation are parts that move (not including moving electrons). This would be fans and HDDs (and opticals drives but you don't have one and that wouldn't shut down the computer). A CPU fan would give you an overheating error - not immediately shut down with a zap. A PSU fan may not give you an error but would shut down quietly or beep at you first - either way, no zap.

My guess is that you have a power cable with the conducting element exposed somewhere. When you tilt it, it touches something that causes a short and a zap. The only other thing I can think of is water or some other conducting fluid that flows to a point where it shorts something but you'd have bigger issues such as the computer not coming back on again.

You may have cards touching, I guess. That could potentially cause a short but it working again when sideways would suggest that you've gotten super lucky and the short didn't cause damage. That would mean it shorted to a grounded element like the frame.

You've really stumped me on this one. The zap sound indicates a short to me. To check, I think you'd need to find someone with the tools and knowledge to test voltage. If it really is a short, I wouldn't turn it back on until you find the problem.

If this were my rig, I'd be taking it to a shop. A good shop with people who understand electronics and not just a place that runs a virus scan on grandpa's laptop.
 
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Ninjo Lindell

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Thanks for all the answers! Unfortunately, nothing that has been suggested so far has solved the issue, also I don't know anyone who could test the voltages.

I have found out something tho, sometimes if I first turn on computer sideways then shut it down, wait for mobo led to turn off, put the pc back upside and then it turns on, but after few hours randomly shuts down and I have to do the whole thing again. I have been able to do this couple of times.

Hopefully this helps solving my problem, as my pc is self built and most parts are bought from different shops (because I like to buy parts when they are on sale), so I would have to take all my parts individually to different shops. Of course, if solution can't be found I just have to do it.
 
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Sneezer

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You'd want to take the whole thing to a shop that specializes in computer repair. Like I said, you don't want someone like Geeksquad - you want a shop that builds computers and repairs them regularly. While you may not know of a place of the top of your head, unless you're living far away from any majorly populated area, there are sure to be a few places around that can help.

I wouldn't do much else or really take much advice from anyone on a forum unless they're a specialist. I have a MS in Industrial Engineering and while that's not Electrical Engineering, I can tell you that you have something weird going on. I suggest not taking the advice of anyone other than someone who really knows what they're talking about, such as someone who makes a living building and fixing PCs.
 
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1LiquidPC

1LiquidPC

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Perhaps try the "paperclip test" on your PSU. Basically disconnect all your PSU power connections from your motherboard, gpu, drives, ect. Using a paperclip, stick one end in the green wire PS_ON hole on your 24pin connector. Place other end in an adjacent black ground hole. Plug in PSU, and flip back on PSU power switch. PSU should come to life. It should run continuosly like this. If yours has a zero RPM fan mode for low loads, disable it(usually a switch). Then, while running, rotate your case or power supply if you removed it for this to see what happens.

If it still does it like this, I'd replace the PSU. If not, it may be a motherboard electrical fault being detected and PSU is shutting down to protect your system.
 
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Sneezer

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With all due respect, this sounds like a terrible idea. I would not suggest doing this. You risk frying your CPU, PSU, and motherboard.

Take your computer to a shop.
 
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1LiquidPC

1LiquidPC

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This is a legitimate test. A store bought PSU tester essentially does the same thing.http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-power-supply-starter.html. All it does is "trick" your PSU to start without a motherboard. Older PSUs from 20 yrs ago had a mechanical on/off switch. Also, if you read through my post, you would see I mentioned you must disconnect all power connections from your actual components first. I use this myself for watercooling drain/fill procedure and working on and testing other computers for years.
 
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Sneezer

Sneezer

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A store bought PSU tester is different than a paperclip.

The tester is designed for that function by engineers who spent years studying this topic and are using years of the company's experience. A paperclip is an unknown alloy having an unknown resistance having current run through it with no control at all. There's is no way to know what's going to happen to that paperclip. To name one issue of many, it could melt all over your board.

I'm exiting this conversation. Like I said above, I have an MS in IE and you're never going to convince me that using a paperclip in a circuit that includes any computer part is a good idea.
 
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