Bad Power or Bad Motherboard - Multiple Problems

[CZero]

Okay, first, here's my hardware:

ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ [512 KB per core]
Stock AMD CPU Fan
OCZ Platinum [Rev. 2] Dual Channel 512MB x2 (1GB total)
ASUS Extreme AX850 Pro (PCI-E x16)
Western Digital Raptor 74GB x2 (NVRaid Stripe)
Antec TruePowerII 550 W
Logitech Z-5500 Digital (connected via RCA Coaxial to onboard audio chipset)

Second, here's my problems:

1. Warcraft III sometimes becomes choppy and the mouse scroll becomes erratic.
2. When certain light switches in the house are turned off, the speakers pop.
3. Occasionally shortcut icons become the generic icon for the type of file they link to.
4. USB ports do not output enough power to run the wireless keyboard / mouse.

Third, some relevent system information / troubleshooting steps.

a) Updated to latest MB BIOS (1017.004), which made no difference. CMOS defaults make no difference either.
b) Reinstalled Windows XP about 5 times. That doesn't help.
c) Plugged surge protector into about 5 different outlets in house. The speakers still pop.
d) Put electrical tape between case standoffs and motherboard, per advice by tech support at ASUS. No problems resolved. Also per their advice I verified that the amperage on all the power supply outputs is sufficient.
e) Reseated graphics card. No difference.
f) Monitored CPU temp. It idles at about 100 degrees F at seems to max out at about 120 degrees F. I have a Thermaltake CPU fan which never got installed because the AMD warranty is void if the right thermal paste is not used. I don't know anything about thermal pastes.
g) Ran 3D Mark 2006 Demo. No hangups. Scored about 1800 marks.

Lastly, I just want to say that I'm not very knowledgable about PC's, so if you decide to try to help, please explain in detail the steps I must attempt. My last resort (which probably should have been 1 of the first) is to spend about $200 on a 600 W UPS, then RMA the motherboard and read a bit about thermal paste before the new one comes back.

Thanks and good luck to you all with your systems.

 

[Luckyboy1]

Let's start with something as bland as the wall outlet. See the end of Luckyboy's Guide For Complete Users for a complete explaination.

 

[CZero]

Luckyboy1:

The outlets here are obviously not commercial grade, I can say that much. But I don't have the expertise or option of working on them. My only option for a good source of power is likely that UPS. But can I actually rely on one to provide good power if the wall outlets are, for lack of clarity on the concept, screwed up? Apparently the whole house is because my PC speakers pop no matter if they are plugged in to my outlets or if I run a 25 foot extension cord to a different set of outlets.

I have seen evidence of the myriad of manifestations of corrupted power. A friend-of-mine's S-Video port would cause the television connected to it to display scrolling horizontal bars - until he plugged the PC to a different room. When a carpenter here turned his power saw on, my lamp and monitor would flicker - the voltage to the outlets must be sharply dropping. Which, now that I have read parts of "Luckyboy's Guide", must be causing a lot of stress on my PC's power supply as it compensates by upping amperage.

Anyhow, I apologize for being so lengthy. It's just the issues in my initial posting have been ongoing for 2 months now and I'm at a loss.

Will a UPS save my PC from bad power? Or is it too late...

 

[Quinton McLeod]

It appears as though something is wrong with the power. Everything you've explained will only result if you're "lacking" power.

What you're going to have to do is download a program that allows you to monitor your rails. If you see flucuations or if maybe not enough power going into one rail, replace the PSU.

1) Speakers pop because the power to the speakers are flucuating when the lights are switched off

2) Warcraft III studders because the graphics card isn't getting enough power. So, when the power flucuates, it starts to studder

3) The icons aren't showing the right stuff because the hard drive isn't getting enough power to load the pictures up for the icons.

4) USB ports don't have enough power to supply data to the mouse and keyboard because the PSU isn't supplying enough.


Therefore... You need a new PSU. But check first.

 

[CZero]

Quinton McLeod:

I installed ASUS PCProbeII. The voltage outputs are level, but I don't know how to create a log to watch for spikes. Also I called Antec about the PSU. The tech suggested that I should use a wattage calculator to estimate if my supply is sufficient. He said that bad power can kill PSUs, so you may be right. I just don't want to replace it if the same thing is going to happen to the next one - though maybe I just need a more powerful PSU.

Your analysis of my problems is insightful and appreciated.