| FilthyRaider |
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| Thu May 01 2008 10:59 PM |
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Do I Need More Power?
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I've upgraded my Dell (Windows XP) with extra HDD, a DVD writer, better Graphics Card over last few years and all seemed well. Then about a month ago I added extra memory and I started to get small issues.
First it was stuttering in tracks on ITunes as I surfed. Think I have sorted that now in Preferences.
But then I started to get some sound lag in games. Score a goal in PES 6 and the roar of the crowd and commentary took about five seconds to kick in.
I have also had a few unexpected crashes and the dread Blue Screen. Even taking a quick digi photo has led me to find nothing online using the codes on there.
So I downgraded the memory back to the way it was to see if that made a difference, and then today Blue Screen of death and one crash where the machine literally switched off and would not come back on until turned on and off at the wall.
I've updated drivers, reinstalled stuff and tried a few utilities to try to find the issue, but I keep wondering if it is a power problem. Hoping to spend the weekend cleaning up the inside of the PC, and it should give me chance to check out the PSU. It was only when I got the problems and started to look at what it might be I started to realise the extra work the additional bits have put on it.
What I wondered is, has anyone else had a similar problem related to the PSU?
| RichieP |
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| Fri May 02 2008 08:55 AM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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PSUs don't usually cause BSOD, they just turn off.
Did you get a stop code on the blue screen?
| FilthyRaider |
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| Fri May 02 2008 09:49 AM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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The last crash was a total 'turn off'. The power button on the PC did not respond and, as I said, it only worked when I switched it on and off at the wall. It was this last one that made me think PSU.
The others all have different codes. One appears to make reference to the graphics card. When I reinstall new drivers you get a NVidia power warning, but I had read on the web that this was 'common' and found a registry fix. Now I'm not so sure it was so wise to ignore and wondering if that crash was related to the power warning.
I have updated the BIOS via Dell from VO3 to VO7. Still no joy.
Not sure if this will work, but here are the actual screen shots of the last three crashes: (Mods, if I an breaching any board rules, please delete):
| RichieP |
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| Fri May 02 2008 12:56 PM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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First thoughts from those screenshots is faulty RAM.
| Mouse |
| (Moderator) |
| Fri May 02 2008 07:02 PM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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The first BSOD refers to a video card issue, have you updated your nVidia drivers?
| Sandhound |
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| Fri May 02 2008 10:29 PM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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G'day FilthyRaider.
What wattage is the PSU that you are using.
| FilthyRaider |
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| Fri May 02 2008 10:29 PM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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I have updated the driver from NVidia, but still get the issues. I've put the RAM back the way it was, but still had a crash. The photos are actually in order.
First one seemed to be a video card issue. I updated the driver. After the second I took the new RAM out, and the third was the next instance after I had updated the driver and took the new RAM out.
Running it as normal (this might sound weird) but with the intention of making it crash, so I can get more 'evidence' to see what it is.
I have read that a PSU that is overloaded will make a system unstable. Hopefully this weekend I can take the PC apart, refit everything and see what it does.
Thanks for the advice so far. Very welcome.
| FilthyRaider |
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| Sat May 03 2008 05:30 PM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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Just a quick update.
Did the thorough clean I wanted. Removed fans where possible and cleaned, just a general internal tidy up - more regular maintenance than anything.
Loaded up first time, no problems. Then I restarted it as it was not recognising the printer for some reason.
Anyway before it gets to the XP screen it just stops. Power button does nothing, screen black.
I flick the wall switch on and off and start up again. Same thing.
Finally after giving it a few minutes, try again. It starts, I'm on and typing this.
Few extra points. I could swear that the power fan is louder than normal lately (and not since today's clean). I always feel you have three 'levels' of fan noise - normal, louder and oh my God! what's up!
I get the feeling that normal is no longer the lowest level. Could that be an inkling that the supply is struggling?
Also the straight forward 'power outs' recently seem to point that way.
Currently sizing up if it is worth buying a new PSU as a last resort - can get one on eBay for about £30, same type etc.
Just wondering again if anyone has been in the same boat.
Thanks again for getting back. Very welcome.
| RichieP |
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| Sat May 03 2008 08:16 PM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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As the PSU is fairly cheap, I'd start with that and see how it goes. You can get them for less than £30 at places like Ebuyer.
| FilthyRaider |
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| Sat May 03 2008 09:08 PM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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Thanks Richie. Funny enough I am just looking at EBuyer now.
My current PSU is a 250W. Most of the eBuyer ones are double that, so that might be a better start. Just struggling through the specs at the moment to find one that will physically fit (as I don't want to butcher the case), and also to find one that should offer the right cables.
| greysts |
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| Sun May 04 2008 10:29 AM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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The vast majority of PSU's are externally the same size and should fit in a standard aperture. Having said, a 250w unit is quite small and presumably a few years old so it might not be standard size. I know you're an eBay king but I go along with Ritchie, use a reputable retailer like eBuyer with a proven track record for something like this.
| FilthyRaider |
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| Sun May 04 2008 12:55 PM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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Plot thickens actually.
On the PSU front I have seen a good PSU with eBuyer - like you say, eBay has it's moments but in all honesty some of the listings don't give enough info to make a basic decision band most offerings are like for like with what I have and I do not see the point. I still feel that I will look at updating the PSU.
Following on from another thread I installed the utility Everest and ran it. It shows the GPU running at over 100C..............Aaahhh.
So is the graphics card up the creek? This morning I've removed it and gone back to the old 5200 to see if the system is still unstable. Have contacted the retailer (although it was bought June last year it should still have a warranty) and will wait to see what they say.
It's a 7600GS and the fan works fine, but that Everest reading seems to indicate a flaw and from that, some of the other 'incidents' maybe fall into place?
The 7600 has a power connector but my system PSU has no spare outlets. I'm tempted to retry it using one of the connectors from the CD drive and see if that makes any difference.
Don't you just love PCs when they go wrong? It's like being a bad detective following up one false lead after another.
Hopefully this may have narrowed it down - any opinions would be very welcome.
| FilthyRaider |
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| Sun May 04 2008 01:42 PM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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Sorry to follow on but just had another Blue Screen with my old Graphics Card.
| Sandhound |
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| Sun May 04 2008 10:05 PM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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G'day FilthyRaider.
A 250W PSU is much to small to do the job properly.
Novatech have some 450w 20pin and 550w 24pin PSUs for £1#.##p.
Nice units
| FilthyRaider |
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| Mon May 05 2008 12:17 AM |
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Re: Do I Need More Power?
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Cheers for the advice. I am looking to get a new PSU once the Bank Hol is over and I can be assured a delivery. Will then run it and see what happens.
Hopefully it will end the issue. Trouble is, with the faults I get it appears to throw up PSU underperforming to viruses. Will try to update the thread as and when.
Many thanks to all those who have taken their time to answer, much appreciated.
| FilthyRaider |
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| Tue May 13 2008 06:25 PM |
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UPDATE - Plot thickens
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Put new PSU in today - quite easy. Powered up, all fine until it got past the XP login to my settings and the familiar music jittered and stuck! PC closed down.
So not power then. Could not get it to come on again, but I noticed the Dell power light was flickering amber meaning problem device so I remove the 7600 Graphics card and replaced it with the 5200. Came back on.
My 7600 card is still under 12 months warranty and the sellers have agreed to have it back to check it - faulty and it is replaced, okay and they send it back.
BUT later today I got another Blue Screen. Just about to start up iTunes and it went.
So what next. I have used the old RAM and had no difference to the new RAM. Still goes.
Clearly the graphics card may be an issue but it still happens on the old one too, although not so severe.
Is it worth smacking in my XP disc and doing a repair?
Have eliminated a few suspects but this is baffling.
| FilthyRaider |
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| Tue May 13 2008 11:53 PM |
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No CPU Temperature Readings.
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After reading through some other threads and forums I was trying to get a CPU temperature reading. Tried Everest and a few others and I only get readings for the Hard Drives.
I am sure that some time early last year I ran something like SpeedFan and got a CPU reading. Today nothing. Could this be the issue?
| RichieP |
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| Wed May 14 2008 08:14 PM |
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Re: No CPU Temperature Readings.
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Possibly, althoug hard to tell without any temps.
When it next shuts down. Switch it back on and go straight into the BIOS. You should have a hardware monitor somewhere that will display the CPU temp. If it's that causing it, it will still be high.
| FilthyRaider |
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| Wed May 14 2008 10:27 PM |
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Re: No CPU Temperature Readings.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I'm waiting to hear on the other Graphics Card, but given that I am getting issues with the old one two (but not as frequent), I am next going to tear through the drivers, then XP. Just trying to put my finger on the issue and see if it is related to anything I may have changed at some point.
| FilthyRaider |
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| Thu May 15 2008 10:54 AM |
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Re: No CPU Temperature Readings.
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First, I'd like to thank everyone that has read and commented. Very welcome.
Just a further update:
Had the 7600 graphics card back today. Well, actually it's a NEW 7600 graphics card, so something must have been up there. Good service there from PC Nextday - eleven months after buying it............
Further thought: Fiddling about the other day, I took the heatsink off the CPU and cleaned it. Not that dusty, but need to be thorough. What I did notice was that the thermal grease between it and the CPU looked degraded. Looked more like toothpaste on the bathroom mirror. So I've ordered a tube (I've read all the articles about not putting it on like butter - a 'rice bead' is what I understand is recommended).
Just another piece to the puzzle. One day, I might get back to having a PC that ran the way it used to!