Author Topic: Is my PSU going TU? (Read 357 times)

Wolfala · « **on:** September 13, 2007, 11:00:54 AM »

I've got an Abit AN8-32X running a AMD 64 X2 4400 in a Socket 939 running 2 Nvidia GTX 7900s in SLI. The Monitor is a Dell 1907FP and the PSU a Antec Truepower TPII 550.

Load considerations: The external clock is at 216 MHz, when a CPU temp of 28-33*C. CPU Voltage is usually 1.4 volts with the upper limit at 1.65 and set to auto shut down at 1.65. DDR is steady at 2.7 Volts, DDR VTT 1.35, HyperTransport 1.35, CPU VDDA 2.5V, North Bridge 1.2, Southbridge 1.53, 12 Volt rail on the ATX (24 pin) 12.12, ATX 12V (4pin) 11.94, ATX 5V, 5.10, 3.3V 3.34, 5VSB, 5.04 volts.

Temps: Underload, i've got more fans then a hair dryer: 3* 120mm blowing inward, 1 * 120mm exhausting, 1* 80mm cross flow, 1* 80mm top exhaust, then the PSU fan exhausting as well. CPU rarely gets about 39*C, system 33*C and the PWM in the high 30s to low 40s.

Over the last 2 weeks or so, I noticed there was a noticable delay in powering up, 2 - 4 seconds when I hit the power switch. Today the monitor went into what I could describe as an infinite loop of some sort. It would be fleshing a Dell logo for 1/2 a second, and while the computer would be booted in windows, I could tell it was looking for the hardware b/c it would make the sound that the hardware was connected and then disconnected like when you plug in a USB dongle and remove it.

It did this non-stop, then I unplugged both the CPU and Monitor and let them sit for a good 20 minutes. Even turned off the UPS for a little bit of that.

I turned the UPS back on and the Monitor back on - with the CPU off, and it wasn't rebooting, but gave a normal screen like in DVI mode, turn your computer on - so all was ok on the monitor side from when it lost its mind.

I hit the power switch on the front of the case, and it blinked blue at 1 second intervals - like it wanted to turn on b/c it couldn't close a circut to get the power it wanted. After a few minutes, I let it sit - then hit the switch again, and after the 2-3 second delay, it powered up.

I went into Safe Mode and disabled the Nvidia Control Panel and associated software - the only thing I left running was the NHancer program, which seems to handle the Nvidia Control Panels functions without much fuss. I did a load test running IL2 at everything maxed - no stability issues.

So I guess the question is, WTF is going on with the power-up sequence?

Wolf

The PSU inside is an Antec Truepower TPII 550.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** September 13, 2007, 11:09:01 AM »

With two 7900's, I do not see how the 550W Antec supply has been working at all. It certainly has been strained to its limits.

Wolfala · « **Reply #2 on:** September 13, 2007, 11:17:43 AM »

I cracked the case now just to make sure I wasn't on drugs on the Model # for the PSU: Sure enough, its a 550. So if it is the PSU, what would you suggest on the PSU side that'll work with an SLI setup?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** September 13, 2007, 11:26:44 AM »

Unfortunately, I would not use Antec any longer. Their quality has gone downhill since they moved all the manufacturing of the power supplies to China.

"PC Power and Cooling" is all I can recommend now. They are still a very high quality supply, but they are pricey.

For that rig, I would be looking at an 800W supply, or there abouts.

Wolfala · « **Reply #4 on:** September 13, 2007, 11:52:08 AM »

The monitor just lost its mind again, and I got it on video. Will post the link when its done uploading to Photo Bucket. It just, lost its mind and then recovered like everything was normal.

Gaidin · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2007, 11:56:36 AM »

Sounds like one to me. I had a similar issue with a computer I built for someone and inadvertently put the wrong power supply in. They called me wanting to know what was wrong with it, I check it out and I had put in a 500w instead of the 850w i had ordered for it.

Wolfala · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2007, 12:06:17 PM »

Video of the event. Now what is odd about this, and I believe the events are actually seperate, is this happened a 2nd time after this video was taken. And it would continue to flash this screen even after the monitor was unplugged from the video card.

So, could it be there are 2 power supplies going? 1 PSU in the Case, and the other PSU inside the monitor itself?

Solar10 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2007, 12:35:46 PM »

Yawn. Worst movie I ever watched. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Wolfala · « **Reply #8 on:** September 13, 2007, 04:36:50 PM »

Another movie: with the monitor behavior even when it was unplugged from the back of the PC while it was powered up and stable.

Thoughts:

I think I am looking at 2 more or less simultanous failures.

1. The impending failure of the PSU within the PC by virtue of it being an ANTEC, 2500 hours continuous use and 12,500 hours plugged in.

2. Some sort of failure within the Dell Monitor with its integral power supply. It would work, and then lose its mind - and do this whether or not it was plugged into the PC or not. Observe the video for this behavior.

Irwink! · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2007, 09:49:44 PM »

Time to break out the big hammer.

Wolfala · « **Reply #10 on:** September 14, 2007, 11:03:32 PM »

Did a load calculation on the system in its current configuration. With everything going, 700 watts. So, its probabally a miracle the PSU that was in there went as long as it did. It has since been replaced with an 850 Watt OCZ GameXstream. I would've gone with Skuzzy's recommendation, except I couldn't dig up $400 even though the PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 850 SSI is without a doubt the most robust and bulletproof solution out there.

The monitor went out for repair, who knows what they will find with that. But with the PSU swapped out, it powered right up without a hitch. I noticed right off the start that the voltage values were more nominal with this PSU, example the ATX 24 pin was steady at 12.66 volts and the ATX 12V 4 pin was at 12.5. On the other one, the 4 Pin was sub 12 volt and a few other hanging irregularities.

Goes to show ya - make sure the PSU can grow with you and don't underestimate your power requirements as staying static over the years as your case grows.