Freeeze during boot? Need Help

[jw]

Why don't you tell us what make and model PSU it is?

If it is junk, you need to return it for a refund or credit
towards a better PSU and not run the system until then, if
possible, so you don't risk damaging other parts.

OKIA 450W ATX

Yes- I am thinking of trying to upgrade.

Duke

 

[westom]

Nonsense, as far as I am concerned.  A supply rated at N watts
should be able to supply those N watts continuously without
significantly affecting its life.  

Why discuss ‘life’? Short all outputs from a power supply together
- maximum load - and power supply life expectancy is not reduced.
Power supply must not even be harmed. A standard even 35 years ago.
Even Intel specs defined how big that shorting wire must be because
every power supply is never harmed by the load. Not even harmed when
all outputs are shorted together.

A supply rated by a responsible manufacturer at 350 watts is also
rated by others at 500 watts. Neither is lying. Simply measure
wattage at different points. Obvious among those who did engineering
in a power supply manufacturing house (a little hint).

Furthermore, a supply can have more than sufficient watts - total.
But wattage from one voltage is too small. If the load demands too
much current from the 12 volts, then a supply of sufficient watts
still does not supply sufficient current on that one voltage. System
then freezes sometimes during a boot.

Those who measure power supplies to see failures before replacing
anything have learned this. Many others just know because they
swapped supplies and it worked. The former know from experience. The
latter know only from speculation and shotgunning.

Just because a supply consumes 500 watts does not means it outputs
500 watts. And does not mean is outputs sufficient wattage (current)
on each voltage. But in games of specmanship, computer assemblers who
often don't learn this stuff then insist that a 600 or 700 watt supply
is needed. They cure symptoms without first learning the problem.

Meanwhile, the OP is still doing the 'try this and try that' method
- also called shotgunning. For all we know, the power supply 'system'
is defective. Therefore fixing a BIOS might even complicate the
problem. Always necessary is to build a list of what is 'definitively
known good' and 'definitively known bad' before replacing anything.

 

[westom]

Unfortunately such a problem is hard to detect with a
multimeter, logging equipment with a scope is the best way
to see such a problem.

Most power supply problems were easily identified by voltages – only
when under load. Minimum numbers are intentionally different from
spec numbers due to how voltages are measured and other problems (such
as your examples). If temperature is one reason for failure, well,
that may even be identified only when those numbers are posted here.
Those numbers may contain additional information even if above minimal
values. But only those with better knowledge might see it. How to
take advantage of the few who know more about this? The OP should
provide those numbers and other critical information such as power
supply model number.

Yes, the oscilloscope and logging equipment is how it is done in
professional locations. But the layman use tools that any layman has
and can use. That is the 3.5 digit multimeter even selling in Wal-
Mart for less than $18. Nothing else (including those shotgunning
suggestions) can provide better information.

OP did not list his power supply as if he knows what his help needs
to know. Your demands for information were also appropriate.
Another ballpark indicator of a minimally sufficient supply is a long
list of written manufacturer specs. Power supplies are complex
beasts. Some power supplies missing required functions to sell for a
lower price at a higher profit. Maybe only 1% know what those specs
mean. To keep the informed silent and to sell to assemblers without
electrical knowledge, inferior supplies do not provide those specs.

Of course, Kony knows much of this. However others (maybe a
majority) do not which is the reason for above details.

The OP is still shotgunning when he does not even know if a supply
'system' (more than just a power supply) is functional. Best way for
a layman to determine supply 'system' integrity starts by spending
less than $18 in Wal-Mart for a multimeter. Or in any store where
hammers are sold. Those numbers discover so much that still remains
unknown.

 

[CBFalconer]

Why discuss ‘life’? Short all outputs from a power supply
together - maximum load - and power supply life expectancy is
not reduced. Power supply must not even be harmed. A standard
even 35 years ago. Even Intel specs defined how big that
shorting wire must be because every power supply is never
harmed by the load. Not even harmed when all outputs are
shorted together.

A supply in current limiting has effectively shut itself down to
protect itself, and it is NOT supplying the rated items. Modern
supplies are largely single switcher supplies, with low output
impedances matching the various lines, so load can be moved from
line to line. The magic number is the total output, in watts.

 

[westom]

A supply in current limiting has effectively shut itself down to
protect itself, and it is NOT supplying the rated items.

Which is one of so many reasons why loads do not harm a supply. An
ability to switchwattage to loads (as described) is limited. A 400
watt supply cannot transfer 200 watts to one voltage as implied.
Supplies are selected on current for each voltage. Overall wattage is
only a ballpark number that does not answer the OP's question.
Worse, 500 watts when marketed to computer assemblers (typically with
no electrical knowledge) is also the 350 watt supply defined by
professional computer manufacturers. A second reason why determining
a supply from its overall wattage number is unreliable. But again I
post this fact that is largely unknown to many computer assemblers.

Only way to know a sufficient supply is to load it up and measure
actual voltages with a meter. In the OP's case, he has no idea if his
supply is sufficient until making those multimeter measurements under
maximum computer loading. That wattage number varies too much for too
many reasons to answer his questions.