I need a new PSU, right?

mookiemookie · 01-02-11, 09:35 AM

I started my computer up this morning. Everything is fine - fans are running, etc. Messed around for 10 minutes or so, and the thing shuts down. I try to restart it, and the fans kick on and about 2 seconds later it shuts down again.

I let it sit for about 10 minutes, start it up, go through the Windows "do you want to start in safe mode" menu, and Windows boots and after about 2 minutes it dies again.

I'm thinking this is a PSU issue rather than a cooling one. First, this happened first thing in the morning after the computer being off all night. I was just browsing the internet and not doing any hardcore gaming or anything like that. Second, everything sounds normal. The case fans and CPU cooler are running just fine. Third - it crashes completely. Windows doesn't shut down, as evidenced by the "Start windows in safe mode?" error screen when I attempt to reboot. Fourth - I just cleaned out the dust in the thing.

Time for a new PSU?

mookiemookie · 01-02-11, 10:16 AM

Well I opened the case up, blew out more dust (I had just done it a week ago) and moved some of the wiring around. It's working fine so far. Maybe it was a cooling issue? I always thought that if stuff overheated, it would do a graceful Windows shutdown.

Let's hope it stays this way. I'd really prefer to not drop $100 on a PSU today

Gerald · 01-02-11, 10:28 AM

Cooling issue,may be likely..

Feuer Frei! · 01-02-11, 10:30 AM

More than likely the PSU, however:
you should do some tests first:

disconnect power to floppy and cr rom drives and maybe also take out your sound and modem cards etc, anything to reduce the power load.
If this solves your problem then either you need a bigger (or better) power supply, or possibly one of the devices/cables you removed/disconnected is faulty (you could easily test for this by swapping parts around).

You could also try unplugging everything (including your motherboard) and plugging it back in in case something is loose (and check for bad, dirty, or bent pins while you're at it).
I'd check your case temperature as well. If your machine is too hot then lots of strange things can start happening.

Symptoms of a dying PSU:
System restarts on its own
Spontaneously goes into standby
Fan does not run, runs slowly, or runs noisily
Computer is heating up
Dim display
Any number of different things. Almost all PSU symptoms are also symptoms of another failure. For instance, a dying PSU can cause lockups or invalid page faults or disconnections from the Internet.

Computer may not power on or may not complete PoST
Drives may not work intermittently
Multiple drives must be replaced repeatedly
Crackling audio
Computer running slowly
Drives intermittently not detected

If it's the PSU (more than likely), get a new one, a PSU on the way out could cause you some major headaches on your system.

Jan Kyster · 01-02-11, 02:33 PM

Cooling issue! 100%!
No bets this time, though...

There should be an entry in your Windows log from the component, that did the controlled system shutdown.

Btw. it's always a good idea to wait at least 10-15 minutes before turning system on again - giving things some time to cool down.

01-02-11, 09:35 AM	#1
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	I need a new PSU, right? I started my computer up this morning. Everything is fine - fans are running, etc. Messed around for 10 minutes or so, and the thing shuts down. I try to restart it, and the fans kick on and about 2 seconds later it shuts down again. I let it sit for about 10 minutes, start it up, go through the Windows "do you want to start in safe mode" menu, and Windows boots and after about 2 minutes it dies again. I'm thinking this is a PSU issue rather than a cooling one. First, this happened first thing in the morning after the computer being off all night. I was just browsing the internet and not doing any hardcore gaming or anything like that. Second, everything sounds normal. The case fans and CPU cooler are running just fine. Third - it crashes completely. Windows doesn't shut down, as evidenced by the "Start windows in safe mode?" error screen when I attempt to reboot. Fourth - I just cleaned out the dust in the thing. Time for a new PSU? __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here. Last edited by mookiemookie; 01-02-11 at 09:47 AM.

01-02-11, 10:16 AM	#2
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	Well I opened the case up, blew out more dust (I had just done it a week ago) and moved some of the wiring around. It's working fine so far. Maybe it was a cooling issue? I always thought that if stuff overheated, it would do a graceful Windows shutdown. Let's hope it stays this way. I'd really prefer to not drop $100 on a PSU today __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

01-02-11, 10:28 AM	#3
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Cooling issue,may be likely.. __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

01-02-11, 10:30 AM	#4
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	More than likely the PSU, however: you should do some tests first: disconnect power to floppy and cr rom drives and maybe also take out your sound and modem cards etc, anything to reduce the power load. If this solves your problem then either you need a bigger (or better) power supply, or possibly one of the devices/cables you removed/disconnected is faulty (you could easily test for this by swapping parts around). You could also try unplugging everything (including your motherboard) and plugging it back in in case something is loose (and check for bad, dirty, or bent pins while you're at it). I'd check your case temperature as well. If your machine is too hot then lots of strange things can start happening. Symptoms of a dying PSU: System restarts on its own Spontaneously goes into standby Fan does not run, runs slowly, or runs noisily Computer is heating up Dim display Any number of different things. Almost all PSU symptoms are also symptoms of another failure. For instance, a dying PSU can cause lockups or invalid page faults or disconnections from the Internet. Computer may not power on or may not complete PoST Drives may not work intermittently Multiple drives must be replaced repeatedly Crackling audio Computer running slowly Drives intermittently not detected If it's the PSU (more than likely), get a new one, a PSU on the way out could cause you some major headaches on your system. __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

01-02-11, 02:33 PM	#5
Jan Kyster Ace of the Deep Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,151 Downloads: 152 Uploads: 0	Cooling issue! 100%! No bets this time, though... There should be an entry in your Windows log from the component, that did the controlled system shutdown. Btw. it's always a good idea to wait at least 10-15 minutes before turning system on again - giving things some time to cool down.