Severe issue

kefkarz · 05-03-2006, 02:27 PM

Okay, some background: my system...

Intel P4 516 2.93Ghz 1MB C 533 FSB Socket 775
Intel D945PSNLK Socket 775 Motherboard
Corsair Value Select 512MB PC4200 DDR2 x3
Ultra 500w V-Series PSU
Radeon X700 128mb graphics card
WD 250gb HDD
generic DVD/CDROM
generic keyboard/mouse
M-Audio Audiophile USB sound card

Anyway, the other day I was using the computer when it froze. I reset, and although the comp itself booted, nothing displayed on the monitor. This happened every time I reset (12-15 times), so I powered down, turned off the surge protector, and went to bed.
The next day, I tried again, and it booted up just fine - until the Win XP boot screen, whereupon the monitor froze -- but oddly, the computer booted up as if nothing was wrong. Just, the display was stuck.
So I bought a new monitor. Still the same thing.

The longer I leave the power off before rebooting, the longer it goes before the monitor locks up, thus why I'm suspecting the PSU.

And please, don't suggest things like 'did you try reseating -component?' or anything else obvious, because I've tried it. I have not tried a different graphics card due to me being kinda broke and not wanting to spend $200 on something if I don't absolutely have to. It's not a bad connection, it's definitely a hardware failure of some kind. I get no error beeps or anything, so it's hard to pinpoint the problem. Thanks for any help.

**jnob** · 05-03-2006, 02:36 PM

It's likely the PSU. I suggest an Antec Truepower 2.0 550W (not the Neo series) or Enermax 550W. You should also consider the temps of the system. What kind of case cooling and component cooling do you have? If heat is a factor the first thing it would likely destroy is that power supply.

BTW- Even if the problem is not the PSU, you really should get a name brand 550W+ PSU, so that's where I would start. If any other components are damaged it was probably caused by that PSU and/or heat.

kefkarz · 05-03-2006, 02:59 PM

Why the PSU? I would think the machine wouldn't even start up properly, let alone the rest of the computer boot normally, if the PSU was ganked. If it's only the display being affected, wouldn't it be the card?

**jnob** · 05-03-2006, 05:37 PM

Aside from the problem sounding PSU related, a 500W PSU from a non-reputable company which cost < $100 is likely to destroy your equipment.
When PSUs go out they do all sorts of strange things on the way. What I'm thinking is that the juice you do get out of it is just enough to get the components started and by the time Windows is booting it's already underpowered and overheating.

05-03-2006, 02:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
kefkarz Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP Pro SP2	Severe issue Okay, some background: my system... Intel P4 516 2.93Ghz 1MB C 533 FSB Socket 775 Intel D945PSNLK Socket 775 Motherboard Corsair Value Select 512MB PC4200 DDR2 x3 Ultra 500w V-Series PSU Radeon X700 128mb graphics card WD 250gb HDD generic DVD/CDROM generic keyboard/mouse M-Audio Audiophile USB sound card Anyway, the other day I was using the computer when it froze. I reset, and although the comp itself booted, nothing displayed on the monitor. This happened every time I reset (12-15 times), so I powered down, turned off the surge protector, and went to bed. The next day, I tried again, and it booted up just fine - until the Win XP boot screen, whereupon the monitor froze -- but oddly, the computer booted up as if nothing was wrong. Just, the display was stuck. So I bought a new monitor. Still the same thing. The longer I leave the power off before rebooting, the longer it goes before the monitor locks up, thus why I'm suspecting the PSU. And please, don't suggest things like 'did you try reseating -component?' or anything else obvious, because I've tried it. I have not tried a different graphics card due to me being kinda broke and not wanting to spend $200 on something if I don't absolutely have to. It's not a bad connection, it's definitely a hardware failure of some kind. I get no error beeps or anything, so it's hard to pinpoint the problem. Thanks for any help.

05-03-2006, 02:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
jnob TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Valley Posts: 692 OS: XP Pro, SP2 My System	It's likely the PSU. I suggest an Antec Truepower 2.0 550W (not the Neo series) or Enermax 550W. You should also consider the temps of the system. What kind of case cooling and component cooling do you have? If heat is a factor the first thing it would likely destroy is that power supply. BTW- Even if the problem is not the PSU, you really should get a name brand 550W+ PSU, so that's where I would start. If any other components are damaged it was probably caused by that PSU and/or heat. __________________ Everest Memtest86

05-03-2006, 05:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
jnob TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Valley Posts: 692 OS: XP Pro, SP2 My System	Aside from the problem sounding PSU related, a 500W PSU from a non-reputable company which cost < $100 is likely to destroy your equipment. When PSUs go out they do all sorts of strange things on the way. What I'm thinking is that the juice you do get out of it is just enough to get the components started and by the time Windows is booting it's already underpowered and overheating. __________________ Everest Memtest86

05-03-2006, 02:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
kefkarz Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP Pro SP2	Why the PSU? I would think the machine wouldn't even start up properly, let alone the rest of the computer boot normally, if the PSU was ganked. If it's only the display being affected, wouldn't it be the card?