Failing power supply?

The VCR King

The VCR King

Well-Known Member
Almost daily now, when I am or am not using my computer, it will totally shut down for no reason. Everything will lose power and it will shut down as if it had been just unplugged. Pressing the power button boots the system again but a few hours later it will just die again.
 
Your PSU is probably ruined from all those power surges you let go through it :cool:
 
It's probably the PSU. You could try replacing it and if still happens then it's probably the motherboard. Maybe the board is shorting on the case? Seems likely especially since the guy who gave you the system mentioned the shut downs. You could check that too.
 
I don't get it because it rarely happened when I first got the machine but now it is almost a daily happening.
 
Probably just getting progressively worse, you don`t really want to leave it until it blows.

If you can get hold of another psu to test it you will know for sure.
 
The Blue Beast said:
If this thing blows, is there the possibility it will take my computer with it?
Click to expand...

If it's the PSU, yes; or at least the MoBo. Are you sure it's the PSU? Check every connection on the MoBo to make sure everything is properly seated - if you already checked, then check again. Have you tested the RAM?
 
It is pretty much pot luck in how the psu actually blows, I have only had one failed power supply and was very lucky it did no damage.

But a worse blow up can result in motherboard damage, which in some cases then goes through the board and damages other components like cpu.

Not something I would risk if you get an early warning sign to help avoid it.
 
Yeah when the PSU that came with my first build was dying, I had to remove several HDD power cables in order for it to boot. Luckily I caught it before it blew and killed my computer.
 
In before too scared to open PC. :P

Once you get the new PSU it's just a 1:1 cable swap.
 
Anybody got a good idea of a (quality) power supply? I want to get another 1000-watter, but I want to know which brand is most reliable, and what will actually fit inside of my CoolerMaster HAF 912 case. I am thinking of getting a Corsair or OCZ as a replacement.
 
I have 3 ocz power supplies and all are still running quiet and strong, but unless I am wrong I think they went bust, so any ocz products will be old discontinued stuff.

Try looking at Corsair or Rosewill
 
Why'd you want 1000W? 1000W for what? You have one 6950? You could use a 550W PSU. I reckon a 650W would be fine for you. 750W if you're thinking about CrossFire or SLI again. 1000W is overkill.

With regards to OCZ, my OCZ ZS 650 has been running happily for nearly 3 years now. Not a problem. They're probably not the best brand of PSU but they're not a bad at all.

You could look at the Corsair CX600M or CX750M. They're good quality and modular and nice and affordable.
 
The Blue Beast said:
Anybody got a good idea of a (quality) power supply?
Click to expand...
Is your computer so hot as to toast bread? If not, it does not need anywhere near 1000 watts. But the naive actually (foolishly) believe more watts is better quality.

A computer typically consumes between 100 and 200 watts. But power supply manufacturers need not meet design or safety standards. That responsibility is 100% on the computer assembler - ie you. So they short the supply of essential functions, increase its wattage, and market to people who have no idea what a supply must do.

For example, can a power supply damage other computer parts? Absolutely not if required functions exist. Functions that existed long before PCs even existed. However many computer assemblers have no idea what a PSU must do. Then buy big watt supplies that are missing essential functions. Then suffer motherboard damage directly traceable to their technical ignorance.

Now, your system is intermittent. Why? Only honest answer starts with numbers that you take from six wires inside the machine. Taken without even disconnecting any parts. One minute of labor. Without those numbers, then every reply is only wild speculation. Notice how many said "it could be", "it might be", or "try to ...".

How do they dump inferior supplies in a robust market of computer assemblers? No specifications. Then the fewer who actually know how hardware works can only remain silent. If that supply does not come with a full sheet of numeric specs, then suspect the worst. Inferior supply that the informed cannot expose - due to no specs. Also ignore recommendation without numeric specifications. Junk science is alive and well where people make recommendations devoid of numbers.

To keep technical support lines clear, we tell computer assemblers that they need double the actual watts. Explains why so many computer assemblers buy supplies that are double what a computer needs - ie buy 500 watts.
 
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