System freezes with black screen. Please help.

cadlewv · 03-25-2006, 09:59 AM

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Hello all. I've been having an ongoing problem, which has seemed to get worse lately.

First, I know I built a computer with some less quality parts (mobo, psu, etc...see specs below). But I'm willing to right my wrongs with your advice.

What keeps happening is that my screen will go black, yet the system will stay on. But, when it goes black, all processing stops. Even if in the middle of a print job, the printing will stop. Happens sometimes about 3-7 times a day.

The tests I've run on it so far and their results follow:

-Memtest: no errors after 5 passes
-Powermax: no errors after quick test, longer test and full disk read (both hard drives tested)
-I've swapped out my ATI Radeon video card with an MSI, generic for GeForce4 MX (same specs, except 8x APG, still 64DDR): no change, with exception that it's only done it once since swapping out the video card. It had done it about 6-8 times the day before swapping out the video card).

I hope I've provided enough information so that you will be able to help me.

Thank you for your forum, and your time.
__________________
Windows XP Pro
Mobo Soltek SL-KT600-CL/KT600-C1L
AMD Sempron 2500+ (1.75GHz)
512 DDR 2700
ATI Radeon 7500 64MB DDR AGP 4x
Creative PCI Audio
2 Maxtors (60GB and 200GB) 7200rpm
Sony DVD +/- RW
Kypermedia CDRW
Deer DR-A300ATX Power Supply (problem?)

dai · 03-25-2006, 11:16 AM

you need a psu that puts out a min of 18a on the 12v live,more is even better

**Doby** · 03-25-2006, 08:06 PM

Yep agreed, a 300w psu ain't gunna cut it so start with a quality psu like a Antec.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103928

That is the minimue you may even want to go a little higher on the watts but try and stay with the true series from Antec, the smart series is ok but stay away from NeoHE it has bad reviews.

Rick

cadlewv · 03-26-2006, 07:00 PM

Thanks. Would this one be acceptable? This one has a 20-pin connector like mine, plus active PFC, which that Antec doesn't. I heard that power supply units without active or passive PFC aren't even recommended anymore. Thoughts?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103928

That is the minimue you may even want to go a little higher on the watts but try and stay with the true series from Antec, the smart series is ok but stay away from NeoHE it has bad reviews.

Rick[/quote]

cadlewv · 03-31-2006, 04:31 PM

Ok. I received the PSU and have it installed. Everything seemed to be perfect (and I love the extra long wires). But it just did the same thing again. Black screen, I can hear the fans still running after the black screen, but the processing stops, I can't do anything but turn it off via the power button. Also, it doesn't make me hold in the power button for 5-6 seconds either. It shuts off right away, kind of like when booted in dos.

Again, this problem has happened using two different comparable video cards.

Any more suggestions?

dai · 03-31-2006, 05:28 PM

what psu did you get the site is down so the link is no good
for the power button set it to soft off in the bios
have you conected the extra power lead to the m/b

cadlewv · 03-31-2006, 06:42 PM

hello. i got a fsp (fortron source) 350w psu. i'm not sure what you mean by connecting the 'extra lead' to the mobo. would it have anything to do with my computer freezing to a black screen?

dai · 03-31-2006, 06:52 PM

i do not have your manual so i cannot look it up,if your m/b requires the extra power lead to the m/b and you have not connected it,it will cause the problem
it is a 4 pin square plug but i never work with amd so i don't know if it requires it
why did you buy a 350w psu unit,you should have gone for a quality 550w
it only puts out 16a on the 12v line
see if you can change it for a larger one

cadlewv · 03-31-2006, 06:58 PM

because i was told that FSP was a quality brand, and that for what i have in my system, 350W would be sufficient. and also, that wattage isn't the only important thing in a psu, the amperage on each of the 3.3, 5 and 12v rails were equally important. my system just doesn't require a 550w psu.

i'll look for that extra connector though.

dai · 03-31-2006, 07:02 PM

the amps are important,that is why i said in my first post look for a min of 18a on the 12v line
getting a 550 now future proofs you and are worth the few extra dollars

03-25-2006, 09:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
cadlewv Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13 OS: XP Pro	System freezes with black screen. Please help. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello all. I've been having an ongoing problem, which has seemed to get worse lately. First, I know I built a computer with some less quality parts (mobo, psu, etc...see specs below). But I'm willing to right my wrongs with your advice. What keeps happening is that my screen will go black, yet the system will stay on. But, when it goes black, all processing stops. Even if in the middle of a print job, the printing will stop. Happens sometimes about 3-7 times a day. The tests I've run on it so far and their results follow: -Memtest: no errors after 5 passes -Powermax: no errors after quick test, longer test and full disk read (both hard drives tested) -I've swapped out my ATI Radeon video card with an MSI, generic for GeForce4 MX (same specs, except 8x APG, still 64DDR): no change, with exception that it's only done it once since swapping out the video card. It had done it about 6-8 times the day before swapping out the video card). I hope I've provided enough information so that you will be able to help me. Thank you for your forum, and your time. __________________ Windows XP Pro Mobo Soltek SL-KT600-CL/KT600-C1L AMD Sempron 2500+ (1.75GHz) 512 DDR 2700 ATI Radeon 7500 64MB DDR AGP 4x Creative PCI Audio 2 Maxtors (60GB and 200GB) 7200rpm Sony DVD +/- RW Kypermedia CDRW Deer DR-A300ATX Power Supply (problem?)

03-25-2006, 11:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,714 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	you need a psu that puts out a min of 18a on the 12v live,more is even better __________________

03-25-2006, 08:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Doby Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central PA (USA) Posts: 8,094 OS: XP sp2/ Vista My System	Yep agreed, a 300w psu ain't gunna cut it so start with a quality psu like a Antec. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103928 That is the minimue you may even want to go a little higher on the watts but try and stay with the true series from Antec, the smart series is ok but stay away from NeoHE it has bad reviews. Rick __________________ Would you like to help TSF fight cancer and other diseases??? JOIN TEAM TSF

03-31-2006, 05:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,714 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	what psu did you get the site is down so the link is no good for the power button set it to soft off in the bios have you conected the extra power lead to the m/b __________________

03-31-2006, 06:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,714 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	i do not have your manual so i cannot look it up,if your m/b requires the extra power lead to the m/b and you have not connected it,it will cause the problem it is a 4 pin square plug but i never work with amd so i don't know if it requires it why did you buy a 350w psu unit,you should have gone for a quality 550w it only puts out 16a on the 12v line see if you can change it for a larger one __________________ Last edited by dai; 03-31-2006 at 06:58 PM.

03-26-2006, 07:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
cadlewv Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13 OS: XP Pro	Thanks. Would this one be acceptable? This one has a 20-pin connector like mine, plus active PFC, which that Antec doesn't. I heard that power supply units without active or passive PFC aren't even recommended anymore. Thoughts? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103928 That is the minimue you may even want to go a little higher on the watts but try and stay with the true series from Antec, the smart series is ok but stay away from NeoHE it has bad reviews. Rick[/quote]

03-31-2006, 04:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
cadlewv Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13 OS: XP Pro	Ok. I received the PSU and have it installed. Everything seemed to be perfect (and I love the extra long wires). But it just did the same thing again. Black screen, I can hear the fans still running after the black screen, but the processing stops, I can't do anything but turn it off via the power button. Also, it doesn't make me hold in the power button for 5-6 seconds either. It shuts off right away, kind of like when booted in dos. Again, this problem has happened using two different comparable video cards. Any more suggestions?

03-31-2006, 06:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
cadlewv Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13 OS: XP Pro	hello. i got a fsp (fortron source) 350w psu. i'm not sure what you mean by connecting the 'extra lead' to the mobo. would it have anything to do with my computer freezing to a black screen?

03-31-2006, 06:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
cadlewv Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13 OS: XP Pro	because i was told that FSP was a quality brand, and that for what i have in my system, 350W would be sufficient. and also, that wattage isn't the only important thing in a psu, the amperage on each of the 3.3, 5 and 12v rails were equally important. my system just doesn't require a 550w psu. i'll look for that extra connector though.

03-31-2006, 07:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,714 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	the amps are important,that is why i said in my first post look for a min of 18a on the 12v line getting a 550 now future proofs you and are worth the few extra dollars __________________