Is my PSU toast?

deadfolk · 13 May 2020 at 22:39

Hey folks,

Looking for a little advice.

A few weeks ago, my PC started using the integrated graphics instead of my 1080 when it powers up. Pretty much randomly - sometimes it would use the 1080 fine.

I wasn't sure if it was the GPU at fault or something else, but now it is frequently spontaneously shutting down completely and sometimes won't start up again for a while.

Does it sound like a PSU issue? I don't really have the money to be swapping out parts for trial and error.

Any help much appreciated.

pastymuncher · 14 May 2020 at 10:06

Specs may help including make and model of psu. It could be a gpu problem or if you have moved the pc recently have you checked the cable connections?

deadfolk · 14 May 2020 at 23:19

Nothing has been moved or changed. I have tried reseating the GPU and also moving its power to a different output from the PSU (it's a modular one).
It's all fairly old kit at this point.

Specs are:
i7-4770k running at stock with stock cooler
Gigabyte Z87-D3HP Motherboard
24GB DDR3 Ram
EVGA GTX1080 GPU
SuperFlower Leadex GOLD 750W Fully Modular "80 Plus Gold" Power Supply (6 years old)
Storage: 4 HDDs 1, SDD, 1 Blu Ray

pastymuncher · 15 May 2020 at 14:24

I don't suppose you have a spare psu that you could use to test the pc with? Have you tried running with the gpu removed and running on the 4770k's internal graphics to see if the pc runs ok without shutting down? Then again even if it works fine like that it wouldn't rule out a problem with the psu's 12v rail as removing the load from the gpu may allow it to handle the load that is left. Bit of a long shot but is there a newer motherboard bios than the one you are running? The newest for your board is F7.

mattyfez · 15 May 2020 at 18:34

It's a shame motherboards don't come with BIOS speakers anymore, such as this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eastern-Co...VBKCRC1VDKZ&psc=1&refRID=8YDNM6X91VBKCRC1VDKZ

If the GPU wasn't getting enough juice it would be screaming at you

mattyfez · 15 May 2020 at 18:38

deadfolk said:
A few weeks ago, my PC started using the integrated graphics instead of my 1080 when it powers up. Pretty much randomly - sometimes it would use the 1080 fine.

Is that even possible? I thought you'd need to plug the DVI/HDMI cable into the motherboards graphics-out to utilize the integrated graphics, if the monitor cable is still hooked up to your graphics card it shouldn't display anything at all?

Maybe the graphics card can act as a pass through? just guessing.

deadfolk · 16 May 2020 at 12:05

mattyfez said:
Is that even possible? I thought you'd need to plug the DVI/HDMI cable into the motherboards graphics-out to utilize the integrated graphics, if the monitor cable is still hooked up to your graphics card it shouldn't display anything at all?

Maybe the graphics card can act as a pass through? just guessing.

Well, initially I thought it was failing to start because I wasn't seeing anything, but I was getting the startup beep and it was obviously powered up, so I switched the DVI cable to the motherboard and got a picture.

Okay, so the latest is that I removed the 1080, and was in the middle of installing 3D Mark to try to stress the system and it started powering on and off in front of me. So the good news is that it isn't the 1080 which is at fault.

The bios on the mb is F6, so I might try to update that when I get a chance, but this feels like a PSU issue to me. Just the way that it behaved a minute ago. It powered off, on got itself into a bit of a loop trying to start up, as if the juice just wasn't there (or stable) when things started to draw on it.

Unfortunately, I don't have any spare parts to play with, so it might be a case of just sucking it up and and trying a new PSU.

You guys agree? If so, any recommendations bearing in mind the power I need for the 1080 and all my drives?

Paul_RD · 20 Jun 2020 at 11:56

Did you manage to solve the problem?
Was it the PSU?
Were there any strange smells / evidence of burning from the PSU?

deadfolk · 23 Jun 2020 at 16:15

Paul_RD said:
Did you manage to solve the problem?
Was it the PSU?
Were there any strange smells / evidence of burning from the PSU?

Not yet. I'm probably going to budget in a new PSU at some point soon.
There's no smells or evidence of burning, but given the way it was defaulting to the onboard GPU at times and was still sometimes just dropping out even with the Nvidia removed, it seems the most likely option to me. Also the cheapest to try and replace.

Quartz · 23 Jun 2020 at 16:17

It sounds like a GPU issue to me, not a PSU issue. If a GPU isn't getting enough current it should say so - it will be getting sufficient current to display a 2D image.

deadfolk · 23 Jun 2020 at 16:34

Quartz said:
It sounds like a GPU issue to me, not a PSU issue. If a GPU isn't getting enough current it should say so - it will be getting sufficient current to display a 2D image.

That's the one thing I know it's not.
Even with the GPU removed, it just periodically spontaneously reboots - sometimes even getting into a loop.

Maybe it's not a problem with the amount of current, but jitter of some sort?

james.miller · 24 Jun 2020 at 13:20

Do you have a voltmeter/multimeter? if so check your voltages, but it does sound like the PSU is on it's way out.

deadfolk · 29 Jun 2020 at 10:29

james.miller said:
Do you have a voltmeter/multimeter? if so check your voltages, but it does sound like the PSU is on it's way out.

I do not, but now you mention it, I do seem to recall there being some software for the MB that showed the voltages it was receiving. Unless that was a different MB from way back. I'll have to have a look.

Obviously, that will only work for the rails supplying the MB, but I guess it could potentially highlight an issue. I will see if I turn anything up.