Replacement PSU Question

[thatsmajor]

I've had sporadic issues with freezes, and I figured out that it's because I have a 250w powersupply in a rig with a new video card + recording interface drawing power + new ram + cpu, etc...

The computer in question is HP Pavilion a6403w, I bought a Elite Power 460 Watt ATX Power Supply. Installed it, and was not able to get a steady stream of power (eg: sometimes it would turn all the way on with a few things plugged in, sometimes it wouldn't, there was never any consistency). I tried resetting the CMOS, removing the bios battery, not plugging in any extra peripherals, etc...and was never able to get any consistency.

Im thinking I just bought a dud and will be fine after returning it after work for an identical model PSU. I wanted to check with everyone and see if somehow I bought the wrong PSU type or there's anything extra that I should try that it might be my fault... anything; just getting one last check-in before i return the PSU

btw model information on the PSU + my rig are:
Micro Center - Cooler Master Elite Power 460 Watt ATX Power Supply RS460-PSARJ3-US
HP Pavilion a6403w Desktop PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I wouldn't take it back just yet.

You now have 2 power supplies--old and new.

Do you get one set of problems with the old one and another, different set of problems with the new one?

Or do you get the same set of problems, with both the old and new power supplies?

Power supplies are not easy to troubleshoot without special tools, so it's best to have 2 on hand and compare the problems with each. It is possible both are bad, but I would NOT assume so.

 

[IggyAZ]

I've had sporadic issues with freezes, and I figured out that it's because I have a 250w powersupply in a rig with a new video card + recording interface drawing power + new ram + cpu, etc...

So what you are saying is you used your old MB and added new CPU, memory, Video card and recording interface.

What I would do is
Unplug PWS from motherboard and replug in and see if it reboots
Remove recording interface and see if it boots
If not I would reseat memory and see if it boots
If not I would reseat video card and see if it reboots
If that doesn't work and your data is backed up I would try reinstalling Windows.

Let us know what happens

 

[thatsmajor]

I'll reword, all of the additions were made long ago. I upgraded the videocard three weeks ago and has since been having sporadic freezing issues, I ruled out everything else, ran tests, reformatted, examined all hardware, and after a bit of lengthy research it came up being that the power supply being smaller than needed (the video card is stated as needing a minimum of 350 vs. the 250 that the stock PSU was), I purchased a new PSU, and ran into those issues listed in my first post.

With the old PSU the computer will boot, its just underpowered and will eventually lock up because of it.

 

[Wrench97]

What video card did you add?
I think the biggest issue is in the Quality of the supply chosen, Those elite power 460's are FSP OEM units that won't deliver their rated power> Cooler Master Elite Power 460 W Power Supply Review | Hardware Secrets
Corsair, Seasonic, XFX and a few others work best.

 

[thatsmajor]

My current specs are:
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
4gb of Ram
500gb SATA Hard Drive
Firewire Solo (powered via Firewire)
Raedeon HD6450

And a bevvy of USB devices that are taking power from it. All of which were powered by the 250w stock supply

-----

Micro Center - Corsair Builder Series 500 Watt ATX 12V Power Supply CMPSU-500CXV2

or

Micro Center - Enermax LEPA 500 Watt ATX Power Supply N500-SA

would be a good bet?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The last I heard, the Corsair Builder series had a pretty good reputation.

Not necessarily so with Enermax.

 

[thatsmajor]

The last I heard, the Corsair Builder series had a pretty good reputation.

Not necessarily so with Enermax.

I'm going to go for a straight out swap with Microcenter and hope that the one I got was just a dud...

 

[Wrench97]

Actually the Lepa n500 and the Corsair CX series are both Channelwell PSH II units.

The Antec High Current Gamer (Seasonic OEM unit) would be my first preference> Micro Center - Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-520 520W ATX Power Supply 23850

 

[thatsmajor]

I ran back after work and exchanged the PSU for a new one... and same issue; it will turn on for probably a full second and everything will spin and itll die. no beeps.

I thought maybe somehow the mobo got fried in all of this, but I tried the old PSU and she boots up fine with no problem...

I cleared the CMOS + battery

what else can I try, I highly doubt I got two dead PSU's
-----
What I've tried
Resetting the CMOS
Removing the Battery
Resetting the ram
new cord
new outlet
triple checked connections internally
tried it without the hd or cd-rom attached
tried w/o peripherals

but... the old PSU works... and this is my second one from the store...

im pullin out my hair

 

[Wrench97]

Which PSU did you end up with in the exchange, if it boots using the old one I can't see it being anything else...............

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Here are some troubleshooting steps recommended by member TVeblen:


Strip it down and then add components back, one at a time, to try and isolate the offending component.

The test (power off, power cord unplugged):
• Disconnect everything externally connected except the mouse and keyboard (printers, USB devices). If you are not using a wired mouse and keyboard see if you can borrow one.
• Disconnect the power and data cables from all the drives inside the computer (Hard drives, DVD/CD drives).
• Remove all the cards installed in the PCI slots including the video card. (be careful handling them and place them on a non conductive surface while testing).
• Remove all the RAM sticks (same rules as above).
Now connect the power cord and turn the PC on.
• The motherboard should start beeping. You should get a beep code that tells you there is no memory. This is good, it means the processor is functioning and the motherboard is good so far.
• Now add one stick of memory in Slot A1 and power on. More beeping: "no video card" beep code. This is good.
• Then add the video card and connect it to the monitor. You should get no beeping and you should see the BIOS screens, ending with the message that there is no boot device.
If you get no video then switch the one memory stick installed for another one and test.

Continue adding components one at a time.

If at any point the PC fails the the last component added was the problem one.

If you removed everything and there is only the Motherboard (with integrated video), processor, and power supply to contend with and it does not POST or show anything on the screen, then the problem is one of those three.

If you have tested by using another power supply then you are down to two. CPUs rarely fail, so motherboard is the most likely guess.

Try performing a CLRTC or Clear CMOS as a last ditch effort, and check the 3v battery. Both long shots, but what do you have to lose at this point.

 

[Comp Cmndo]

The rated wattage means little or nothing. What does the nameplate say for the +12V for both of the PSU's?

 

[thatsmajor]

After removing the video card and resetting the CMOS I was able to get it to boot up periodically, but still eventually had the same freeze that Ive been attributing to a PSU issue since all the other HW has passed the tests I've thrown at it (everything recommended here + a friends geeksquad automated diagnostic disc).

The PSU I have (best as I can find on the interwebs) is Bestec ATX-250-12Z Rev. D7R Replacement Power Supply 250W HP Part Number 5188-2622

The model that I've bought + returned 2x is Micro Center - Cooler Master Elite Power 460 Watt ATX Power Supply RS460-PSARJ3-US

What i'm planning on doing is returning it for one the recommended supplies today after work
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0348766
or
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0361422

...and if that doesnt work, i'm giving up and ordering this rig...

System Build - PCPartPicker

 

[IggyAZ]

Get rid of the video card and swap out with your old one and see what happens.

 

[thatsmajor]

IggyAZ, the issues came a few weeks after I put in the new card, I ran tests on the card and it seems fine, no display issues, not artifacts on stress testing, it runs cool, etc...

 

[DeaconFrost]

Can I make a suggestion that will help you now and down the road? Get a case and a motherboard, and put all of your existing parts in there. Then you don't have to worry about compatibility, cooling, etc.

 

[thatsmajor]

I returned the CoolerMaster PSU and picked up a Corsair CX500 and everything started up just fine... weird... hopefully that was the last of my problems... I'll see how this works out for the freezes.

 

[Wrench97]

It's all about quality control.........or lack of...........