OT - computer problem (power supply?)

[BucDawg40]

I upgraded my video card in February, and enjoyed trouble-free computing/gaming for a couple of months. Around the beginning of April, the computer started rebooting at random intervals. Since I have witnessed it happen while doing nothing more than monitoring the PC Health screen in the BIOS, so this is definitely not just a case XP restarting after an error. It is also not due to overheating, as my case never gets above 37C, and the CPU never above 47C. It behaves very much like a temporary loss of power, as if a connection has come loose (and yes, I have triple checked all connections).

I have noticed that the readings for the Antec SL350 power supply -12V line exceed the recommended tolerance. I have noticed it fluctuate wildly between -12.65 to -12.85 (web site states that between -12 and -12.6 is acceptable).

Anyway, earlier this week it ceased to be a once or twice per day reboot/power anomaly, and became a full-on pain in the ass. I can no longer rely on it to be stable for more than a few minutes or seconds, so I have taken out the power supply while I await a 430W Antec from Newegg.

What I am looking for is opinions as to the likelihood that the power supply is indeed the problem. TIA!

[Draft Dodger]

it does sound that way, but there could be other reasons (in my case, it was a bad hard drive).

I would turn off the "automatic restart" for system failures - that way, you get an actual blue screen with an error message that may give you a helpful hint (or not)

Also, make sure your error log reporting is on - that info can help too.

[BucDawg40]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

I would turn off the "automatic restart" for system failures - that way, you get an actual blue screen with an error message that may give you a helpful hint (or not)

I've got this off already, and never seen a blue screen.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by BucDawg40

I've got this off already, and never seen a blue screen.

well, I guess that points even more in the direction of PSU failure.

[FBPro]

Sounds like the same kinda issues I had and it was the power supply, once replaced no more problems.

[BucDawg40]

Originally Posted by FBPro

Sounds like the same kinda issues I had and it was the power supply, once replaced no more problems.

Ah, good. That makes me feel better. Did you post about your troubles on this forum? Just how close does my situation sound to yours?

[Mr. Wednesday]

If you want to try stress-testing your system generally, the Prime95 torture test (for the CPU) and Memtest (for memory) seem to be the two testing methods that are recommended. If your computer can pass both, you can rest assured that you don't have either a CPU stability problem or a memory problem.

[BucDawg40]

To follow up on this...

new power supply = problem solved!

[SackAttack]

I've been having the same problems with my machine. Hopefully the outcome will be the same.

[MizzouRah]

I just finished putting a power supply in my sisters computer. Glad yours is fixed!


Todd

[Buccaneer]

This recalls my troubles earlier this year when I custom built a new computer. After buying/replacing a MB, CPU and RAM, I upgraded the Antec350 to a Antec400 and everything worked. An important lesson to learn.