Random Crashing - Is my PSU Failing?

Big.Wayne

Big.Wayne

Big.Wayne

Soldato
Joined
11 Sep 2003
Posts
14,716
Location
London
Hello,

been having some random crashing on my system the past few months and have been trying to work out what the issues is...

Opteron 170 (2.6GHz - 1.425v)
1GB Ballistix PC3200 (260MHz - 2.8v - 3-3-3)
ASUS SLI Premium
ANTEC NEO-Power 480w (2 years old)

I have been getting occasional blue screens and general weirdness and things like Super-PI and Prime will fail, but not always, sometimes I can quad-prime for hours, other times prime will fail in 30 secs. I have turned off my overclock and reset everything to stock, but leaving the memory vDimm at 2.8v and the problems seems to still be there. Just a few days ago I swapped out the Ballistix for some vanilla Crucial PC3200 thinking that maybe the Ballistix was dying but no the issue remains?

I have run hours and hours of Memtest but didn't manage yet to detect any errors. I also notice that if I power cycle the system (power off - power back on) it effects how stable the system is. . .

I am now suspecting that my PSU is failing after I had a good look at the MBM high/low screen,

neopower2yearszz7.jpg


In particular the +5v rail seems to dip very low everynow and then and the +12v rail falls below what is acceptable.

What you guys reckon?

[] Faulty PSU
[] Failing CPU (even at stock?)
[] Faulty power regulators on mobo
[] possible damaged DIMM slots

Can't really think what else it could be, but I will have to start swapping out components so you think the PSU is a good place to start?

I bought the ANTEC NeoPower in Sept 2004 and it has been on pretty much all the time since then :) I wonder if it is still covered by a warrenty from ANTEC?
 
I'd say the PSU looks the likely suspect yeah, should be covered with a 3 year warranty, the box will have an AQ3 sticker or it'll be on the manual.
 
Hi, thanks for reply.

Yes it would seem the PSU is having problems and that would explain the weird crashing I have been having. Never had a faulty PSU before so that made it harder to troubleshoot the issues I have been having.

The only bit of testing software that consistantly fails over is S&M (last test)

 
If you have another PSU, perhaps try that as you could then see for sure if the PSU was dying before spending on a new one. Alternatively, you could try disconnecting all non-vital computer components to give the PSU as little stress as possible, and test again to see if stability is still a problem.

But, all in all, I'd be weary of doing too much more. If the PSU is dying you don't want to wait until is goes bang and destroys some expensive components. :) Err on the side of caution, etc, etc.
 
Just got some feedback from ANTEC ([email protected])

1 - Please offer us your purchase invoice;

2 - Please fill out the attachment of RMA Request Form; then we’ll issue RMA No.

3 - Please return your defective power supply with RMA No. visible on box to us;

4 - We’ll replace PSU for you afterwards ASAP.

RMA Department
Sydneystraat 33
3047 BP Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31(10)462-2060

Not bad considering the PSU is two years old but I wonder how much it will cost to ship a boxed NEOPower from the UK to the Netherlands? :eek:
 
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