Computer acting wierd

[Raced_out_Computers]

Well my computer started acting really strange last night
Last night was just searching the internet, and decided to play a little World of Warcraft. I logged onto the game, got about 15 minutes of game play, when all of a sudden my computer turned off. I thought i might have blown my PSU but there was no smoke, and no smell of burning, so i thought it might have been my surge protector. I tried starting it up where the power cable was plugged in, and then moved it to another, it turned on. I got about 10-15 minutes of computer time, before it did it again. I moved the power cable then to the wall outlet, bypassing my surge protector, i got 9-10 minutes before it died again.

I think it is over heating, because it was getting extremely hot. My fans have a bad connnection tot he PSU so recently they went out (3 out of 5.) My motherboard speaker also isnt hooked up, so if the computer was beeping cause of the Overheating i wouldnt hear it, think heat is the Problem? any help would be useful!
_Jimmy

 

[OldMX]

I'd try another powersupply before the current one fries something like motherboard or videocard

0ldmX

 

[Raced_out_Computers]

ill grab one tonight...are you sure its the PSU though? this one is ....7 months old...
its been on for 25 minutes now...no problem...cleaned a ton of dust out of the PSU, fans, processor, cards, and mobo....seems to be running alot smoother...also have the case door open..all the fans on..and the window opened all the way =-D

 

[Raced_out_Computers]

Can anyone help me..is the PSU the problem...you think

 

[Ice Czar]

I just bet that RAIDmax case came with a RAIDmax supply
and yes they are widely considered craptastic

as your temperature rises the capacity of the PSU decrases
I'll workup some numbers here in a bit

which model RAIDmax do you have?

 

[Ice Czar]

http://takaman.jp/D/?M=PbQIQbdPQfHASkT4UcVhYbZAZavXCMZ&english
theoretical (additive of maxumim draws that wont actually coincide)
based on the partial list of components in your sig


the current RAIDmax PSU lineup is caught in a time warp
and are substandard when it comes to +12V amps
ranging from 15A to 18A even in the 500 watt class
(for comparison a modern supply in that wattage class would have 30+ amps)

worse they exaggerate their specs considerably
Id say its likely that is the root problem
supply heats up
capacuty drops
and you have too great a load on the supply

 

[Raced_out_Computers]

Lol i did have the raidmax PSU in there then it crapped out ( lol go figure?) so i got a like 300 watt one from some computer store. honestly i dont think its even a name brand. so im guessing you think this is the problem? it would seem so from the info you are supplying

 

[Ice Czar]

very likely
while not a monster config that board uses the +12V rail to power the CPU
and the video card employs it as well

whereas the PSU you "likely" have is an older ATX12V v1.2 or v1.3 (not a hybrid)
and likely lacks adequate amps on the +12V rail
it should have the amps listed on the lable

 

[Raced_out_Computers]

thanks alot dude. But my question is, why now? it has been fien for 5 months...and a few months before that? was it just a matter of time/dust =-D before it crapped out on me?

 

[Ice Czar]

hard to say definitively but yes, dust decreases the thermal efficiency of any heatsink,
so it could be a contributing factor
and a supply that is overloaded and running hot isnt going to last as long
the other great variable is the source power, that stresses a PSU considerably
so it could have been a sag or surge

 

[Raced_out_Computers]

ok thank you, ill be sure to borrow one tomorrow and check it out

 

[Raced_out_Computers]

i tried a new PSU. It didnt work. Im thinking it is my CPU anyone second this...if so ill just order a new one

 

[Ice Czar]

at this point the best thing to do is start crossparting components
before you start to invest in stuff you might not actually need

the root caise could have been heat or power and real damage the result, but identifying which component is bad is the top priority

 

[Raced_out_Computers]

im gonna try a processor this weekend...if thats the problem..im just building a new computer