PSU On Its Way Out? Need To Spec A New One

DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">I am out to lunch on power supplies</div>I've decided the PSU may be causing the problems described <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?s=5032697563784867840&showtopic=101071" target="_blank">here</a>, so I'm ready to order one. Problem is I am totally clueless as to what specs are important, outside of the wattage (I need 425 to 450).

Are any brands more reliable than others? Do I want one with 1/2/3 fans? Are most of them fairly universal in connecting? What else do I need to know?

Thanks in advance.

Looks like what I have now is a 420ATX.
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Comments

  • the_x5the_x5 the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
    There are many good brands... I'm using an Antec right now, but there are several good other ones too. Wattage and the necessary connections are the primary concerns.

    PS: You seem to be having a lot of computer problems in this past month or so Depot. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Yes I have x5. After they replaced the mobo and stress-tested the hdd for 72 hours we've about run out of options. I found this when I Googled PSU problems,

    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Rebooting Problems</b>
    One main problem you may face with an ailing power supply is that it may reboot the computer without any warning. All information is lost and it seems as though this happens at the worst possible time.

    Booting errors when the computer first starts up may be another indicator of this component going on the blink.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Both the above symptoms exist, even on a fresh install of Windows, so that tells me it's a hardware issue, right?
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    I have that problem Depot although I don't believe it's the PSU as my 500W was fresh on 5months ago. However I do have two different brands of DDR memory in the machine and I put a new HD in last month. So I'm guessing it's the conflicting DDR memory in my case. If that's any help to you.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Thaldy, ever check the event logs to see what errors you're getting under the System tab?

    I've got two brand new 1gb ram sticks in here (hell, needed to upgrade anyways)... didn't help.

    I just don't get all these specs, like PFC and SLI etc. Heck, I don't know if I can figure out the pin connectors.
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1630606:date=Jun 1 2007, 09:02 PM:name=Depot)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Depot @ Jun 1 2007, 09:02 PM) [snapback]1630606[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Thaldy, ever check the event logs to see what errors you're getting under the System tab?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I'm pretty newb to all this new tech, how'd I do that?
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    On WinXP left click on start, Help and Support, type "event" in the search box, under Pick a Task select any that say "event" in them. Then on the right side select "Event Viewer. Once the box pops up double click on System, and see if any errors are there.

    There may be an easier way to get to th eevent viewer - I just dont know it.


    Btw, I am thinking seriously about getting this <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341001" target="_blank"> OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply </a>
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  • WarriorWarrior Join Date: 2003-02-16 Member: 13624Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1630637:date=Jun 1 2007, 05:26 PM:name=Depot)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Depot @ Jun 1 2007, 05:26 PM) [snapback]1630637[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    On WinXP left click on start, Help and Support, type "event" in the search box, under Pick a Task select any that say "event" in them. Then on the right side select "Event Viewer. Once the box pops up double click on System, and see if any errors are there.

    There may be an easier way to get to th eevent viewer - I just dont know it.
    Btw, I am thinking seriously about getting this <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341001" target="_blank"> OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply </a>
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Thats a great PSU. Im using it right now actually. Powers my overclocked C2D, overclocked 1900xtx with no problem. Droop is minimal and rails provide correct volts and amps.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    That's great to know Warrior, thanks.
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  • WarriorWarrior Join Date: 2003-02-16 Member: 13624Members
    edited June 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=1630653:date=Jun 1 2007, 07:05 PM:name=Depot)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Depot @ Jun 1 2007, 07:05 PM) [snapback]1630653[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    That's great to know Warrior, thanks.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    No problem.

    Heres another one I recommend.

    <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817139001</a>

    While I don't own one, I know somebody that does and hasn't had a problem with it. Its a little more expensive and offers less power but Corsair makes excellent products and I think they have some of the best customer service. Plus theres a 5 yr warranty.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    The Corsair got some good reviews too.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    I just defragmented then checked the event viewer, and saw hundreds of errors ID 11,

    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Details
    Product: Windows Operating System
    ID: 11
    Source: Disk
    Version: 5.2
    Symbolic Name: IO_ERR_CONTROLLER_ERROR
    Message: The driver detected a controller error on %1.

    Explanation
    This problem is typically caused by a failing cable that connects the drive to the computer.


    User Action
    Replace the cable.



    Version: 5.0
    Symbolic Name: IO_ERR_CONTROLLER_ERROR
    Message: The driver detected a controller error on %1.

    Explanation
    This problem is typically caused by a failing cable that connects the drive to the computer.


    User Action
    Replace the cable.



    Version: 5.2.3790.1830
    Message: Disk - The driver has detected a controller or cable error.

    Explanation
    This event indicates that I/O failures have occurred on the volume.

    Cause
    Possible causes include:

    A hardware failure that prevents communication with a disk (for example, a loose cable, a loose disk controller card, or a cable failure).


    User Action
    Do one or more of the following:

    Check the status of your hardware for any failures (for example, a disk, controller card, or cable failure).
    Check Event Viewer for additional events from lower-level storage drivers that might indicate the cause of the failure.
    Restart the computer.
    Contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    This is the same error I see at restart (only two of them). I'm wondering,<b> does a defrag use THAT much power</b>, where a borderline bad PSU would cause these errors?

    Btw, if you're not familiar with the history here, new mobo - new cable/s, hdd stress-tested, new RAM sticks.
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    Thanks Depot but it's not too much help. The only 2 errors I ever get are for:

    Service Control Manager - I know this is linked to Zone Alarm occasionally screwing up.

    W32Time - "The time provider NtpClient is configured to acquire time from one or more time sources, however none of the sources are currently accessible. No attempt to contact a source will be made for 14 minutes. NtpClient has no source of accurate time."
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Yeah, those are relatively insignificant unless you get them enmass. If I were you I'd get identical RAM sticks, or even swap them around.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Yeah, those are relatively insignificant unless you get them enmass. If I were you I'd get identical RAM sticks, or even swap them around.
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