Hardware Analysis - Various Power Malfunctions?

Re: Various Power Malfunctions?

Antonio Furtado — 2008-04-16T16:11:35-05:00

The over clocking error has stopped since I installed the new PSU...

Couldn't the server just been reporting the results of my power failure?

Past 2 days no new errors have popped up...

Re: Various Power Malfunctions?

Gerritt — 2008-04-15T02:30:48-05:00

Antonio,
Based upon what you've sent so far.
A: The system has been overclocked, and the OC has become detrimental to overall system performance.
B. The system has not been overclocked, but the firmware indicates that it has, and you are suffering a detriment.

In either case, Mark down what HDD configurations you have. Then set the system back to defaults (retain the RAID configurations). You've gotten indications of a heat induced failure from a server, these are much more reliable than what you see on an OC'ed desktop.

It seems to me that the server has been overclocked, and can't keep up with it now, even if it was capable of doing so in the past.

Gerritt

Re: Various Power Malfunctions?

Antonio Furtado — 2008-04-14T17:37:09-05:00

Opened up the PSU to find some burnt 'capasitors' from what I could tell...

Bought a new PSU with a warranty just in case and installed it...

Computer seems fine... (including the usual monitor bug...)

No special errors came up... After a good month or so of testing if I don't post back a problem... consider it running good ^^...

Re: Various Power Malfunctions?

john albrich — 2008-04-13T19:27:52-05:00

Antonio Furtado said:

...Not sure what the "go/no-go" is... care to elaborate?

A go/no-go tester is a simple PSU tester that checks the BASIC functionality of a PSU. It reports out of bounds voltages. Things are either pass or fail, "go" or "no go". It's a binary output. Hence the term "go/no-go" It does not typically do a comprehensive or sophisticated test. For example, some testers might or might not detect fast transients that could damage your electronics...but then again, most volt-meters won't show them either.

It typically has a power-on over-ride so you don't have to use the system switch or a shorting tool. It typically has a loading capability so each rail of the PSU is minimally loaded when the test is conducted which is necessary for power stability. Most of them have the ability to test most of the plugs coming out of a typical ATX PSU.

It can be used with the PSU completely removed from a system.

Prices range from about US$10-$30. I've seen the exact same tester sold at $12 that sells for $30 on another web-site.

Example.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-detai...CatId=1107

edit-add comment on transients

edit-BTW, when using a DC volt-meter, remember to check the AC or ripple component on each rail as well. A DC reading will only show you the average voltage...and will not show you if a ripple component is causing a rail to go above or below specified voltages. Also remember that most AC meters will not show you a peak reading, but again, an averaged value...sometimes "true rms" sometimes not. An oscilloscope is always a better tool, but some of the more advanced computer-driven meters are pretty good.

Re: Various Power Malfunctions?

Antonio Furtado — 2008-04-13T18:01:12-05:00

I'll be getting around to getting a volt meter... recording some V's and if I can manage it compaire with BIO's and drop them off here...

Not sure what the "go/no-go" is... care to elaborate?

Re: Various Power Malfunctions?

Kieran Blenkarne — 2008-04-13T05:17:58-05:00

Can of compressed air only please, and if you are cleaning your fans, hold the blades with a toothpick or such so they don't spin.

Definitely sounds like your PSU is going.

If you can, get a new one ASAP before the rest of your PC goes with it.

Re: Various Power Malfunctions?

john albrich — 2008-04-13T04:58:40-05:00

If the "hissing" is coming from the PSU, it's an indicator the PSU is likely failing/failed. Check your voltages with a voltmeter and/or PSU simple go/no-go tester. The PSU must be properly loaded to conduct the test. A failed PSU could have also subsequently damaged other components in a cascade effect.

BTW, never use something like a "feather" duster/cloth to clean the inside of a computer. That is almost certainly injecting extremely high levels of ESD into the electronics...especially if made out of synthetics, even if you use an ESD wrist band while doing so.

Various Power Malfunctions?

Antonio Furtado — 2008-04-13T04:38:24-05:00

[SIZE="5"]Specs:[/SIZE]

OS:Windows 2000
Mother board: Asus P4S800D-X
HDD: 80Gb
MDt
Enhanced IDE HD
Parameters: 7200 RPM, ATA100, 2mb Buff

CPU: Intel 2.4Ghz
Я˩ c28o35-003 CE
109X9512T55056
0c 12v o.17A PAT
SANYODENKI

PSU: TR Switching Power Supply
Model#: P4-350W
Side note (For Pentium IV)

Problem: Searching for causes of problems : /...

Usual Bug of little nuisance: Sometimes when monitor is on before computer is powered on through front power button... monitor gets lil back bars in horizontal patterns...

New problems spurring search for problems:
[LIST]
[*]Computer seems to shutdown/power down/sleep? randomly...
[*]While fixing received 1-2 "Read Disk errors" followed by shut downs?
[*]4+ "overclocking failure"
[*]1-3 CPU Fan Error (Took fan out and tried to clean and inspect...)
[/LIST]

First occurance:

Last time computer did it was about a day/2 ago...
Computer while starting up would shutdown ect. and front button stop responding... (randomly shut down that is... No key points it seems)

Switch off back switch... then wait a little for motherboard light to go off... Switch back on... wait a bit... hit front power button and repeat until success... (not sure if I received 1-2 "read disc" errors)

(success in that I got one error message 'overclocking failed' where I proceeded with default settings...) -_-... Not sure if my computer was over clocked before hand...

(a friend did most maintenance on computer for me until I took high school computer engineering bout a year ago and moved to my fathers where now I maintain all computers/networks...)

Next day:
Went to turn computer on... same problem... but this time... not fixing it self so easily...

so I proceed to huff and crack open case...

Qtip dust/dirt from heat sinks and fans... ($store feather dustered graphics card and over motherboard -_-... I've don't got money/room for computer maintenance equipment or better 'static less' items and tools...) I was soft as I could be...

Narrow down problems:

Start up with HDD unplugged:

Hiss/rattle/Static? noise when power in back switch on...

Power switch in front doesn't seem to take effect until 1min or so passes and sound settles down...

PSU may be more noisy then usual? (It's been a long time and my computer seemed dead silent when I first got [B-Day]... but it's been a few years and a replaced motherboard and such since then... [for gaming] )

When system finally seems to power up ... it either shortly shuts back down... (fans turn off hiss noise settles/disappears? again?)

or asks for boot device/reboot and sit there for a few mins seemingly fine... not shutting off...

I went into settings and looked at various CPU thermal control options and turn them off... but it randomly shut off before I could save settings...

(Not sure if it has anything to do with cooling fan[s]...) Nothing else sticks out as a problem from a glance...

I think it was a trick of the eyes but thought I saw sparks in rear chasse fan once (via. View hole in case)...

Boot with HDD:

Computer turns on... Can look at BIOs (Thou I dunno what I should even change now...) when I allow it to continue booting up it shuts off around either windows start up or just afterwards...

I have no Windows disk.... (back with a friend I'm not likely to contact...)... So taking another HDD I have or the one I have now and trying to Fdisk isn't really possible for me... Unless I get e-mails on suggestions to deal with that...

(Been rather busy with computer lately...
I settled to maybe defrag and do a few system checks when I had some time... on first occurance...

I played games through day mostly [Game:Shaiya] listened to music on media player and chat on MSN... Nothing special that included viruses...

I have left computer on over night sometimes [in game with monitor off ^^;...] but usually put computer on standby or shutdown for night...

I usually have a sharp eye for simple virus links and downloads...
And a few free security systems like Avast and recently... StopZilla and a few trials that simply scan and do nothing else I've yet to clear out...
)

I've tried to make this as organized and detailed as possible at the moment...

Also tried to fit it into the best category...

Thank you for your time and efforts...