Computer switches itself off and on and off and on etc. Hints please..

crudeFool

crudeFool

crudeFool

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Joined
13 Aug 2006
Posts
7
Hi

Just built myself a new PC, but I'm having an annoying problem.

When the computer is cold and I switch it on, it starts up for about 2 seconds, switches itself off, starts up again a second later, switches itself off again, starts up etc. This can go on for about 20-30 seconds before it boots properly. After that everything is OK.

I'm assuming that maybe once the problem component starts heating up, some loose connection "corrects" itself??? I've checked that all cables, cards, ram etc are pushed fully home, so maybe it's a dodgy PSU (it's a cheapy 600W one), but before I go blaming that if someone has some other hints it would be appreciated.

Cheers,
crude
 
shine said:
Have to agree it sounds like the PSU. Which one did you get? Have you been able to try another one?
Click to expand...

It's an EzCool 600W. My PSU got a slating in another thread where my CPU was overheating due to an incorrectly attached CPU fan.

My problem is that I need to prove that's it's the PSU - I haven't got another one to assert this. If I'm going to buy another one, I'd like to be able to return the EzCool to the local PC shop I bought it from.

The EzCool was a panic buy as I bought a load of new components (Conroe 6600, Asus p5b delux, 2G Cosaur DDR2, HIS X1900XT, 2 x Barracuda 250G Sata) only to find my old Antec Trueblue PSU didn't have the right connectors for my motherboard or graphics card. It was only 380W, so I rushed out to a local PC shop to get a PSU rather than wait 2-3 day for Overclockers / Scan to deliver my prefered PSU.

Regards,
crude
 
Use this PSU Calculator to see what you need. Bear in mind that that calculator is quite pessimistic, but if your system is not stable then you do need to make a change. If the PSU does self destruct, it can do a lot of damage on the way out - make sure whatever you do get is big/quiet enough for your needs and make by a 'good' company - nothing worse than being suckered into buying dross.

Use something like Speedfan to see what voltages you are getting. Speedfans isn't entirely accurate so it might be worth getting a cheap multimeter to take some measurements under load.
 
unplug graphics card and one HD and see if it boots straight away then. Without the graphics card the PSU should be under a lot less load.
 
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