Problem

DeadlySurfer

DeadlySurfer

DeadlySurfer

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Joined
6 Jul 2009
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120
On my system I'm running Windows 7 64 bit.

Ok, this is what happened:

I was playing NFS Shift (Which I have been doing for a while now with no problems), and my screen went into "Power Saving Mode". I turned the monitor off and back on, and it again went into power saving mode.
I pressed the restart button on my Pc, and nothing happened. I held the power button, again nothing happened. I had to switch it off at the power supply. I tried two times again to make sure it wasn't a one off, and I had the same results. The most I could do was eject the disc.

Any input would be appriciated. I thought it was a graphics issue due to no input, but because my base unit wouldn't turn off I'm thinking otherwise.
 
Well, are you going to tell component list voluntarily or do we have to come to rip that PC apart?
 
EsaT said:
Well, are you going to tell component list voluntarily or do we have to come to rip that PC apart?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I copied this from the OC technical support area, but took out the RMA numbers and forgot to list.

Here it is:

Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 AMD 770
AMD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 550 3.10 GHz Black Edition
Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 4870 1024MB GDDR5 Graphics Card
Kingston HyperX 4GB DDR2 1066MHz Ram
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600w Power Supply
Seagate Barracuda 7200. 12 500GB SATA-II
Pioneer DVR-216DBK
LG M227WD 21.5"

And I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium.

I changed the monitor yesterday to see if it was that was the problem and it was the same.

Something that might be help is that a week ago maybe I booted up and it asked me which OS I wanted to boot, with only Windows & as an option.
 
I would start by testing with other PSU.
PC seems to be about couple years old and that cheap OCZ PSU has cheap crap capacitors and high ripple to start with so it might have "expired" as planned by those who put cheap parts into it.
 
I have the same RAM as you and had trouble with it defaulting to the wrong voltage. It's worth checking if it's getting the 2.2v it needs.
 
Well all my fans are running and everything like that, so I can't see why it'd be the PSU. I'm getting no output from the screen, the rest seems to be working.

And how would I test the ram, if I have no screen output?
 
Blue160 said:
The conclusion of that article reckons it's a good power supply.
Click to expand...
ATX specification defines 120mV as max for 12V ripple and that already highish 80mV is awfully close to limit for brand new PSU when capacitors are from cheap end of the range.
So instead of being good it more like just cleared the bar.

DeadlySurfer said:
Also if you check the OC product page, it's got pretty much all 5* reviews, and like 4 recomendations from sites and places.
Click to expand...
And very few take any or enough notice about component quality and no one tests how they fare after year or two of use.
If semiconductors are properly (over)sized and cooled capacitors become instantly components which define operating life. (excluding hiding manufacturing fault/weakness elsewhere)
 
EsaT said:
ATX specification defines 120mV as max for 12V ripple and that already highish 80mV is awfully close to limit for brand new PSU when capacitors are from cheap end of the range.
So instead of being good it more like just cleared the bar.
Click to expand...


The wording from the conclusion of the very article you linked to is:-

'An outstanding mainstream 600W power supply, surprising us at all and every level.'

Not really the wording they would have used if it had 'just cleared the bar'. If you are going to rubbish it, at least link to a review where they say it's no good.
 
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Strange I built a Phenom II X4 955BE @ 3.8 with a 5770 for a guy a few months back and he has no problems with power issues. Same with my Q6700 in my Sig :)

I did note that the Power Options in control panel needs to be checked every so often. Some of the settings seem to get reset with updates. May be an option to check especially the one that says " Change what the power button does" ???
 
Essexraptor said:
Strange I built a Phenom II X4 955BE @ 3.8 with a 5770 for a guy a few months back and he has no problems with power issues. Same with my Q6700 in my Sig :)

I did note that the Power Options in control panel needs to be checked every so often. Some of the settings seem to get reset with updates. May be an option to check especially the one that says " Change what the power button does" ???
Click to expand...

Sorry, I can't change the options. I'm getting now screen output, so I can't change anything.

I think it's a graphics card issue, I've contacted OC to see what they say, but it seems more than likely to me.
 
DeadlySurfer said:
Sorry, I can't change the options. I'm getting now screen output, so I can't change anything.
Click to expand...
Clearing CMOS would be one shot to try if some important BIOS setting has somehow gotten corrupt.




Blue160 said:
The wording from the conclusion of the very article you linked to is:-

'An outstanding mainstream 600W power supply, surprising us at all and every level.'

Not really the wording they would have used if it had 'just cleared the bar'. If you are going to rubbish it, at least link to a review where they say it's no good.
Click to expand...
In biggest Finnish PC forum there's again another Zalman PSU failing in the usual way after couple years and one user even commented to original poster's problem that he had same PSU die with same symptoms before two years.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Zalman-ZM600-HP-600-W-Power-Supply-Review/402/11
Here's also SPCR's glowing review while at it...
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article688-page4.html
Both reviews even show good hint for reason of these failures, cheap Chinese CapXon, OST and Teapo capacitors.

How about you proving that these cheap capacitors are as good as Japanese capacitors used as de facto standard in all premium/top PSUs?
You think that manufacturers would shy away from using cheaper parts for making bigger profit if they gave same reliability?
While lower quality caps might do well with old fashioned fan always at full/high speed cooling (used still in server PSUs because of its simplicity) modern PSUs with fan running at slow speed are quite more demanding especially when at the same time components draw lot more power than decade ago.
 
EsaT said:
In biggest Finnish PC forum there's again another Zalman PSU failing in the usual way after couple years and one user even commented to original poster's problem that he had same PSU die with same symptoms before two years.

How about you proving that these cheap capacitors are as good as Japanese capacitors used as de facto standard in all premium/top PSUs?
You think that manufacturers would shy away from using cheaper parts for making bigger profit if they gave same reliability?
Click to expand...

I'm confused by the first part of this. Is Zalman the same as OCZ?

I can't prove anything about capacitors. We'll see if my PSU is still running in another two years and I'll get back to you :)
 
Well they both used to be made by FSP but dunno if thats still the case, but some of OCZ were made by different companys too, so not sure.
And from reading it seems the ModXstreams (pro) were made by Sirtec so nope canna see the relation to Zalman with that model.

Dave.
 
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EsaT always throws this one out about OCZ PSU's

If you actually look at the reviews in a little more detail, especially the second link, and look at the test platform sub link here

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article269-page1.html

and check out the test rig, circa 2004 - 2005, you'll note the crude plywood construction etc.. Looks to me to be more of a home made garage rig .... very scientific.... not

Remember to take reviews with a pinch of salt unless you can verify the data being thrust at you. Even a well known UK Computer Publication had to redo the ratings given to 80 gold/silver/bronze standard PSU's because the calibration equipment was actually found to be out of spec. Therefore the whole batch had to be re tested on in calibration equipment in Germany.
 
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