Is my PSU choking or dying?

[calcrazy]

HELP!

This computer has caused me nothing but problems since the day I brought the parts home.

For the past few days, I haven't been able to get my cd drives up and running (CD-ROM and CD-RW, both LG), even though they are both plugged in properly.

A common thing that happens when this occurs is that my hard drives are not detected by the BIOS. For some reason though, if I move the cables around (not the connectors, just the ribbon stuff), it seems to work, and they are detected again. The cd drives still aren't detected though.

Another thing that I notice is that my case fan slows down to nothing or shuts off, and when I move the cables, it will start up again, but releasing pressure from the cables shuts the fan off again.

This has happened three times since I had the new mobo installed. I don't think my power supply has a brand name, because it came with the case. It's 300W, although the sticker on the side has two numbers for a MAX...280W and 300W. According to sites that calculate power usage, I am currently using 294W but that doesn't take into account that I've also got a USB printer hooked up.

Please tell me what the hell is going on here!

[amd_man2005]

Full hardware specs would help a great deal, but I'm almost sure thats a crappy PSU problem

[The__tweaker]

Yeah check your psu but also another thing, have ya bridged ya ide devices correctly for master/slave use..:?:

[calcrazy]

On the IDE bridging topic, I haven't changed master/slave settings either in months, or at all, and they worked fine before.

Full System Specs:

- Asus A7V8X-X
- AMD 2200+ Athlon XP Thoroughbred core w/ retail HSF
- 256MB DDR2100 RAM
- WD 40GB 5400rpm (Windows XP)
- Maxtor 30 GB 7200rpm (MDK 9.2)
- GeForce 4 MX440 8X AGP
- Onboard SoundMax Sound Card
- Onboard VIA LAN card
- Thermaltake 80mm case fan
- LG 52x CD-ROM
- LG 24x10x40 CD-RW
- 300W Power Supply (don't have the brand name on it)

Note: Case fan does not plug into the board as the cord is not long enough, it plugs into an adapter that is then plugged into one of the hard drives

[amd_man2005]

You definately need a bigger PSU

[minibubba]

ya, it sounds like your psu has finally crapped out. You should leave it unplugged until you can get a replacement; you don't want power sags to burn up your circuitry.

[Wiggo]

A PSU with a minimum rating of 400W and get a quality name one as no-name brands generally don't live up their ratings.

[calcrazy]

FYI...

Today I bought an Enermax 460W w/ dual fan and installed it.

Damn, my case fan doesn't die out, my cd driver are being recognized, this is great.

Now if only I can get that monitor that I ordered...

[wizard james]

most computers now days with all the cooling and power needed the min shold be 400.

may i ask where you got your psu?

[calcrazy]

I got my new PSU at a local place here in Ottawa, but they will ship all over Canada and maybe into the US

http://www.pccyber.ca