380W Power Supply not cutting it?

[Lexxon]

Hiya.

I have an Antec 380W power supply, that came with my case, the Sonata.

When I bought this case, I knew that Antec supplies were good, and I thought 380W could cover what I needed.

I have a GeForce 6600GT, 1GB RAM, a Chaintech Sound Card, a PCI Wireless adapter, running on an Epox motherboard. Processor is an Athlon 64 3000+(?), 2.0 GHz(sure of that). 200GB Maxtor HD.

The computer has trouble shutting down and booting up--it beeps at me when booting up, and the case itself does not shut down when powering down--the front LEDs and fans stay on. Note that this is only sometimes for both--often, it is fine.

Recently, my motherboard was having trouble keeping settings, and I think it could have been underpowered. It seems ok now, but this power supply may have had it.

Also, when I boot up, soon after I post, all the fans in the case seem to slow down when boot begins.


Think this is a PSU issue? If so, what would be a good one to buy?

I've researched the XClio on Newegg, but 450W is not a whole lot more than I have, although I have heard OEM Power Supplies included with the case, like mine, are not top-of-the-line.

I've also seen a 550W Super Flower Power Supply Here for $76.00, which looks like a good deal, and I have heard good things about this supply as well.


Any experts got a clue? ;-)

Thanks a bunch.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Also, when I boot up, soon after I post, all the fans in the case seem to slow down when boot begins.

Power supply fan is speed-controlled by temp, and so is the rear fan if you used the "Fan Only" power connector. Hopefully you didn't attach that fan only connector to something else.

CPU fan is speed controlled by temp if you have "Q-Fan" enabled in the BIOS.

Beeping might be from talking to USB devices -- I get them on my Asus P4C-800E after I added a USB wifi adapter.

Anandtech 6600GT power use measurements were about 200 watts for the entire system and people are running 6800GTs in cube cases with 250watt PUSs so I don't think that 380watts is too little for you. Did you attach the small 12v "P4" connector to the mobo if there is a socket for it?

 

[charlietee]

The best thing to do is get a digital multi-tester and check the voltages.

Fairly easy to do for the 12 and 5 volt rails by using a free molex connector.

You can pin the ATX connector but I recommend using one of THESE Antec power supply testers.

It puts a load on the power supply and allows you to check all three rail...12v, 5v, and 3.3v rails.

Using the molex connector connect to the 12v rail and watch the volt ohm meter as it boots and see how stable it is...Then check the 5v rail.

Antec claims 3% line regulation for the TruePowers.

Another thing you might want to check is that you do not have anything but fans connected to the "fan only" molex connectors off of the power supply.

 

[Lexxon]

Yes, the little power connector is into the mobo.

The beeping I may have been a bit lacking in description--it makes long beeps, and it continues until I shut off the system. Then the BIOS tells me that the "CPU must be re-setting" or something in not-so-good english, so I have to go into the BIOS and re-save it.

I don't think it'd be the mobo though, because it only happens every so often..

To the below poster, I am not using the Fan Only connectors, since I know it uses less power for that "quiet" feeling...heh. And I was unaware of that PSU fan quality, although it sounds like the entire system has trouble.

I've been playing World of Warcraft on this PC since January, though, and it's been running decently well on full video settings.

 

[aatf510]

IMO, it's not the PSU problem.

 

[Lexxon]

I've blamed the PSU for a while now, but maybe it is the mobo.

I don't see how it could be anything else..but it' still odd.

Since this "fun", everything's been working perfectly--no beeping, no lost settings, no burning metal...nothing.

Gah, too many possiblilties

Anyways, thanks for the input.