Power problems

[Chris Linder]

Guys I got one of those cheep $30 $40 dollar boxes that came with a 450 watt power supply and the power supply popped on me! So I thought ok cheep power supply , I installed a 350 watt used one that I had and that thing popped on me to, the computer boots up but the vans now run half way. Dos anyone know if I have something hocked up wrong or is it just common for cheep power supply’s to pop like that. I’m not running anything special its just for simple computing. Iv order an ULTRA 500 watt power supply now hoping that’s the problem.

[minsonngo]

Yep... cheap power supplies should never be used in a machine.

Hopefully the faulty PSUs did not kill any of your other components.

And... Ultra is not a very good brand either.


Check out this list of recommended brands: What Power Supply should I get? How many Watts? Who made it? Guide Inside

[Chris Linder]

Well the computer still boots up and gos to the desktop its just the fans are running half way. I didnt let it run very long at all because I could feel the processor getting hot. But since its booting up I think if I just change that power supply to that UNLTRA 500 watt I should be fine dont you think.

[minsonngo]

What do you mean the fans are running half way? Are all the fans running half way or just one in particular. If it is just one... maybe that one is faulty.

[Chris Linder]

Well the CPU fan is going like on for a sec and off and on for a sec then of till it just works its way to being compleatly of. Also the fan thats on the power supply its self is only running half way so thats why I think its the power supply ,I did hear a little pop when all that started, But whats the chance of having two power supplys just pop on you like that. If the computer comes on and works fine I mean I just finninshed loading it up , then there cant be anything hocked up rong......... Im running intel 3.46 with a 1G of ram! XP pro

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...E=WEBLET03SHIP

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...E=WEBLET03SHIP

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...E=WEBLET03SHIP

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...E=WEBLET03SHIP

[minsonngo]

It is quite possible both PSUs you tried are faulty... they may be working now... but you never know what will happen in the long term. Low end PSUs have high rate of failure... so the odds that the two you tried are faulty is high.

Bad PSUs also push dirty power through your parts... causing the components you have shorter life spans. If they die... sometimes they take other parts along with it.


Its your choice since it is your build. I'm just giving you a bit of advice and I am sure others would agree.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by 1life2live4 Guys I got one of those cheep $30 $40 dollar boxes that came with a 450 watt power supply and the power supply popped on me! So I thought ok cheep power supply , I installed a 350 watt used one that I had and that thing popped on me to, the computer boots up but the vans now run half way. Dos anyone know if I have something hocked up wrong or is it just common for cheep power supply’s to pop like that.

It's common for cheap low quality power supplies have their capacitors pop like that.

Originally Posted by 1life2live4 Iv order an ULTRA 500 watt power supply now hoping that’s the problem.

That power supply probably isn't much better than the two that went pop.

Originally Posted by 1life2live4 Well the CPU fan is going like on for a sec and off and on for a sec then of till it just works its way to being compleatly of. Also the fan thats on the power supply its self is only running half way so thats why I think its the power supply ,I did hear a little pop when all that started, But whats the chance of having two power supplys just pop on you like that.

The chance of two cheap power supplies dying if they're asked to provide more power than they can produce is very good. Most cheap power supplies do not actually make as much power as it says on their label. And what makes them really terrible to use is that when they pop they can send a big surge of power to the computer and fry some of the parts.

From what you've described I think the motherboard may have a damaged power circuit on it...probably got zapped when the other power supplies popped.

Cricket

[Chris Linder]

dam I was hoping you wouldn't say that, I mean the computer powered up and went to the desktop and acted as if nothing happen it was just the fans were running half staff. You think theres a good posability of me putting a new power supply in and having it work.

[flanzig1]

With 2 PSUs going bad, I would say the chances of a new quailty PSU starting the PC are pretty low. At best you have a 50/50 chance of it working.

[Chris Linder]

Ya im hoping for the good 50%! I think I have a really good chance at it considering it gos to the desktop and all. So I hear the power supply is the most important part of the computer can anyone tell me what the best brand PSUs are!!

[Alaron]

Gotcha covered: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

[minsonngo]

Here is a list of the good and the bad: Repair Reinstallation of Windows XP (using XP CD)


Edit: Alaron beat me to it.

[Chris Linder]

So cricket let me ask! Lets say I put this new ultra 500 watt power supply in , If my motherboard has a burned circuit its just going to burn out my new power supply , correct

You think thats why my second one burned out! from the first cheep -ss power supply!

[flanzig1]

Your scenario is a good possiblity.
If you still want to try a new PSU, try it with only the motherboard/CPU w/heatsink. Have the case speaker connected to the mobo. If you get a series of beeps, so far so good. Then add ram/video card/HD/CD one at a time. This way you will be able to tell if the other parts are good or bad.

[Chris Linder]

Thats not a bad idea! Ill do that thanks. Why dos everyone hate on Ultra power supply's when there all over newegg and tigerdirect. Its like the main thing they sell!!!!!!! Not to mention my last build works fine on a ULTRA power supply

[flanzig1]

Newegg doesn't carry Ultra PSUs. Ultra products are like TigerDirect's house brand and so they will push them hard. The PSUs are probably made by a whole bunch of manufactures so quailty is spoty.

[Alaron]

Read our review of Ultra's for why we 'hate on' them : http://www.pcmech.com/show/reviews/980/

Bottom line, Ultra sent us two defective units out of three. And these were specifically sent for review.

[Chris Linder]

Guys I got my new power supply plug it all up and the damm fans are still running halfway. So I changed the mobo with a new one I had for another build and it said change the cmos settings because I changed the CPU! After wile the damm computer just gave me a black screen. Iv built about 8 computers now and this one is just giving me hell ! And its not even my build its for someone els. HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[minsonngo]

Have you tried clearing the CMOS via the jumpers on the motherboard or pulling out the CMOS battery for about 5 to 10 minutes (make sure you unplug computer also)?

[Chris Linder]

Ya I cleared CMOS but I didn't see a battery on my MOBO. I think my fans are no good because they were running half way even with the new mobo. You think my processor is no good. I feel like Im lost with this build.When I pluged in another fan it work fine but still getting a black screen

[minsonngo]

It may be possible you other original PSU killed some other component when it died.


Which fans are you talking about anyways? The CPU fan, case fan, or video card fan?



Try leaving only the PSU, motherboard, ONE stick of memory, video card, processor, and processor heatsink & fan installed and see if you are still having issues. If so... one or more of those components are faulty.

[Chris Linder]

well it was the fan for the processor and the fan for the power supply and the fan I had in the back of the case. I tossed the fans and connected some other ones and the fans ran fine. Now Im just getting a black screen. Im thinking of changing the processor , I have an extra I just dont want to keep putting new parts in this build and have them go bad. You think I should junk it all and start fresh! What a lose it would be of money and confidence!!!!!!!!

[minsonngo]

Do you have another machine you can test your existing parts in? I think that would be the best route to go with for now. You need to find out which parts are still working and which parts are gone.

[Chris Linder]

Ya Im building a system for myself right beside this build. My only problem is I dont want to make good parts go bad by connecting them with parts that are bad. Whats the likelihood of that happening. As long as I know that DAMM PSU is good right !!!!!

[whubbard]

yeah, the bad parts should not 'hurt' the good parts other than the PSU. But a bad PSU can very badly harm the good parts.

[minsonngo]

Just don't try to hook up those first TWO defective PSUs... all of your other parts will be okay to test in your new build.

[Chris Linder]

I see light in the tunnel with you guys saying that. I put thous two first PSU in the trash so fast you wouldn't beleave. I know to spend some damm good money on PSUs for now on. Ill do what you recommend. Thanks for your help your the best. Ill let you know how it gos.

[whubbard]

...you can't return either of them? not even for credit where you bought them?

because if you can you could use that money towards a very good PSU.

[Chris Linder]

Ya I already ordered what I beleave to be a good PSU , Its not the best but is better then those cheep ones that come with cases. 500 Watt Ultra. Ill try running just the mobo first and see if the bios comes up if not then ill change the processor , depending on how that gos ill start with the memory , hard drive (which I think is bad because it makes a clicking sound )and DVD ROM.
Anyone recommend me doing it deferentially!!!!!

[whubbard]

...You bought an Ultra?

If you did..return it and buy this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104954

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023