PSU Problem
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From: Bucks
PSU Problem
OK, I work in I.T so know enough 
But when it comes to your own pc maybe it's just me, but you fix pc's all day long and when your's develops a problem you just ignore it!
Basically from startup it seems my power supply unit is making a nasty noise (sounds like the fan) but it is deffo still turning, anyway by the time the o/s loads it stops (and yes the fan is still spinning ) I have cleaned out the PC, and can't see any problems, I guess it's new PSU time?...my next question is....where do you all buy your parts from? I am planning on building another PC and want to get hold of some cheap good spec bits 
But when it comes to your own pc maybe it's just me, but you fix pc's all day long and when your's develops a problem you just ignore it! Basically from startup it seems my power supply unit is making a nasty noise (sounds like the fan) but it is deffo still turning, anyway by the time the o/s loads it stops (and yes the fan is still spinning
) I have cleaned out the PC, and can't see any problems, I guess it's new PSU time?...my next question is....where do you all buy your parts from? I am planning on building another PC and want to get hold of some cheap good spec bits
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http://www.scan.co.uk because it's just up the road from me...
And I only ever buy Enermax power-supplies......current one is a 600W "NoiseTaker".
And I only ever buy Enermax power-supplies......current one is a 600W "NoiseTaker".
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From: Bucks
the psu maybe undegoing too much stress when the system is booting as obviously everything is running at full speed. does it do it when you run stressful programs?
this next bit is potentially dangerous so i take no responsibility for any injuries you could get from doing this.
switch the psu off at the back and disconnect from the wall.
unplug the psu from the motherboard (i would unplug from other devices too but you can leave fans in)
test the psu by bridging pins 13 (black wire) and 14 (green wire) on the psu's motherboard connector. switch on at the wall and then the back of the psu. the psu will switch on.
obviously if it makes no noise, you know its stress on the psu causing it to do it. if it still makes a noise then chances are its knackered. you could test all your voltage rails while youre doing this as well.
this next bit is potentially dangerous so i take no responsibility for any injuries you could get from doing this.
switch the psu off at the back and disconnect from the wall.
unplug the psu from the motherboard (i would unplug from other devices too but you can leave fans in)
test the psu by bridging pins 13 (black wire) and 14 (green wire) on the psu's motherboard connector. switch on at the wall and then the back of the psu. the psu will switch on.
obviously if it makes no noise, you know its stress on the psu causing it to do it. if it still makes a noise then chances are its knackered. you could test all your voltage rails while youre doing this as well.
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try your local computer fair and only buy from stall holders that are fairly close to you incase anything fails and needs taking back....i got a new m/board pentium 4 3ghz processor 512 ddr heatsink and fan etc....basically everything i needed for under Ł300
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From: Bucks
Yes Dan, that'd be the best solution, any recommendation on a psu? I could just replace with the same model I guess from my local pc place, what advantage is there having a higher powered one? 
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Originally Posted by adamS2RST
Yes Dan, that'd be the best solution, any recommendation on a psu? I could just replace with the same model I guess from my local pc place, what advantage is there having a higher powered one?
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From: Bucks
If you upgrade any parts in the machine (graphics card, mainly, but extra hard-drives can also play a part), then a lower-powered PSU could have a chance to brown-out (ie. temporarily not supply enough power to all devices).
- Best get it sorted asap, a machine's psu @ work went bang today in a big way! 
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Worst I've had was an old hard-drive go pop (well, one of the chips on the drive's board, anyway). The chip (which was about the size of a thumb-nail) exploded with enough force to put a small dent in the computer-case!
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A proper 600w psu will cost at least Ł50, you see psu claiming to be 600w for Ł12, these are not 600w and when put under test did not run near that amount of power.
For the average pc a psu running a real 350w is enough. If you run a lot of hard drives, fans, optical drives and a beefy cpu and graphic card then you will need more. Custom PC magazine done a proper load test on psu last month and it showed some surprises to say the least.
hi-spec system http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=179312
lo-spec system http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=138556
This is and the like are a waste of money http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=61300
For the average pc a psu running a real 350w is enough. If you run a lot of hard drives, fans, optical drives and a beefy cpu and graphic card then you will need more. Custom PC magazine done a proper load test on psu last month and it showed some surprises to say the least.
hi-spec system http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=179312
lo-spec system http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=138556
This is and the like are a waste of money http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=61300
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