Power problems?

[super_gray]

Hi, if i can just explain a small (Really long) story to begin with.

Sometime ago, i had some PC problems, which looked to have been down to memory, or the power from my PSU. So, i was recommended to try out a new PSU - An Enermax Noisetaker 485w.

When i got it, everything was fine and dandy - No problems, until one day, i just switched on my PC and *pfftttttttttt* is all i heard coming from my PSU. That was when i found out (For an inexplicable reason) it had blown.

I had to then revert back to my dated (Yet never-had-aproblem-PSU) 400w Skyhawk PSU, but of course the problems come back causing some problems. I got the broken Enermax replaced, but never actually fitted it because i eventually tracked it down to possible dodgy memory. I bought some Corsair memory, and the world was sweet again!

I didnt have any problems, until last week. When played World of Warcraft i would occasionally get problems which made my screen go black/on again. I put it down to my Geforce 6800GT getting a tad warm, so i took it out, and let it cool down.

Upon putting it back in, i found that my PC would turn on - But i wouldnt get any display. The monitor would assume no graphics was in, and just went into stand-by mode. I thought the worst and thought my Graphics Card was no longer working.

I was told to go and get a (tester) PCI Graphics Card, which i did, borrowed it from a brother, while at his i tested my Graphics Card and thankfully it worked, so i fitted the PCI Graphics Card, but nothing come on.

I was then told to go and Clear CMOS on the motherboard - and HUZZAH! it came on. I was happy, but because i did a Clear CMOS, i had to go back into the BIOS and config everything back to normal. Upon reset - The display went again. I wasnt too impressed.

I decided now was the perfect moment to check the Enermax PSU i was given as a replacement (To the one that blew for no reason), i plugged my Geforce back in, turned on *pftttttt*. Yip, you guessed it - That PSU died also, within a second of turning the power on.

I was told it might be because i have a lot of stuff which is consuming power, it might be too much (But for a reputable Enermax???). I re-fitted my Skyhawk, removed my Graphics Card AND my 2 memory sticks, and fitted my (Knowingly dodgy) Kingston memory back in.

I cleared CMOS - Windows loaded up. So, i now have 2 pieces of very important gear - Which are useless in the PC, back that up with another blown Enermax and that was me miffed for the night.

I spoke to Enermax, who did say that it was unusual, but they was willing to send out a final replacement for the one that blown, i recieved it and fitted it just now - It didnt blow, but it didnt get my Graphics or Memory working either.

Whether i install the Graphics on its own, or just one bank of memory on its own, it still wont work. With the Graphics, it wont work full stop, but with the memory, i can get into the BIOS, but as soon as i leave the BIOS, i lose the display again.

Im at a loose end on what to try now, because i removed all the Hard Drives (2 Hard Drives) and CDRW and DVDR, but whatever the cause, its not solving it. Its something to do with the hardware definatly, but its not having any of it.

Here is a spec-sheet:

AMD Athlon 3200
Corsair XMS3200XL Platinum TwinX (512mb *2)
Abit NF7-S v2
BFG Geforce 6800GT
Enermax Noisetaker 485w

I have also tried 2 different components with the same results:

Skyhawk 400w PSU
Asus A7N8X-E
With the same bits as above also

So, i have tried a different motherboard with the same problems... Its very confusing :/

Also, ive had this rig for 3 months, not a problem.. Until now, i just dont get it. Ive changed Motherboard, PSU, but its only the memory and graphics which are causing the problems ;/

 

[super_gray]

i hate doing this... but...

*bump*

ive put this down on a few other forums as well which seem to be good... but still, im getting no feedback. i really need this sorting :s, i have a week holiday now, and i aint spending it sorting out this pc wasting time on things...

thats why ive put out the request for help ;s

 

[awdark]

How irksome.
What might have happened is the PSU damaged the video card. It sometimes works just because. Seriously a lot of things can get damaged and just randomly show signs of the damage giving you a wonderful headache. Those fizzes cant be good for your hardware so its quite possibly damaged.

Have you considered trying the video card in another computer? One with a GOOD PSU that wont fizz on power up.
Memtest86 your ram to see if that has damage.

Since you have replaced your mobo, thats no longer a concern (unless another one fizzed up on you while you were using your current mobo).

Perhaps consider pulling both power supplies out to your back yard and bashing them up with a baseball bat then drag it on the back of your car for a few miles to your local store and pick up a power supply. Im thinking ask the PSU forum find a good brand/model to get. Maybe a fortron or if you are absolutely pissed at all these power issues... go extreme with a neo power (not quite extreme but expensive) or a PC Power and Cooling 510. That should take just about any hardware you throw at it haha.

(Possible reasons why you dont get a reply: You post like me, I tend to make loong posts that describe absolutely everything I did and never get replies... its often best to summarize it to a few sentences and almost treat it like you are sending a question to dell tech support)

 

[super_gray]

yeah. when the second PSU failed (*pfffft*) thats when i grew concerned about maybe the graphics card dying. This was still with the *first* (Abit NF7-S) motherboard in when it fizzed out.

I took it round to my bros, checked my Graphics Card (In all honesty, this is the only time im worried about.. it cost me £300 last year, and has been a rock for me ever since, id be gutted if it went, altho BFG do have lifetime warranty, but i'll bring that up in a second...)

So, the Graphics were fine in another PC, so, i took it back home, i waited for my third Enermax to arrive, and tested my PSU, my PSU was fine for once, but it didnt solve the magic No-Boot problem.

Thats when i took the hard line of changing motherboard, as id had enough of the NF7-S, fitted everything, all fine.. No bootup. Shock horror that was indeed. So, nothing sorted that.

Then, i was thinking tomorrow of calling a few people (From that point above).

The first i would call is Enermax, as theyre the magicians and know about power-stuffs, and since im having a problem with their product, i could enquire, BUT, ive already checked this in a different brand PSU - With the same problem!

which then makes me think...

What about calling Nvidia/BFG, my graphics Card supplier, i mean.. Im having problems with their graphics right? Yes i am, but one tiny snag - It works in another PC, so in effect i DONT have a problem with it... right? gah...

What about Corsair? AH HA! oh wait no.. once again, even tho the memory also doesnt work, even if im using the standard Kingston Module instead of Corsair - The 6800GT doesnt work. So, that cant be an issue either.

So, each time i get a lead, and think about it somewhat, i end up right back to square one.

The ONLY... the ONLY thing i havent yet tried.. YET, and its been in both Motherboards, been with the same PSUs.. the same everything... is my AMD chip. I have upto now, ruled this out as a possibility, because it works fine with the PCI Graphics/Kingston combination... But its the only _other_ thing which is in the system at that exact same time..

I cant test it, in reality, for the main reason that if it works ok with the above combination, how am i going to determine its a CPU issue? I hate computers!!111

 

[Ice Czar]

what surge protection or UPS (if any) are employed?
how old are they?
is there a history of noticable light flickering in your building \ neighborhood?

(addressing a potential root cause for the initial death of the PSUs, but not your current symptoms)

 

[jonnyGURU]

I'm consulting magic 8-ball and it's saying dodgy mobo.

 

[davidhammock200]

One or both of the above; lousy AC &/or flakey mobo.

 

[super_gray]

I have a Surge Protector fitted in which the PC runs through, very very rarely have any electrical problems. I have also never had a PSU blow on me before (Even the cheapies i used to use), then i get a great Enermax PSU, and after a month it just blows. That was me shocked.

I possibly _would_ have suspected the PSU or Motherboard, but - ive changed them twice (Firstly an NF7 and a Skyhawk 400w) and secondly (now) a A7N8X-E with Noisertaker 485w.

Im possibly suspecting the CPU after thinking about it last night... but i dont know if it would do things like this

 

[super_gray]

Update to this thread:

Well, thats that :/. I took my PC over to a maters, who tried (again) my 6800GT in his PC - and this time, it DIDNT come on. It was unbelivably strange why it didnt, so this pointed the finger firmly at the Graphics Card.

I still thought it was the CPU though, so we got a crappy XP 1000 i think - and it didnt come on either. This meant, without a shadow of a doubt - It was the Graphics, BUT, what we needed to know was, was the AGP Slot working, or did that get burnt out also?

So we checked his ATi Card - loaded straight away, problem found? I think so mister!

It however, still did not answer why the Corsair memory was not working - But the Kingston was. We did a ClearCMOS, and found out that one of the options in the BIOS (Which i never knew existed) actually caused the blackout on the Corsair (Or so i think)

It was set in the BIOS to AGP - And not the (Backup) PCI for Graphics - So when i reset my PC, it seemed only obvious that i would recieve a standby screen because there was no AGP Card present.

I have emailed BFG now, although problems may very well arise due to the fact they are based in the US, and i live in the UK. But i'll cross that bridge when i come to it. In the mean time, it means im going to be living off a 4mb!!1 PCI Card, so i may just bite the bullet, buy a 7800GT (BFG again) and when the replacement 6800GT comes - Just sell it straight on.

Maybe

So miffed ;(

 

[jonnyGURU]

It was set in the BIOS to AGP - And not the (Backup) PCI for Graphics - So when i reset my PC, it seemed only obvious that i would recieve a standby screen because there was no AGP Card present.

This setting in the BIOS only comes into play if you have more than one video card. It basically tells the system which video card to throw the post screen out on. You can have it set to AGP and not have an AGP card and it's still going to post.