power supply issue

[Bluenose 637]

Hi all,

My son's computer is one I built for him about 2-3 years ago. It has
developed an odd issue. When I press the on swtich nothing happens. If I
plug and unplug is a few times it will evenutally work. No real pattern
that I can see. Also the Audigy 2ZS Platnium sound card only works
occasionally. If we turn the speakers on and off sometime if will work.

Running Win XP SP2, 2 gim memory, Asus mother board, AMD X2 chip, Nvidia
graphics card (6000 series).
The power supply is an Antec True power 2.0 480 blue. As I recall the first
power supply on this computer (the one that came with the Antec Sonnata 2
case) failed after about 2 months and I replaced it with this one. No
issues until about 2 weeks ago.

My first thought was powe supply is going back, but I guess it could also be
the power cord, case switch, or MB issue. Before I buy a new power supply
here, any thoughts?

 

[Brigadier]

Hi all,

My son's computer is one I built for him about 2-3 years ago. It has
developed an odd issue. When I press the on swtich nothing happens. If I
plug and unplug is a few times it will evenutally work. No real pattern
that I can see. Also the Audigy 2ZS Platnium sound card only works
occasionally. If we turn the speakers on and off sometime if will work.

Running Win XP SP2, 2 gim memory, Asus mother board, AMD X2 chip, Nvidia
graphics card (6000 series).
The power supply is an Antec True power 2.0 480 blue. As I recall the first
power supply on this computer (the one that came with the Antec Sonnata 2
case) failed after about 2 months and I replaced it with this one. No
issues until about 2 weeks ago.

My first thought was powe supply is going back, but I guess it could also be
the power cord, case switch, or MB issue. Before I buy a new power supply
here, any thoughts?

I can't give you a definitive answer but when my PC wouldn't respond
to a wake-on-keyboard, then later to a power button recycle, it was
the power supply (PS) that was failing. A replacement PS has been
working flawlessly for 8 weeks now. Curious that you've already
replaced the PS once within 2 years. Can you test with another PS?

 

[Bluenose 637]

Thank,

I need to see if I have an old psu laying around from a previous computer to
check it. I did replace the power supply that came with the case a few
months after I built the computer. A real pain since for the Sonnata II case
with my heat sink I have to take off the heat sink to get the PSU out. Not
a big deal but I hate messing with the CPU / Heat Sink once I have it all
seated and working fine.

 

[Larry]

Hi all,

My son's computer is one I built for him about 2-3 years ago. It has
developed an odd issue. When I press the on swtich nothing happens.
If I plug and unplug is a few times it will evenutally work. No real
pattern that I can see. Also the Audigy 2ZS Platnium sound card only
works occasionally. If we turn the speakers on and off sometime if
will work.
Running Win XP SP2, 2 gim memory, Asus mother board, AMD X2 chip,
Nvidia graphics card (6000 series).
The power supply is an Antec True power 2.0 480 blue. As I recall
the first power supply on this computer (the one that came with the
Antec Sonnata 2 case) failed after about 2 months and I replaced it
with this one. No issues until about 2 weeks ago.

My first thought was powe supply is going back, but I guess it could
also be the power cord, case switch, or MB issue. Before I buy a new
power supply here, any thoughts?

Strip the PC down to the CPU, video card, and one stick of RAM. Try booting.
If it works, add the optical drive, hard drive then PCI cards one at a time
until it ceases to boot. If it doesn't boot reseat the CPU and all cables,
and the video card. Look for any obvious signs of physical damage.

 

[Jan Alter]

Thank,

I need to see if I have an old psu laying around from a previous computer
to check it. I did replace the power supply that came with the case a few
months after I built the computer. A real pain since for the Sonnata II
case with my heat sink I have to take off the heat sink to get the PSU
out. Not a big deal but I hate messing with the CPU / Heat Sink once I
have it all seated and working fine.

Alternatively you could try checking the voltages of the PS with a
multimeter and a hard drive with a load connected without removing the PS
from the computer. There are decent pages available on the web to show one
how to do this relatively easy procedure.

 

[KlausK]

Hi all,

My son's computer is one I built for him about 2-3 years ago. It has
developed an odd issue. When I press the on swtich nothing happens. If I
plug and unplug is a few times it will evenutally work. No real pattern
that I can see.

Seems like the PSU is going bad.

Also the Audigy 2ZS Platnium sound card only works occasionally. If we turn
the speakers on and off sometime if will work.

Sounds like the audio cable between the sound card and the speakers is
loose.

 

[sandy58]

Hi all,

My son's computer is one I built for him about 2-3 years ago. It has
developed an odd issue. When I press the on swtich nothing happens. If I
plug and unplug is a few times it will evenutally work. No real pattern
that I can see. Also the Audigy 2ZS Platnium sound card only works
occasionally. If we turn the speakers on and off sometime if will work.

Running Win XP SP2, 2 gim memory, Asus mother board, AMD X2 chip, Nvidia
graphics card (6000 series).
The power supply is an Antec True power 2.0 480 blue. As I recall the first
power supply on this computer (the one that came with the Antec Sonnata 2
case) failed after about 2 months and I replaced it with this one. No
issues until about 2 weeks ago.

My first thought was powe supply is going back, but I guess it could also be
the power cord, case switch, or MB issue. Before I buy a new power supply
here, any thoughts?

Bluenose 637, Larry's suggestions work for me. Nice "process of
elimination"!

 

[w_tom]

Bluenose 637, Larry's suggestions work for me. Nice "process of
elimination"

Larry's post will not find most defects. The solution - and it only
takes a minute or two - was accurately described by Jan Alter. If it
does not immediately identify the problem, then it provides number so
that better informed posters will reply. Currently every other post
what nothing more than "it could be this, or could be that ... or
could be a fully moon". Jan Alter's suggestion inside results in
answers such as "it is definitively not this or it is definitely
that". Get the meter. Work smarter - not harder.

 

[John Doe]

Larry's post will not find most defects. The solution - and it
only
takes a minute or two - was accurately described by Jan Alter. If
it does not immediately identify the problem, then it provides
number so that better informed posters will reply. Currently
every other post what nothing more than "it could be this, or
could be that ... or could be a fully moon". Jan Alter's
suggestion inside results in answers such as "it is definitively
not this or it is definitely that". Get the meter. Work smarter
- not harder.

For the vast majority of users, opening a PC case while the computer
is plugged into the wall and turned on is unsafe. The process of
elimination is a perfectly valid troubleshooting method in our
modern world of computer electronics, proven once again in this
thread.

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

The power supply is an Antec True power 2.0 480 blue.

A lot of those fail after a year or two because of bad capacitors --
see "Fuhjyyu syndrome" and very slow fan speed that lets them run
hot. A multimeter will usually show a voltage problem if a cpacitor
goes bad. Other Antecs made by Seasonic (NeoHE, Trio, EarthWatts) and
Fortron (Basiq) use other brands of capacitors and don't suffer from
this problem nearly as much.

 

[John Doe]

A lot of those fail after a year or two because of bad capacitors
-- see "Fuhjyyu syndrome" and very slow fan speed that lets them
run hot. A multimeter will usually show a voltage problem if a
cpacitor goes bad.

Antec noticed the problem. Antec corrected the problem. To suggest
that Antec would continue using faulty parts is just ridiculous,
especially since they make power supplies for people like us.

Other Antecs made by Seasonic (NeoHE, Trio, EarthWatts) and
Fortron (Basiq) use other brands of capacitors and don't suffer
from this problem nearly as much.

As if Antec wouldn't know what parts are going into their power
supplies.

About using a multimeter. If you think the power supply is
outputting wrong voltages, don't use a multimeter, look at the
voltage levels in your BIOS. It's safer, easier, and more accurate
since it's under a normal load.

 

[John Doe]

"Jan Alter" <bearpuf verizon.net> wrote:


....

Alternatively you could try checking the voltages of the PS with a
multimeter and a hard drive with a load connected without
removing the PS from the computer. There are decent pages
available on the web to show one how to do this relatively easy
procedure.

Why not look in the BIOS instead of using a multimeter. That way you
don't have to connect a load and the full load already present will
give you better readings anyway. Besides being more accurate (load
wise), it doesn't require a multimeter.

 

[w_tom]

About using a multimeter. If you think thepower supplyis
outputting wrong voltages, don't use a multimeter, look at the
voltage levels in your BIOS. It's safer, easier, and more accurate
since it's under a normal load.

John Doe has insufficient electrical knowledge. Otherwise he would
know why BIOS voltage readings must be calibrated by a meter. He would
also know only some motherboards contain hardware to measure those
voltages. John Doe also says computer voltages are more dangerous
than higher voltages always present inside a car. Don't open that
hood (bonnet) or touch that battery. John Doe says that is too
dangerous. Electrical knowledge is not John Doe.

Even best supplies can suffer a capacitor failure - or other
problems. Identify them all in but minutes with a 3.5 digit
multimeter. But then 'we' also design this stuff as well as teach
techs how to solve problems faster using ubiquitous equipment such as
the meter. Good reason why multimeters are sold even in Kmart.
Multimeters are dangerous where myths are promoted by those who don't
even know how to use one.

Sometimes a defective supply gets installed and boots a new
computer. Computer boots fine today and gets less stable in months.
Just another reason why we use the meter - to identify a defective
supply before the computer fails.

 

[John Doe]

On Oct 10, 9:27 pm, John Doe <j... usenetlove.invalid> wrote:

John Doe has insufficient electrical knowledge.

After doing an author history on w_tom and "surge suppressor",
my electrical knowledge has increased significantly (thanks to
educated/intelligent USENET authors trying to set w_tom straight on
the issue).








<Snip loads of troll nonsense>

 

[Bertie the Bunyip]

Troll
k00k!


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Subject: Re: power supply issue
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John Doe has insufficient electrical knowledge. Otherwise he would
know why BIOS voltage readings must be calibrated by a meter. He would
also know only some motherboards contain hardware to measure those
voltages. John Doe also says computer voltages are more dangerous
than higher voltages always present inside a car. Don't open that
hood (bonnet) or touch that battery. John Doe says that is too
dangerous. Electrical knowledge is not John Doe.

Even best supplies can suffer a capacitor failure - or other
problems. Identify them all in but minutes with a 3.5 digit
multimeter. But then 'we' also design this stuff as well as teach
techs how to solve problems faster using ubiquitous equipment such as
the meter. Good reason why multimeters are sold even in Kmart.
Multimeters are dangerous where myths are promoted by those who don't
even know how to use one.

Sometimes a defective supply gets installed and boots a new
computer. Computer boots fine today and gets less stable in months.
Just another reason why we use the meter - to identify a defective
supply before the computer fails.

 

[w_tom]

After doing an author history onw_tomand "surge suppressor",
my electrical knowledge has increased significantly (thanks to
educated/intelligent USENET authors trying to setw_tomstraight on
the issue).

John Doe has a long history of attacking others rather than posting
from technical knowledge. Whenever he does this, then his own history
becomes fair game. Perform a newsgroup search of "Mark Bender".
Mark Bender has a problem with honesty and criminal behavior. Here,
John never posts technically useful facts. His entire proof is
personal attacks.

Those with technical grasp have recommended using the multimeter.
Only John Doe fears mythical dangers from voltages that are even lower
than inside a car and are lower than on a telephone wire. John posts
fears; not facts.

 

[John Doe]

John Doe has a long history of attacking others rather than
posting
from technical knowledge. Whenever he does this, then his own
history becomes fair game. Perform a newsgroup search of "Mark
Bender".

Better yet, do an Internet search on "Tonal Voltmeter".

Mark Bender has a problem with honesty and criminal behavior.

So, w_tom is not only a troll who runs around USENET offering
potentially harmful advice (like the lame brain idea that a surge
suppressor is useless/dangerous), he is a lying scumbag too.

Here, John never posts technically useful facts. His entire proof
is personal attacks.

Has w_tom given up the idiotic crusade about surge suppressors being
useless/dangerous? Is pointing that out a personal attack?

Those with technical grasp have recommended using the multimeter.

Most of what you have written, w_tom, suggests your technical grasp
is negative.

 

[Bluenose 637]

Hi All,

I just took a more simple approach, I replaced the power supply with a new
one and it has cleared my issue. I decided not to use an Antec supply again
this time and am trying a different brand.

 

[Timothy Daniels]

Interesting. Please let us know in January how it's running.
BTW, how many HDs are in the system? Any USB external
drives drawing power from the power supply? USB-powered
speaker amps? Does the exhaust air from the power supply
feel hot?

*TimDaniels*

 

[Bluenose 637]

2 HDs , 2 DVDs, no USB attached speakers.

Interesting. Please let us know in January how it's running.
BTW, how many HDs are in the system? Any USB external
drives drawing power from the power supply? USB-powered
speaker amps? Does the exhaust air from the power supply
feel hot?

*TimDaniels*