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Fortron Blue Storm 500 Problem

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psionic

n00b
Joined
Aug 1, 2005
Messages
3
Where to begin.... Alright, I recently bought this psu (Fortron Blue Storm 500) after reading up on it. Everyone seemed to think it was a really good product, so I went ahead and ordered it. It was to replace an ageing (4 years old) "PCToys" 420 watt 3 fan psu thats noisy as all hell. My system was stable but it seemed like the voltages were a bit low, 11.6 on the 12V line and 3.1 on the 3.3V. The usual stuff. When I put the new psu in, all the voltages were reading dead on, which was a nice change, and my machine booted up to windows just fine. I was browsing away for a couple of hours just to make sure it was going to work. Then I decided to play a game. After 5 minutes, my computer turned off, and I couldn't turn it on until i either unplugged it from the way or flipped the power switch on the back of the psu for about 10 seconds. My question would be why a "500 watt" psu can't run my system under heavy 3d load but my 4 year old "420 watt" psu can. System specs are:
MSI k8n neo2 platinum
Athlon64 3000
1 gig ocz ddr 400
x850xt pe
2 optical drives
6 various hard drives (probably why my 12V rail is so low)
a couple of pci cards, audio, sata
4 120mm fans and 2 80mm fans
Fortron blue storm 500 / pctoys 420
Once again, my 420 watt can run this system just fine. One last thing, I have tried disconnecting varios devices to see if that would fix it. I have tried running with the bare minimum of mobo, video card, and windows drive. Still shuts off after about 5 minutes. The air coming ouf of the supply isn't warm, so it's not over heating. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated. :)


Edit: I have rma'ed this psu once already, for those of you who would have said just to rma it because I got a faulty one.
 
Have you hooked a multimeter up to the main mobo power connector. This is the best way to check for voltage drains or surges. Alternatively you can use an empty molex to check. Just remember, black is ground, orange is 3.3, red is 5 and yellow is 12 (voltage is in the same order as the colors).

Carefullly stick the black multimeter lead in a black wire lead on the 24 pin connector. Then plug the red multimeter lead into the yellow and see what the 12 volt reads at idle. Then run a benchmark or game (any system stresser) and see what readings you get. DO this for all the voltages. Just be careful with all the live voltage and sensitive parts out in the open. Alternatively you can plug into a free molex and test the same way, just may not be as accurate depending on what rail it originates from (I believe).
 
psionic said:
After 5 minutes, my computer turned off, and I couldn't turn it on until i either unplugged it from the way or flipped the power switch on the back of the psu for about 10 seconds.
Click to expand...

I have never heard of two bad Fortrons in a row. If you are having to reset the PSU in this manner, the protection circuitry is tripping for some reason. Look over the system carefully to be sure something isn't amiss. Could be something as simple as a loose molex.

I remember my folks' computer was doing something similar with an Antec SL350. Took me ages to find the problem - the remains of a sliding metal floppy protector was stuck inside the drive. Every once in a while, it would shift around in there just enough to short the thing out and shut down the PSU :D
 
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