Dell 8400 PSU problem

bsommer109 · 04-18-2007, 06:32 AM

I have had a Dell 8400 for about 2 1/2 years. I bought it directly from dell new, and it has had very little problems the past couple years.
The specs are:
3.4 ghz p4
1gb ddr2 ram
250 gb hd
geforce 6800 256mb pcie
sb audigy 2ZS
____________________

today, i attempt to boot my computer up, and when i press the power button, it does not boot up, and flashes yellow. The power light flashes a yellow LED light over and over and will not boot up. After 2 days...i attempt to turn on my computer again, i replug everything in. Now it works again... I am beginning to think this is a power supply problem. Before, when i left thigns on overnight...i would come back the next morning and the same yellow light was blinking and the computer was shut down. Do i need a new psu?

I am assuming this is a hardware problem.
My quetsions are as follows:
what is wrong?
what needs to be replaced/removed?
how much are these repairs going to cost?
would it be in my best interest to let dell replace the bad parts, or should i buy them off newegg.

Thank you,
bsommer

**speedster123** · 04-19-2007, 05:38 AM

Have you cleaned out the case at all?
Dis-able sleep/hybernation in power options in the control panel.

NewEgg and self service would be alot cheaper than a dell repair for a power supply. Read the info and calculator in my sig.

**TheMatt** · 04-19-2007, 04:10 PM

Hi,

If you can try another quality PSU in the case, that will rule out a PSU problem. Also, clean out the case as Speedster suggested with a can of compressed air.

In addition, when you can get into Windows, post the temps and voltages from SpeedFan from my sig. These will rule out a possible PSU problem.

**Terrister** · 04-19-2007, 05:24 PM

I had a bunch of Dell power supplies go out at work. The yellow power button is a signal that the power supply is not working correctly.

In some cases, this can be a motherboard problem, but the power supply swap fixed all mine.

**PanamaGal** · 04-19-2007, 05:25 PM

You know, even if it isn't the power supply, your system would be that much the better off with a better power supply than the ones Dell uses. Your problem is likely either power supply or motherboard related.

04-18-2007, 06:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
bsommer109 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7 OS: Windows XP	Dell 8400 PSU problem I have had a Dell 8400 for about 2 1/2 years. I bought it directly from dell new, and it has had very little problems the past couple years. The specs are: 3.4 ghz p4 1gb ddr2 ram 250 gb hd geforce 6800 256mb pcie sb audigy 2ZS ____________________ today, i attempt to boot my computer up, and when i press the power button, it does not boot up, and flashes yellow. The power light flashes a yellow LED light over and over and will not boot up. After 2 days...i attempt to turn on my computer again, i replug everything in. Now it works again... I am beginning to think this is a power supply problem. Before, when i left thigns on overnight...i would come back the next morning and the same yellow light was blinking and the computer was shut down. Do i need a new psu? I am assuming this is a hardware problem. My quetsions are as follows: what is wrong? what needs to be replaced/removed? how much are these repairs going to cost? would it be in my best interest to let dell replace the bad parts, or should i buy them off newegg. Thank you, bsommer

04-19-2007, 05:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York Posts: 3,866 OS: xp pro My System	Re: Dell 8400 PSU problem Have you cleaned out the case at all? Dis-able sleep/hybernation in power options in the control panel. NewEgg and self service would be alot cheaper than a dell repair for a power supply. Read the info and calculator in my sig. __________________ Infection Detection and Removal Thermal Grease Instructions Bench Test

04-19-2007, 04:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
TheMatt Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,693 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Dell 8400 PSU problem Hi, If you can try another quality PSU in the case, that will rule out a PSU problem. Also, clean out the case as Speedster suggested with a can of compressed air. In addition, when you can get into Windows, post the temps and voltages from SpeedFan from my sig. These will rule out a possible PSU problem. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

04-19-2007, 05:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 6,898 OS: Xp	Re: Dell 8400 PSU problem I had a bunch of Dell power supplies go out at work. The yellow power button is a signal that the power supply is not working correctly. In some cases, this can be a motherboard problem, but the power supply swap fixed all mine. __________________

04-19-2007, 05:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
PanamaGal Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Panama Posts: 1,240 OS: WinXP Pro SP2; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista Ultimate; Vista Business	Re: Dell 8400 PSU problem You know, even if it isn't the power supply, your system would be that much the better off with a better power supply than the ones Dell uses. Your problem is likely either power supply or motherboard related. __________________ It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.