topic Re: Power supplie problems in PCs & Accessories

Power supply problems

faithx — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:49:37 GMT

Can I pick your brains please :smileygrin:

I've had two power supplies fail on my desktop within 6 months. Getting a little pissed off now, so any general reasons that I could investigate would be cool.

Cheers guys

Re: Power supplie problems

rich912 — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:21:25 GMT

Hi Faith,

Overheating comes to mind…

Do you clean the fans and cooling vents on a regular basis? Silly question really :smileygrin:

Re: Power supplie problems

faithx — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:28:13 GMT

Hi Faith,

Overheating comes to mind…

Do you clean the fans and cooling vents on a regular basis? Silly question really :smileygrin:

Thanks for your reply Rich,

I have at this very moment got my desktop in pieces on the floor, and even though I do give it a quick clean out now and again, you wouldn't believe how much crap gets clogged up in it. I've given the fan a good clean and when I start it up, it starts for a couple of seconds, but when it goes to spin up the hard drive the power cuts out.

This happened once before, and I just replaced the power supply and it was fine. Just a little annoyed that they are breaking down on me so often.

Re: Power supplie problems

Thalamus. — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:30:22 GMT

Hi Faith,

Is your PC plugged into a anti-surge device..?

It could possibly be a faulty/damaged circuits on the motherboard..!!

Have you changed or added anything new inside your system..?

Re: Power supplie problems

faithx — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:38:28 GMT

Thanks for your reply Thalamus,

No I haven't got an anti-surge device, I don't have a problem with my laptop, which is on the same plug - not sure if that would mean it's not a problem

I didn't think it was a fault with the motherboard, as last time it happened, on replacing the power supply it was all fine again.

Haven't added anything new to the inside since I last replaced the power supply.

Sorry guys, it's all a bit vague.

Re: Power supplie problems

Thalamus. — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:45:43 GMT

Haven't added anything new to the inside since I last replaced the power supply.

Sorry guys, it's all a bit vague.

Did you add something new before your original PSU failed..?

Did you replace the PSU with a similar or higher Wattage unit..?

Re: Power supplie problems

faithx — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:50:58 GMT

No I'm not that technical lol, nothing new before the original PSU failed, and I replaced with an identical 450w PSU

Re: Power supplie problems

faithx — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:54:16 GMT

Another thing that has just occurred to me is the fact that the desktop is always physically plugged into the mains, so even when the desktop is switch off the mains isn't. So could this affect the life span of the PSU?

Re: Power supplie problems

rich912 — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:57:10 GMT

you wouldn't believe how much crap gets clogged up in it

I would!! And the ciggies have a lot to do with it... :smileygrin:

Re: Power supplie problems

faithx — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:59:57 GMT

you wouldn't believe how much crap gets clogged up in it
 
I would!! And the ciggies have a lot to do with it... :smileygrin:

hahahaha, not me matey, would never smoke in the house

Oh hang on are you talking about my desktop or my lungs :smileyd_oh:

Re: Power supplie problems

Blencogo — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:06:43 GMT

Hi Faith,

Do you have one of those houses where light bulbs don't seem to last long? Do other pieces of electrical equipment regularly go wrong?

Could be an unstable mains voltage supply and Thalamus's suggestion of a bit of surge protection (no comments from those of you with dirty minds please) may be good.

The other likely reasons have already come up - overheating or too low a supply for your PC.

Re: Power supplie problems

rich912 — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:08:40 GMT

Oh hang on are you talking about my desktop or my lungs

Hahahaha either but lungs probably:smileygrin:

Re: Power supplie problems

faithx — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:18:05 GMT

Hi Faith,

Do you have one of those houses where light bulbs don't seem to last long?  Do other pieces of electrical equipment regularly go wrong?

Could be an unstable mains voltage supply and Thalamus's suggestion of a bit of surge protection (no comments from those of you with dirty minds please) may be good.

The other likely reasons have already come up - overheating or too low a supply for your PC.

Hiya Blencogo, thanks for replying,

No I wouldn't say I have a problem with any other electrical equipment regularly, however now you have all got me thinking. My microwave packed up about a week ago, but I put that down to how ancient it was (18 years old!) And my bathroom bulb blow a couple of days ago :smileyhypnotized:

I always keep myself protected against unwanted surges But back to computers

Well I will go and buy another PSU tomorrow and see if I can get it working again, so how much would one of these surge devices cost?

Re: Power supplie problems

faithx — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:24:18 GMT

Well I will go and buy another PSU tomorrow and see if I can get it working again, so how much would one of these surge devices cost?

Sorry, I'll stop being lazy now, I've searched and they are not that expensive - cheers guys

Re: Power supplie problems

kee-lo_ — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:58:06 GMT

Faith

I suggest getting some new fans for her too, as they cost £3 they're not going to kill you to replace.

Re: Power supplie problems

Chewie2000 — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:13:21 GMT

I'd seriously think about getting something over 450W... this ain't that much and will not give enough power if you a graphics card of any note (these are the main power hogs)... I would get something more substancial (will future proof you as well)... go for something by OCZ or Thermaltake 600W... should do the trick

Re: Power supplie problems

faithx — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:03:02 GMT

Thanks for your replies Kee and Chewie

My fans are gleaming at the moment Kee, but will keep it in mind

Chewie, that's very interesting, I went to my usual supplier today and they didn't have any 450w in stock so I got a 500w instead, took Thalamus's advice and got a surge protection extension lead aswell. So I'm up and running again

Next I need to think about getting a new monitor as I've been looking at a green one for months, as one of the guns has gone :smileyrolling_eyes:

Re: Power supplie problems

Thalamus. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:13:27 GMT

Glad you're up and running again, lets hope this PSU lasts..

Re: Power supplie problems

kee-lo_ — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:36:27 GMT

Faith do you go to savastore by any chance?

Re: Power supplie problems

faithx — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:14:39 GMT

Faith do you go to savastore by any chance?

No, I use RL Supplies in Watford