Is my power supply dead? Or is it something else?

B

BGA

New Member
Last night my computer froze. I rebooted and just as the desktop was loading the PC shut down. It then would not start. I press the power button and nothing happens. If I hold the power button in, sometimes it will begin to start - the case fan, the processor fan, and the GPU fan will start up - but then it shuts off within about 10 seconds.

It seems like the power supply is dead but I'm not sure about that.

What does this sound like to you? Could it be the motherboard? Something else?

The PC is 5 years old.

Thanks for your ideas.


BGA




In case it helps:

AMD Athlon 64 3200+
Chaintech VNF3-250 mobo
Antec True Power 380S power supply
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 256mb
 
5 Years Old!!!

Man, I would just buy a new PC. The one you have is very very very slow and incompatible with todays programs.

But, if you still want to keep it I would start by checking or replacing the power supple. Next, I would check the mobo for shorts.
 
Power supplies are consumable devices. It would be worth replacing the 5-year old one in any case. If you get a decent one, you can use it on a new build if it does turn out that your motherboard is at fault.

Once the PSU is replaced, let us know if you continue to have problems.
 
finsfree said:
5 Years Old!!!

Man, I would just buy a new PC. The one you have is very very very slow and incompatible with todays programs.

But, if you still want to keep it I would start by checking or replacing the power supple. Next, I would check the mobo for shorts.
Click to expand...

That isn't true, it clearly isn't a gaming machine, or atleast not for modern games, so can easily handle all office software, browsing, video watching, music etc. Age does not mean it is a bad system, my system is 2 years old and i have changed nothing but RAM and video card and it can do anything you ask it to, it is old by todays standards but still does everything i need it to.

Now, onto your problem then, It could be the motherboard or the PSU i'd have thought, as you said. Take the side off your case while the power supply is plugged in, is the little LED on?

If it is then it will be more probable that it is your motherboard, but does not rule out the power supply.

if you have a spare PSU stick that in your rig and see if it works, if it does then your PSU is broke, your mobo is ok

Try with a spare motherboard if you have one, if it works then your PSU is ok, your motherboard broke

If you don;t have spares, ask someone who may
 
Sometimes I feel like a broken record. Almost anything inside the case can cause the problem you have experienced. Basic troubleshooting means stripping the system down to the booting essentials - mainboard, processor, memory and power supply. If that boots, then you can add things back one at a time. If it doesn't boot, then you have narrowed it to just a few components.
 
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