Power problem?

[jeremyal]

Hi All,

Maybe somebody can help me with this, as I don't have any hardware
laying around to try the trial and error approach. My computer is is
abruptly shutting down sporadically, usually when coming back from standby
mode, but not always. After it shuts down like this, I can't even get it
to POST when trying to start it back up. The fans spin up and then it just
dies after a second. It does this even if I shut it down normally and try
to reboot. Sometimes, after a few minutes, it will start back up and work
normally, but sometimes it won't work for days no matter how many times I
try.
I think the problem is either my power supply or my slave HD. When this
HD is unhooked from power, the machine will run fine. The power supply is a
cheap Rhycom 450W that came with a cheap case on Ebay. I was thinking maybe
its having a hard time putting out enough power to spin up both HDs. But
then again, maybe the HD itself is screwed up.
I'd hate to buy a new power supply if its not the problem ...same with
the HD. Anybody have an idea what is wrong here?

Thanks

System:
Asus P4PE w/ latest BIOS
Rhycom 450W power supply
P4 2.53 at stock speed with Volcano 7+ fan
512 MB Kingston HyperX PC2700
Western Digital 80GB 7200 RPM (primary)
Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM (slave)
Samsung CDRW 52-24-52
Sapphire Radeon 9000Pro 128MB

 

[JAD]

what made you suspect the slave as the problem? its not the first
place I would have started. Is the drive defragged and DMA (if
applicable) is enabled?

 

[Michael Hawes]

Hi All,

Maybe somebody can help me with this, as I don't have any hardware
laying around to try the trial and error approach. My computer is is
abruptly shutting down sporadically, usually when coming back from standby
mode, but not always. After it shuts down like this, I can't even get it
to POST when trying to start it back up. The fans spin up and then it just
dies after a second. It does this even if I shut it down normally and try
to reboot. Sometimes, after a few minutes, it will start back up and work
normally, but sometimes it won't work for days no matter how many times I
try.
I think the problem is either my power supply or my slave HD. When this
HD is unhooked from power, the machine will run fine. The power supply is a
cheap Rhycom 450W that came with a cheap case on Ebay. I was thinking maybe
its having a hard time putting out enough power to spin up both HDs. But
then again, maybe the HD itself is screwed up.
I'd hate to buy a new power supply if its not the problem ...same with
the HD. Anybody have an idea what is wrong here?

Thanks

System:
Asus P4PE w/ latest BIOS
Rhycom 450W power supply
P4 2.53 at stock speed with Volcano 7+ fan
512 MB Kingston HyperX PC2700
Western Digital 80GB 7200 RPM (primary)
Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM (slave)
Samsung CDRW 52-24-52
Sapphire Radeon 9000Pro 128MB

If PSU is that touchy, looks like its on the way out. If hard drives run
up OK they will not be drawing that much power.
Mike.

 

[Matt]

Hi All,

Maybe somebody can help me with this, as I don't have any hardware
laying around to try the trial and error approach. My computer is is
abruptly shutting down sporadically, usually when coming back from standby
mode, but not always. After it shuts down like this, I can't even get it
to POST when trying to start it back up. The fans spin up and then it just
dies after a second. It does this even if I shut it down normally and try
to reboot. Sometimes, after a few minutes, it will start back up and work
normally, but sometimes it won't work for days no matter how many times I
try.
I think the problem is either my power supply or my slave HD. When this
HD is unhooked from power, the machine will run fine. The power supply is a
cheap Rhycom 450W that came with a cheap case on Ebay. I was thinking maybe
its having a hard time putting out enough power to spin up both HDs. But
then again, maybe the HD itself is screwed up.
I'd hate to buy a new power supply if its not the problem ...same with
the HD. Anybody have an idea what is wrong here?

Thanks

System:
Asus P4PE w/ latest BIOS
Rhycom 450W power supply
P4 2.53 at stock speed with Volcano 7+ fan
512 MB Kingston HyperX PC2700
Western Digital 80GB 7200 RPM (primary)
Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM (slave)
Samsung CDRW 52-24-52
Sapphire Radeon 9000Pro 128MB

I have the same idea that you have---that it's the power supply.

I've never heard of Rhycom ... Not to scold, but you shouldn't have
bought a cheap power supply in the first place, and ebay is not usually
a good place for used or off-brand computer parts. You could've bought
an Antec SLK 2650-BQE for $45 after tax and rebate at Best Buy last
week. I guess Fry's often has some great deals on Antecs too.

I can't rule out the hard drive, but I would say the PSU is far more
likely to be the bad part. I would bite the bullet ...

Watching www.techbargains.com can save you some money ...

 

[Matt]

I think the problem is either my power supply or my slave HD. When this
HD is unhooked from power, the machine will run fine. The power supply is a
cheap Rhycom 450W that came with a cheap case on Ebay. I was thinking maybe
its having a hard time putting out enough power to spin up both HDs. But
then again, maybe the HD itself is screwed up.
I'd hate to buy a new power supply if its not the problem ...same with
the HD. Anybody have an idea what is wrong here?

Thanks

System:
Asus P4PE w/ latest BIOS
Rhycom 450W power supply
P4 2.53 at stock speed with Volcano 7+ fan
512 MB Kingston HyperX PC2700
Western Digital 80GB 7200 RPM (primary)
Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM (slave)
Samsung CDRW 52-24-52
Sapphire Radeon 9000Pro 128MB

You could try running with just the Maxtor as primary.

 

[Mac Cool]

jeremyal:

The power supply is a cheap Rhycom 450W that came with a cheap case
on Ebay.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=792566

 

[bmisc53]

I had the same symptoms on my system (athlon 2700+) w/ 2 hds and 2
cd/dvd drives plus radeon 9550. After trying a number of possible
solutions, I finally replaced the 300w with a 450w - all problems
resolved and now works like a charm. Just needed more juice.

Sometimes you can't diagnose a problem without getting more equipment
to try. One can always recoup some on eBay.

Good luck,
Blaine