Oh crap, the PSU has to die NOW!

[brownbox]

Exactly what the title says. The noisy, no name, unknown size PSU in my computer is starting to show the beginning signs of packing up. When I first start my computer, and every time I turn it off, I get an un healthy clicking sound. Kind of like if you get your 4 pin power collector, and hold it in the fan, so it makes lots of noise. It has been getting worse since i got it, the fan getting noisier and noisier.

So, its time to move on, its so sad, blah blah. Found this one. I like how its got 2 fans on it
http://www.xpcomputers.co.nz/views.asp?hw_id=1135

[Jimmy]

brownbox, I get a clicking sound whenever mine turns on/off. I don't thnk its a problem (knowing my pc it proably is) I don't think you shoudl waste your money on a new PSU unless its broken. You know the saying

[brownbox]

oh yes, thats fine how its only when it turns on and off, but the problem is it does it sometimes whenever it wants Whether Im flight simming, internetting, or just looking at the desktop

[Zöltuger]

sounds like an odd problem, it might just be struggling due to the heat

this is the one i have. does the trick, and it's higher quality than thermaltake: http://www.edencomputers.co.nz/p.aspx?342059

[brownbox]

and it's higher quality than thermaltake:

With a price to match aswell!

Sorry, my price range is as cheap as possible at the moment.

[Dreamweaver]

Two words do go together "Cheap" and "Quality"

Zöltuger has probably hit it on the head! Heat Stress. I understand your in a shed with you PC which I would assume is metal and hot?

This morning I fired up my PC and the tool I have monitoring it stated

CPU 41c
MB 27c
Fan CPU speed 2518
MB speed 2149

Room Temp 18c

now at 7pm without running FS

CPU 45c
MB 34c
Fan CPU Speed 3970
MB 2163

Room Temp 25c

Start up FS and

CPU up to 50-55c
MB no change
Fan CPU Speed 4200
MB 2205

You see what I am getting at?

[brownbox]

ahhh thaths the thing. Im currently in my house, in the corner of the dining room, the thermometre measuring 19'C

I dont think its heat stress. The noise, the system lock ups, the sudden turn offs, its just getting crap. No healthy PSU should do that no matter what the temp is

[Dreamweaver]

Now in another thread you said you put a screwdriver through the motherboard when you was cleaning the CPU Heat sink?

Also you said after the PC turned it self off and the Bios showed 90c?

The noise, the system lock ups, the sudden turn offs, its just getting crap. No healthy PSU should do that no matter what the temp is

That with the above information sounds like you cooked the CPU which is what I told you would be the result. I am reluctant to say your PSU is to blame considering the above.

Go and visit a computer tech now.

[brownbox]

if the CPU was cooked, I dont think the system would be going the same speed, or at all . No, the screwdriver did not go through the motherboard, it did not even come close.

[Dreamweaver]

Fair enuff what do I know

[Bingobob]

Not very often I get annoyed then post

So, I put the heatsink and fan back on the cpu, and tried to clip it back in. It wouldnt budge. I tried pushing it down again and the screwdriver slipped, smashing straight into the motherboard  Thats when things started going real bad.

No, the screwdriver did not go through the motherboard, it did not even come close.

Which is it did the screwdriver contact the motherboard or not?

Dreamweaver may well be correct in his diagnostic of the CPU after being exposed even for a brief time to 90C. The breakdown will be gradual due to the design stregths of the modern Pentium and your so called PSU problem has only shown up since you removed the CPU. Take everyones advice leave what you dont understand alone especially if you dont have the money to replace it. I think we are getting tired of reading how your PC has a problem which you created

The sooner you break the damn thing the quiter this section will become.

[brownbox]

i ask you. Why on Earth would I be careless enough to actually hit my motherboard with such force it would go THROUGH it?

I think we are getting tired of reading how your PC has a problem which you created angry.gif

The sooner you break the damn thing the quiter this section will become.

If everyone was so damn tired of it Ill go post my computer problems somewhere else.

[Zöltuger]

I think we are getting tired of reading how your PC has a problem which you created

The sooner you break the damn thing the quiter this section will become.

We all make mistakes, I put the heatsink on my computer the wrong way when I took it off to clean it- only noticed it when I had to plug the fan into the board and I had to stretch it over the fan itself...
If brownbox has a problem then he should be able to ask for help without being criticised.

On this occassion I suggest that you to take it to a specialist repair place to diagnose the problem. Whilst it may be the PSU, it could be the CPU or it might just be overheating. Whatever it is, it's best that someone can see for themselves in person, rather than us just speculating.

[Alex]

This section was created for a reason, and that reason was not "to be quiet".

Brownbox, at the moment, I think you are the Technical Support section . And its great to have someone asking for help, which is not common at all these days. Please, keep posting.

Alex

[Jimmy]

yes, and posting here and having somethingn sorted out doesn't just benifit the one person. I often read threw here, I can look out for things to avoid with my own pc, and of course learn from others mistakes

[brownbox]

Whatever it is, it's best that someone can see for themselves in person, rather than us just speculating.

Ok, so i took my computer to my brothers place. Hes a semi computer programmer/half technician/qualified engineer/dairy farmer/married family man.

He turned it on, listened to my symptoms, checked some stuff in the case, did some more stuff I wouldnt have a clue, and came to a conclusion it could be the PSU. So, he took mine out, put his spare 350W in, and turned it on. It fixed it! No noises, no restarts, no lock up. I left the computer on during the day, and brought it back home just now, after removing his power supply. Everythings back to how it was, after putting mine back in. Ive purchased a $90 dual fan 430W Thermaltake PSU, and it should come in the mail by this weekend. Now time to look at hacking up my case

[Alex]

Good to see you found out the cause of your problem.

Alex

[brownbox]

Oh my god, Im amazed.


Heres the story:
So, I got an email from the place I brougt the PSU from the other day saying that the Thermaltake one I ordered was out of stock, and that I could either wait a month, or pick another one. So, they sent me a brand new 400W Hyena one, with "silent" ball bearing fan on it, and took $50 off the price, making it $40 including postage, instead of 90+postage

Alright, so it arrived in the mail today. Nice Courier post box, and inside it, the PSU box. It looked pretty normal, it was nice and shiny, and it smelled like new!

Then, I had a quick check on the internet how to replace a PSU, then I was all set to go. I opened up the case, and unscrewed the old power supply. I was shocked at what I saw. As you may know, I was saying I had a no name old 400W grey power supply in it. Well, I take it off, and then look on the top of its case (the part you cant see), and this is what I saw.

Written in Vivid: "350W. FAULTY" underlined


Anyway, I installed the new one, and was suprised to see my computer still works.
Man, what an improvement!
1. The strange clicking noise is gone
2. So is a strange humming noise my computers always had since I brought it
3. Almost ALL vibration in case has stopped
4. The noise level of my computer has been dramatically decreased. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being what the noiselevel was before, Id happily say it is now a 2 or 3!

Now, instead of my computer sounding like a 747, its sounding like a Bicycle

Cheers
BB

[Zöltuger]

Written in Vivid: "350W. FAULTY" underlined

heck, that's no good. just as well you replaced it then. B)