Faulty Component - Either PSU or GPU, how to tell?

b.cummins

b.cummins

b.cummins

Associate
Joined
23 Mar 2006
Posts
906
Location
Guildford, Surrey
Hi all,

So I've had a bit of an issue for a while now.

Initially, I thought this was down to one of the core components in my build, such as the CPU/RAM/Motherboard.
Unfortunately, I've replaced all these components recently and I am still getting the same issue. I am now left with two 'old' components, my OCZ 700w GameXtreem PSU and my recently purchased (from 2nd hand) Palit GTX 570.

The issue comes in two flavours.

Firstly, I can power on my PC, hear the fans/hard drives begin to spin and continue, but no POST. No lights coming on on the keyboard, no response from my monitor. I have to manually power down the machine and keep trying to turn it back on, it usually comes on before 10 retries, sometimes i have to remove the power lead from the case and wait 2 minutes.

Secondly, this is more rare but has started more recently, the unit won't power up at all. No response when pressing either the power button on the case or on the motherboard.

I have gutted out the PSU and I am now running the system using my IGP.
I am also running a modest overclock on my chip, a 3570k running @ 4.4ghz which runs fine on a stress test (Prime95).


This however still doesn't convince me the fault lies with 1 particular component, so is there any software or practical test I can perform or has anyone had any experience with this issue?

Thanks
 
Er the other hardware except the PSU and GFX card listed above,

Asrock z77 extreme4 mobo, i5 3570K, Corsair vengeance DDR3 1866 8gb (2x4gb), 1 samsung SSD 830 and 2 samsung 500gb Sata 2 drives. Also have a sata dvd drive connected.

I am asking around on the GFX card front, and I've had the same issue at stock speeds :-(
 
epeets said:
If the system doesn't turn on at all. Its your PSU. If the system turns on every time you hit the button but nothing comes on the screen, its your graphics card. In this case I'm leaning towards the power supply due to the problems you've had. I cant believe that a bad graphics card would force your system to not turn on at all. Replace your PS man.
Click to expand...

Well I have to say the failure to power on at all has happened very rarely, far more often it's been the failure on screen - the fact tho that the keyboard doesn't engage either, is this significant? For instance if it was the gfx card, would i still be expecting the keyboard lights to come on?
 
mp260767 said:
try taking out the graphics card and using the onboard graphics.
Click to expand...

Hiya,

I am currently doing this with the integrated HD 4000 graphics.

I am actually running the card at the moment tho, as i said, the error is intermittent.

In terms of memory it can't possibly be the issue, as i recently completely changed my mobo/ram/cpu, and currently im running memory at the rated voltage as it is 1866 kit.

Interesting that the consensus seems to be moving towards psu, again i go back to my point about the keyboard light not coming on when it does this is anything knows if that has any significance?
 
There is an additional twist to this problem, if i put the machine in a sleep state and try to resume my session, i get the exact same issue (i.e. I should boot straight to windows, but the computer only powers on, no display)
 
mp260767 said:
have you manually set the voltage for the processor or is it set to auto ?

if the keyboard light doesn't come on does num lock/scroll lock if you press them.
Click to expand...

No the processor is currently set to auto, but on my previous motherboard which i swapped out recently, it was set manually when i was getting the same issue.

The keyboard won't respond at all..
 
mp260767 said:
any chance you can test another keyboard or have you done that already ?

is your mouse usb, and do you have any issues with it.
Click to expand...

Yeah I've tried with a ps/2 keyboard and the mouse has the same issues. but like with everything else, i only ever have an issue when powering on sometimes with the failure to display.

wazza300 said:
sleep/resume usually point to memory/voltage settings not quite right

what dram and cpu vtt are you using?
Click to expand...

I have let the mobo decide, so dram is 1.5v and VTT is 1.076, Vcore fluctuates but currently 0.982
 
anjs said:
Have you checked the switched in the case are ok by shorting the mb. Oh and is it the mb mounted ok in the case.
Click to expand...

yes i also have direct switches on my mobo to use. However, i have completely refitted my mobo having replaced it which i think rules this out.
 
Ok I have a further update.

The issue developed again.

I have left my case open to see exactly what's going on when it happens.

This time I noticed, when i powered up the machine, the psu, hard drives and gfx card were going. However none of the case fans were going.

The next time, same devices again, as well as some, but not all the case fans.


My thinking now is that it's definitely down to the power supply, it feels like it's not delivering enough power on the 12v rail and I think the issue may relate to the 24pin/2x4pin mobo connectors and the power they deliver.

What do you guys think?
 
Vegeta said:
It'll be the PSU. If you're 100% sure it's not cpu/mobo/ram it will be the PSU half the things you've said would never happen if the GPU was giving you problems. The PSU is old it needs replacing anyways get a 80+ bronze one or above for peace of mind about it's quality.
Click to expand...

Just ordered on OCuk, the coolermaster silent 600w modular.. Hopefully this'll fix the issue!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom