possible power or HDD issues

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jul 16, 2009, 12:42 AM

hey guys,

had a recent slight issue. other week I turned off my computer (rare occassion since I was going away) then turned it back on the next day to burn a CD. i found that the computer was struggling to power on as if a car would have a weak starter. I unplug it to clear any interference and plug it in and works again. So it turns off, i turn it off for the weekend. when I come back it doesn't wanna turn on, so I unplug it and do it again. While booting I leave the room and it turns off, so I try it again and same thing when I come back. Finally watched it get into windows after 10 mins it just fully freezes. Then it doesn't happen for a week or so, now my computer just randomly reset.

What could be wrong and how should I start diagnosing it? I tried the WD disk tools on my raptor and passed the basic tests. Under heavy load it is fine also, usually the issue occurs when idle.

Fantasma · Jul 16, 2009, 01:01 AM

It seems to me a PSU problem, I had the same problems. Once, I couldn´t turn on the computer when pressing the button and I had to switch off and turn on pressing reset and power buttons until one day it stopped working, it was the PSU.
The key is when turning the computer on. If you have troubles when turning it on, with a rating of 80-90% it´s the psu. If it were the HDD you couldn´t boot to windows or you would have corrupted data or sectors.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jul 16, 2009, 01:02 AM

hmm is it worth grabbing a multimeter to test it? man small issues after issues!

Fantasma · Jul 16, 2009, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiGBrOwNPimpsta

hmm is it worth grabbing a multimeter to test it? man small issues after issues!

The best thing you could do is borrowing a psu to a friend and test your computer with it. Also, you could use a program like Everest to watch your voltages readings and post them here, sometimes, it can help finding issues sooner.

EZero · Jul 16, 2009, 08:55 AM

The first thing I tell anyone who suspects their PSU has a problem is.... put your hand behind it to see if the fan in the PSU died. If it did, then more than likely the PSU is either overheating or is on it's way out.

But yeah otherwise you'll just have to test with another to see if you still have the same problems.

OldBuzzard · Jul 16, 2009, 04:55 PM

BiGBrOwN, it's almost definately your PSU.

What's happening is that when you power on, those HDDs are drawing more power than your PSU can provide. Electric motors draw a LOT of current when they start up, and then draw less after they are up to speed. Evidently your PSU is aging a bit, and isn't supplying as much current (especially PEAK current) as it did when it was new, which is why this is happening now. That's just a function of component aging, and happens to ALL PSUs.

You have three options here:

First, try putting one or two of your HDDs on different 12v rails.

Second, you could set your HDDs to do 'delayed' or 'staggered' spin up, which would reduce the PEAK current draw at start up so that your PSU could cope with it.

Third is to get a new PSU.

Quite frankly, I'd recommend the third option and go with any Corsair PSU of 620W or more that fits in your budget.

procupine14 · Jul 16, 2009, 10:23 PM

Even though its already been stated I have to agree. I think this is a PSU issue for sure. The easy way to test for that would be to unload some of the non necessary components (storage HDDs etc) and see if it improves your situation. If it does then your PSU is getting old and closer to being put out to pasture.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jul 17, 2009, 01:39 AM

possibly its been over 2 yrs... it could also cause crashes huh? i never got that with any PSU. none of them want to last long is what i hate. i do leave it on most all the time with no standby, but others do with terrible hp's and never have an issue!

and i went to everest's website. heard of it never used it, saw trial software... is that sufficient to test it? will it be able to detect a defective PSU?

Mac Daddy · Jul 17, 2009, 02:13 AM

Then test all connections with a multimeter under load to make sure.

I doubt any software program could detect a PSU problem as the main rails of the system run off the PSU

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Aug 10, 2009, 03:15 AM

well I got the problem solved. As usual, I got lazy. Well I bought a multimeter from radioshack, didnt have a battery so i didnt feel like using it. so i went out and bought a corsair 620w modular PSU. problem solved!

thanks again to all you guys!

Mac Daddy · Aug 11, 2009, 12:37 PM

Glad you got it sorted mate

Jul 16, 2009, 12:42 AM	#1
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	possible power or HDD issues hey guys, had a recent slight issue. other week I turned off my computer (rare occassion since I was going away) then turned it back on the next day to burn a CD. i found that the computer was struggling to power on as if a car would have a weak starter. I unplug it to clear any interference and plug it in and works again. So it turns off, i turn it off for the weekend. when I come back it doesn't wanna turn on, so I unplug it and do it again. While booting I leave the room and it turns off, so I try it again and same thing when I come back. Finally watched it get into windows after 10 mins it just fully freezes. Then it doesn't happen for a week or so, now my computer just randomly reset. What could be wrong and how should I start diagnosing it? I tried the WD disk tools on my raptor and passed the basic tests. Under heavy load it is fine also, usually the issue occurs when idle. __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Jul 16, 2009, 01:01 AM	#2
Fantasma HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lorca (Spain) Posts: 757 Rep Power: 63 System Specs	Re: possible power or HDD issues It seems to me a PSU problem, I had the same problems. Once, I couldn´t turn on the computer when pressing the button and I had to switch off and turn on pressing reset and power buttons until one day it stopped working, it was the PSU. The key is when turning the computer on. If you have troubles when turning it on, with a rating of 80-90% it´s the psu. If it were the HDD you couldn´t boot to windows or you would have corrupted data or sectors.

Jul 16, 2009, 01:02 AM	Thread Starter #3
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	Re: possible power or HDD issues hmm is it worth grabbing a multimeter to test it? man small issues after issues! __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Jul 16, 2009, 08:55 AM	#5
EZero HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 119 Rep Power: 52 System Specs	Re: possible power or HDD issues The first thing I tell anyone who suspects their PSU has a problem is.... put your hand behind it to see if the fan in the PSU died. If it did, then more than likely the PSU is either overheating or is on it's way out. But yeah otherwise you'll just have to test with another to see if you still have the same problems.

Jul 16, 2009, 04:55 PM	#6
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,781 Rep Power: 142 System Specs	Re: possible power or HDD issues BiGBrOwN, it's almost definately your PSU. What's happening is that when you power on, those HDDs are drawing more power than your PSU can provide. Electric motors draw a LOT of current when they start up, and then draw less after they are up to speed. Evidently your PSU is aging a bit, and isn't supplying as much current (especially PEAK current) as it did when it was new, which is why this is happening now. That's just a function of component aging, and happens to ALL PSUs. You have three options here: First, try putting one or two of your HDDs on different 12v rails. Second, you could set your HDDs to do 'delayed' or 'staggered' spin up, which would reduce the PEAK current draw at start up so that your PSU could cope with it. Third is to get a new PSU. Quite frankly, I'd recommend the third option and go with any Corsair PSU of 620W or more that fits in your budget. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Jul 16, 2009, 10:23 PM	#7
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	Re: possible power or HDD issues Even though its already been stated I have to agree. I think this is a PSU issue for sure. The easy way to test for that would be to unload some of the non necessary components (storage HDDs etc) and see if it improves your situation. If it does then your PSU is getting old and closer to being put out to pasture. __________________ HTPC/file server: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom x4 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 800 (2x2GB) - 1TB WD Black - 4 x 1TB Hitachi DeskStar in RAID 5 - ATi TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner - HIS Raedon 4850 512MB - ASRock N68C-S UCC mobo - OCZ ModExtreme Pro 500W PSU GF's Gaming PC: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 1066 - 500GB Western Digital GP - HIS Raedon 5770 1GB - ASUS M3A78-EM - Zalman 650W PSU Media Streamer: Win 7 Pro 64-bit - AMD Athlon x2 3200+ - 4GB SuperTalent DDR2 800 - 250GB SeaGate Barracuda - MSI K9N6PGM2-V2 - ASUS Raedon 5450 SILENT - FSP group 250W PSU

Jul 17, 2009, 01:39 AM	Thread Starter #8
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	Re: possible power or HDD issues possibly its been over 2 yrs... it could also cause crashes huh? i never got that with any PSU. none of them want to last long is what i hate. i do leave it on most all the time with no standby, but others do with terrible hp's and never have an issue! and i went to everest's website. heard of it never used it, saw trial software... is that sufficient to test it? will it be able to detect a defective PSU? __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Jul 17, 2009, 02:13 AM	#9
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: possible power or HDD issues Then test all connections with a multimeter under load to make sure. I doubt any software program could detect a PSU problem as the main rails of the system run off the PSU __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Aug 10, 2009, 03:15 AM	Thread Starter #10
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	Re: possible power or HDD issues well I got the problem solved. As usual, I got lazy. Well I bought a multimeter from radioshack, didnt have a battery so i didnt feel like using it. so i went out and bought a corsair 620w modular PSU. problem solved! thanks again to all you guys! __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Aug 11, 2009, 12:37 PM	#11
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: possible power or HDD issues Glad you got it sorted mate __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen