PC shuts down

andreasZA · 09-15-2008, 08:08 AM

Hi

http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/ram-power-supply-support/291170-fluctuating-power-supply.html

I've got a very similar problem to the guy above with my PC at the moment. It use to reboot very intermittently, usually when gaming for long and when the weather/PC got hot. Now it shuts down often and not neccesarily when under strain (gaming).

Specs:
A8N32-SLI Deluxe
AMD X2 3800+ with stock cooler
(Gigabyte?) 550W PSU (replaced 500W Antec)
Antec Case
ATI HD3850 (replaced 7900GT) with Zalman VF700 cooler
2 x 1GB RAM (Samsung DDR400 i think...)
250GB & 180GB Seagate HDD

All my temps are fine, and I've already replaced my graphics card (was giving artifacts anyway) and PSU. I haven't checked the voltages, and will do this friday when I have access to it again. I've tested it without the sound card, with only one of my RAM sticks at a time and in different slots, a different PCI-E slot for the graphics card, and with minimal stuff plugged in at the back, all to no avail. Strangely it didn't switch off for a day or two after I did some general stuff like freeing some HDD space, defragging, etc...

Ideas? Probably the motherboard?

andreasZA · 09-15-2008, 01:57 PM

I see now my PSU only has a max output of 18A on the 12V rails... would this cause it?

**speedster123** · 09-16-2008, 07:45 AM

you need a supply putting out 26 amps on the rail.

Tumbleweed36 · 09-16-2008, 09:26 AM

You do need a more powerful power supply for this rig with a bare minimum of 26 amps on the +12 rail as suggested by speedster123. I think if you are not going to upgrade in the near future that a 550 watt power supply should be fine. I also suggest one of the following units:

Seasonic – Any Model
Corsair – Any Model
PC Power & Cooling – Any Model
Thermaltake – “Toughpower” Series Only
Coolermaster – “Real Power Pro” Series Only
Silverstone – Any Model

andreasZA · 09-16-2008, 12:26 PM

http://www.pcpower.com/products/desc...er_500_EPS12V/
This looks like great value for money. Approved?

Will come back if it still crashes after I get it. Didn't know about the Amps rating and stuff on the PSU before this...

Tumbleweed36 · 09-16-2008, 12:35 PM

Although I would like to see you get a slightly larger supply, the one you have listed is top-of-the-line. Simply put, one of the great power supplies out there.

andreasZA · 09-16-2008, 03:49 PM

Alright, thanks man. If I can't return the crappy one I just bought I could always stick it on the top and run my PC from both ;D

If it doesn't stop it shutting down though...

Tumbleweed36 · 09-16-2008, 06:30 PM

Post back and hope that 500 can pull it. Good luck!

andreasZA · 09-20-2008, 09:52 AM

It seems I was mistaken about the 18A on the 12V rail. There's a lot of misleading info on the internet about multiple rails and just power supplies in general. The "Gigabyte Superd 550" I bought, which is actually a 450W, has two 12V rails giving 18A each and 360W total. That gives 30A (360W/12V) in total for the 12V rail(s), even if only one of them is plugged in. Is this right?

There are acticles that insist that the amps aren't shared over more than one 12V rail, and since multiple rails only give 20A maximum each, 80% of PSUs should then not be able to run any gaming PC... Which just seems like bullsh!t.

andreasZA · 09-20-2008, 12:34 PM

rails != cables

that would explain a lot

09-15-2008, 08:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
andreasZA Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP SP2	PC shuts down Hi http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/ram-power-supply-support/291170-fluctuating-power-supply.html I've got a very similar problem to the guy above with my PC at the moment. It use to reboot very intermittently, usually when gaming for long and when the weather/PC got hot. Now it shuts down often and not neccesarily when under strain (gaming). Specs: A8N32-SLI Deluxe AMD X2 3800+ with stock cooler (Gigabyte?) 550W PSU (replaced 500W Antec) Antec Case ATI HD3850 (replaced 7900GT) with Zalman VF700 cooler 2 x 1GB RAM (Samsung DDR400 i think...) 250GB & 180GB Seagate HDD All my temps are fine, and I've already replaced my graphics card (was giving artifacts anyway) and PSU. I haven't checked the voltages, and will do this friday when I have access to it again. I've tested it without the sound card, with only one of my RAM sticks at a time and in different slots, a different PCI-E slot for the graphics card, and with minimal stuff plugged in at the back, all to no avail. Strangely it didn't switch off for a day or two after I did some general stuff like freeing some HDD space, defragging, etc... Ideas? Probably the motherboard? Last edited by andreasZA; 09-15-2008 at 08:12 AM.

09-15-2008, 01:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
andreasZA Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: PC shuts down I see now my PSU only has a max output of 18A on the 12V rails... would this cause it?

09-16-2008, 07:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,216 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: PC shuts down you need a supply putting out 26 amps on the rail. __________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

09-16-2008, 09:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,642 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC shuts down You do need a more powerful power supply for this rig with a bare minimum of 26 amps on the +12 rail as suggested by speedster123. I think if you are not going to upgrade in the near future that a 550 watt power supply should be fine. I also suggest one of the following units: Seasonic – Any Model Corsair – Any Model PC Power & Cooling – Any Model Thermaltake – “Toughpower” Series Only Coolermaster – “Real Power Pro” Series Only Silverstone – Any Model __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

09-16-2008, 12:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
andreasZA Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: PC shuts down http://www.pcpower.com/products/desc...er_500_EPS12V/ This looks like great value for money. Approved? Will come back if it still crashes after I get it. Didn't know about the Amps rating and stuff on the PSU before this...

09-16-2008, 12:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,642 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC shuts down Although I would like to see you get a slightly larger supply, the one you have listed is top-of-the-line. Simply put, one of the great power supplies out there. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

09-16-2008, 03:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
andreasZA Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: PC shuts down Alright, thanks man. If I can't return the crappy one I just bought I could always stick it on the top and run my PC from both ;D If it doesn't stop it shutting down though...

09-16-2008, 06:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,642 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC shuts down Post back and hope that 500 can pull it. Good luck! __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

09-20-2008, 09:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
andreasZA Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: PC shuts down It seems I was mistaken about the 18A on the 12V rail. There's a lot of misleading info on the internet about multiple rails and just power supplies in general. The "Gigabyte Superd 550" I bought, which is actually a 450W, has two 12V rails giving 18A each and 360W total. That gives 30A (360W/12V) in total for the 12V rail(s), even if only one of them is plugged in. Is this right? There are acticles that insist that the amps aren't shared over more than one 12V rail, and since multiple rails only give 20A maximum each, 80% of PSUs should then not be able to run any gaming PC... Which just seems like bullsh!t.

09-20-2008, 12:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
andreasZA Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: PC shuts down rails != cables that would explain a lot