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  • Power supply, memory, MB, or Software?

    <!--StartFragment --> Hi, new to the board. My bros pc, one I built for him, is having odd hardware, and one software problems.
    SPECS:
    AMD64 3400+
    MSI K8m Neo-V board, not sure of bios ver.
    PNY Optima 512mb mem.
    WD 160gb hd
    Geforce 4 ti 4200 with 77.77 drivers.
    Belkin 802.11g PCI wirless card
    Raidmax 350 watt PSU, though total watts 178.
    DVD burner, and ps/2 keyboard and mouse.


    First after using the pc, getting it all set up to his liking, and all patched up it will eventually give him a blue screen right before windows boots up. After disabling reboot after error, allowing us to read it its always a catistrophic system error, blaming a random .sys or .something file.
    THe only remedy is to reinstall windows. This has happened 6+times. with two diff operating systems. win2000 and winXP. This oddly enough gave me the error last night when installing his audio drivers, IN windows, same critical error message, after the next reboot, it gave me the error when booting up.
    This gets tiring and isnt appearing to fix itself. Also, perhaps from the same problem his onbaord USB ports have never been able to recognize any device, mp3player/printer etc. After we installed a addon usb card, we could get connections but eventually it would time out, we can get about 10 mp3s transfered but eventually it will freeze (not windows just the usb /mp3 connection until reboot).
    Also - His soundcard will intemittently have sound, and other times will not. His network, wireless card has sporadic connections. enough to make AIM disconnect frequently etc. NOW before you ask, I have installed millions of drivers, drivers supplied with the devices mp3 player/motherboard/addon card, as well as brand new ones straight from the vendors websites.
    Windows restore is useless as it is not able to even get in windows after one of these errors anyway. Now I used cpu burn in and memory test programs and they all workded fine. Will try to use a new hard drive when my brother comes home in a couple of weeks, but doubtful thats the problem.
    One thing that makes me wonder is that he bought a RaidMax case, a rather cheapo case with a 350watt Power supply unit. HOWEVER the sticker on the psu, says its peak wattage is only 178 watts. But if its a power supply issue, which would make the hardware trouble understandable, how does that explain the windows errors??????? well i turn it to u, hopeful u can answer. I posted on a pcgamer site and they gave me every answer imaginable...

  • #2
    Re: Power supply, memory, MB, or Software?

    Sounds like it's a problem with the motherboard. Make sure all your connections are tight and make sure everything is grounded properly, like no metal touching metal etc... Then try different parts on the board (I.E. hd, cpu, ram, video card etc...) and then put those hardware pieces in a diff computer to see if you get different results. after testing all of them individually if the problem persists then it's hardware. If you say it boots up fine see what the last software (driver) you install before everything becomes unstable.

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    • #3
      Re: Power supply, memory, MB, or Software?

      The PSU is rather under powered for that setup.

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      • #4
        Re: Power supply, memory, MB, or Software?

        I used to have that same PSU. 178w is the 12v rail peak wattage.

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        • #5
          Re: Power supply, memory, MB, or Software?

          The problem kind of sounds like something would be wrong with the hard drive or controller, which would cause the Windows issue. However, insufficient power supplies can cause all sorts of strange Windows issues, and that system does look a little underpowered. The particular problem you're having is unusual for a PSU issue, but very possible. Personally, I'd get a better PSU anyway, because you may have instability regardless of your current problems even if it doesn't turn out to be the PSU. Something 400-480W from a better company than Raidmax (which makes some nice cases, but is only a little better than most other case manufacturers as far as PSUs go) will do.

          You didn't really specify, but you implied that he has a sound card. If this is the case, turn off the onboard sound in the BIOS as it will cause all sorts of problem, ranging in severity from board to board.

          The one other possible option is heat. What CPU temperatures are you getting?

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          • #6
            Re: Power supply, memory, MB, or Software?

            well i just had him buy
            http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153006
            it looks like a good one and I am familiar with the brand. but now i realize it was only 178w for two rails, not the entire unit. and i hope that after he buys this it will fix the problem. But the more I think about it the more it seems it is power related. as it is probably whats causing the intermittent hardware problems. I just dont know.
            No he has built in sound from the via chipset. let me just say i much appreciate my nvidia chipset and the easy drivers compared to via.

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            • #7
              Re: Power supply, memory, MB, or Software?

              oh and temps seemed fine, never above 50, though i didnt keep my eye on it all the time. his -12v was running at like -13.3v is that normal? i just hope its psu related.

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              • #8
                Re: Power supply, memory, MB, or Software?

                Originally posted by thewalrusking
                his -12v was running at like -13.3v is that normal? i just hope its psu related.
                Are you serious? Did you see that in the BIOS? BIOSes are fairly inaccurate, but if it's off by nearly that much then it's likely your problem. Are you sure it wasn't 12.33v or something? Do you have access to a multimeter to test it more accurately with?

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