Hi! I know next to nil about power supplies. I have a computer that xp stops the install after it says it's checking my hardware. I've tried 3 different disks with the same result. All my hardware checks out---I've run extensive tests. The only thing I haven't checked is the power supply. It's an Okia 500 watts. Somebody on a forum said I should get a new power supply. Now, I'm not a gamer---I just use the video card for simulcasts and viewing pics and small movies, but I am using a pcie card. What is a good power supply for $50 or less? Ir doesn't have to be this year's model---I'm sure I could find a $60 to $80 previous year's model on ebay. Also, what are good brands to look at, and avoid, if I decide to spend a little more. Any and all responses will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
What's a Good Power Supply
- Thread starter Blakes7
- Start date
funkysnair
VIP Member
its not all about the wattage mind, its the amps on the rails!
i couldnt say for sure that the problem is your psu!
however good psus and cheap
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031
Russian777
New Member
what is your budget,and what are you wanting to power with it?
funkysnair
VIP Member
you do not need an extreme psu for those componants, a decent 500watt will do!
Well Okia is not the best supply in the world. Just because it stops after it check hardware doesnt mean it the power supply. Even though everybody above seems to what you to buy one
.What exactly is it doing when it stops, goes to a blank screen/ just keeps checking hardwire/freezes/shuts down?
Thanks for the responses. After I boot from the dvd-rom, it's a cd-rom install disk, It says it's checking the hardware, and then it freezes. I've tried 2 xp disks I have, and I borrowed another, and all 3 do the same thing. I redid the computer about 4 or 5 months ago with the first disk with no problem. I've run tests on everything with microscope, and also used memtest86 and western digital's diagnostics, and everything passed. So I'm grasping at straws to figure this out. Thanks,
It could be the DVD drive. Why were you trying to reinstall in the first place, was it acting up to start with? Have you tried with only one stick of memory in it?
If you really think its the power supply, see if a friend will let you borrow one just to check it. 95% of the time if its the Power Supply it will either flat out shut down or restart.
If you really think its the power supply, see if a friend will let you borrow one just to check it. 95% of the time if its the Power Supply it will either flat out shut down or restart.
Thanks for the responses. I've tried another cd drive, and also I borrowed 2 other xp install disks and tried them---with the same results. I don't have any problems running the computer, so I really don't think it's the power supply. It doesn't make any sense to me. I may have remembered something that maybe(?) is the cause of the problem. I had Mandriva linux on this before, dual booting, and removed it according to a Mandriva site. I still had the grub loader. I used supergrub to change the boot back to xp's boot loader---at least I think that did it. Could that be the problem---that grub is just "masked" and not really removed, and the xp install is reading this, so it won't install?
bomberboysk
Active Member
That sigma power supply was a piece of crap fyi...
Sounds like it could be, have you tried doing removing the master boot record?
bomberboysk
Active Member
Yeah, and a pontiac fiero with a 4cyc "looks" sporty, but still is a 3500lb car with a low power 4cylinder engine.
Problem solved! I had uninstalled Mandriva, removed GRUB with Suoergrub, BUT i didn't delete the linux partitions. DOH! It seems windows installer freaks out if it encounters a linux partition---can't handle a competing os I guess. I went into computer management and deleted the linux partitions, rebooted and---VIOLA, the install went seamlessly. Thanks for all the responses.