Do i need a bigger power supply?

[RancidWAnnaRIot]

Hello,

here's the situation

I set up a system with a 250W power supply.

It's weird.. the system sometimes boots up and passes post and sometimes it doesn't.. sometimes it turns on correctly, but i don't hear a post beep.. what's going on here? mind you i have the BIOS set to halt if it doesn't post..

also.. sometimes when i turn off the system the keyboard lights stay on.. any clues??

I'm gonna go try and do some more trouble shooting.

I would appreciate any suggestions.. thanks..

Oh yeah.. i also tested the RAM and it seems okay.. all devices are showing up in the BIOS..

also, There is this NIC i have installed, but it was pulled out of a questionable system, cause the systems power supply died and took the mobo and CPU with it.. maybe it took the NIC too? could that cause the problem?? i'm probablly gonna remove the NIC and see what happens.. i'm also gonna un plug one of the CD drives to see if it starts posting up on every boot up...


Thanks

 

[zandor]

Umm... specs? PSU brand/model, what components, etc.
Shuttle 250W PSUs can usually power the whole system... shuttle cube mobo, proc, hd, optical, and floppy. But that's a high end 250W. It'd probably really be good for more if it had more cooling, but just gets limited due to heat output. But your run of the mill 250W PSU just can't cut it for a modern rig.

 

[RancidWAnnaRIot]

It's a sparkle power 250W PSU.. Buffalo PC2100 RAM. the mobo is a chaintech 7VIF4.

The system is powering a 2000+ thougherbred (i'm sure i didn't spell that right), Two optical drives (one DVD and one CD-writer). The board is also powering a NIC and a 56K modem. And western digital HDD it's 40gigs.. i don't know the model though.

this is the mobo
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-152-030&depa=1

I did some more trouble shooting and it seems erradic though.. i unplugs all the drives one by one.. and the problem persisted.. i got it down to the point where i was only powering the MOBO with the CPU in it and RAM.. the Video is on board.

i'm pretty sure it's not the power supply because i tried a known working one, and the same problem was going on with the known good PSU.. like i said.. it's erradic.. like sometimes it posts.. sometimes it doesn't and the screen is black.. and other times it doens't post but the computer continues to boot with no problem.. it's sooo weird.. i don't get it. I had to turn on and off the system a billion times.. and between all the times i turned it on and off there were periods where it would post more than not post.. but other periods where it wouldn't post more than it would post.. and sometimes even.. just weird ...very unpredictable.. i got to the point where i actually formatted the HDD and was about to start installing.. but i noticed this problem.. so i stopped the install to investigate it...


this is where i am.. does this sound like an RMA?

 

[bobsaget]

hmmm... that is kinda wierd.

you are sure it isn't the ram or mobo?

 

[RancidWAnnaRIot]

I"m pretty damn sure it isn't RAM cause i tested it... just to make sure i'm gonna switch the RAM with a RAM module that i know works.. i got the feeling it's the mobo though >=\

 

[TheMostWantedPolishTwin]

can you borrow a stronger PSU? I'd suggest doing that...

 

[RancidWAnnaRIot]

yeah.. like i said before i tried another known workoing PSU it was 400W.. same problem occured

I guess i can try it again.. but i'm gonna have to do it later... anyone know how long i have for a replacement RMA with newegg.. i just got this stuff on thursday.

 

[RancidWAnnaRIot]

After hours of swappping CPUs, RAM, PSUs, and other crap.. i've come to the conclusion the board is shot.. gonna RMA it...