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View Full Version : New guy here, asking dumb question

opathoris
03-01-2007, 12:34 AM
I dont have a volt meter to test with, but i can describe the behavior I'm seeing. Hopefully someone can confirm that it's just a dying PSU and not the motherboard.

The system was working for about 18 months with no problem.
Case: Antec Sonata II with Antec Smartpower 450
Mobo: Chaintech VNF-4 Ultra
Proc: AMD 4600+
RAM: 2GB Crucial TwinX
Hard disks: Raid 0/ 2 Maxtor 300GB drives
Video: ATI Radeon X1950XTX
DVD-RW(1): Plextor 716SA
DVD-RW(2): Samsung DVD-RW

Over the course of the life of the machine I've upgraded the video from a 7800GT to the ATI X1950XTX, and the Proc from a 3500+ to the 4600 with no issues.

So the other night, I decide I'm going to upgrade to a faster DVD burner - So i buy a Pioneer DVD-1810, swap out the samsung, pop in the Pioneer, check the connections, everything looks good. I power it on, it POSTs and then i run downstairs to grab some food. I come back 2 minutes later and the computer is off.

So I try the power button and nothing happens. I notice the green power light by the button is lit on the Sonata.

I click the power switch button on the back of the PSU and wait for the power light to go out. Flip the switch, and try booting again. Computer boots, gets all the way to Windows runs for a minute and just completely powers off. I then disconnect the power, detach the pioneer and reboot. System runs for a bit then shuts down again.:wall:

I rechecked all the connections just to make sure there were no loose cables or anything. I have to completely kill the power to get it to boot again, and when it does boot it will shut itself off at any point from before POST, all the way into Windows. Windows is not recording anything in the event logs so it's definitely hardware.

I just tried booting it again tonight, and the fans spin and then it shuts down.

Sorry for the long winded new post, but has anyone seen this before?
Also, given my hardware configuration, what's the best PSU to go with? If this IS a bad PSU, it will be like the 4th Antec that's died on me over the last 5-6 years.
Hutch
03-01-2007, 12:42 AM
Chances are it's your PSU... Antec's love to die... Especially when you're pushing it to the max for months on end. You're specs are wayyy too much for that psu to handle and I'm suprised you didn't run into problems earlier.
davidhammock200
03-01-2007, 01:23 AM
Chances are it's your PSU... Antec's love to die... Especially when you're pushing it to the max for months on end. You're specs are wayyy too much for that psu to handle and I'm suprised you didn't run into problems earlier.Agreed. :(
burebista
03-01-2007, 01:45 AM
A good brand 450W PSU is plenty for your setup. Unfortunately CWT based Antec are prone to die because their caps combined with poor ventilation.
Hutch
03-01-2007, 03:47 AM
A good brand 450W PSU is plenty for your setup. Unfortunately CWT based Antec are prone to die because their caps combined with poor ventilation.


Not with a 1950XTX... nearly uses as much juice as an 8800
CAD4466HK
03-01-2007, 04:03 AM
Not with a 1950XTX... nearly uses as much juice as an 8800

You better get your flame suit out ;)
burebista
03-01-2007, 04:04 AM
~10A (http://www.xbitlabs.com/misc/picture/?src=/images/video/ati-x1950xtx/x1950_power_full.gif&1=1) from 12V at stock speeds. Not so scary though...
jonnyGURU
03-01-2007, 07:18 AM
Not with a 1950XTX... nearly uses as much juice as an 8800

It's just one. Not two.

Needs a GOOD 450W. Not some crappy little Coolmax or FSP.

I would go with something in the 5xx neighborhood to be certain.
opathoris
03-04-2007, 09:43 PM
I'd like to thank everyone for the replies, and especially Jonny for the in-depth and straight forward reviews. I went with the Silverstone 650 and cant wait for it to get here.

I cant blame the Antec in all good conscience. It put up a good fight. The Pioneer DVD drive just pushed it over the edge. :)
apvm
04-14-2007, 10:22 PM
It's just one. Not two.

Needs a GOOD 450W. Not some crappy little Coolmax or FSP.

I would go with something in the 5xx neighborhood to be certain.

How about the Enhance ENP-5150GH 500W, I have similiar set up..thank you.
ianm2
04-15-2007, 03:31 AM
it may be something to do with the dvd, I had a bit of a catastophe when I took mine out and put them back in, the whole thing refused to boot and took me an hour to sort out. I really thought it had had it.

In the end, it was my creative sound card, which never worked properly. I am having to go core 2 to get this to work, amongst other reasons.

for some reason, it was fine until I put the drives back in, I removed the sound card, and all was ok again. so a bit more plugging and unplugging, try removing the pioneer, making all connections, inc. all mobo ones, too. ie effectively everthing, a full 'rebuild'.

just noticed you've already gone for a psu, ah well, let us know how it goes....
jonnyGURU
04-15-2007, 06:45 AM
How about the Enhance ENP-5150GH 500W, I have similiar set up..thank you.

I would think that would work.
apvm
04-20-2007, 02:42 PM
I would think that would work.

Thanks for your kinda approval, the Enhance arrived today and it is better built than I thought it would be. cool and quiet and with lots of connections, PCIE etc, only thing is instead of the usual square P4 four pin motherboard power connecter, it came with 8 pin which can be split to two 4 pin, I think it may be for some newer motherboard.

Anyway this PSU is much better than I thought it would be.....Thank you very much Jonny. Much appreciated and thanks again for all the info on the stickys.