Big troubles - PSU Advice/Comments

[bozilla]

Hi guys, I've been having a crapload of trouble with power supplies. I'm afraid to even think it's the motherboard, but if someone thinks it's the motherboard please say so.

Here' the problem:

I've spend a crapload of money on the new Dual Xeon computer, all the best components, 4 Gb of ram X800XT PE card etc and bought Thermaltake 680W PSU. When I placed everything together, I've noticed that TT PSU doesn't come with 8-pin 12V server connector. Instead it comes with regular 4-pin 12V connector. I tried it out and noticed that only one CPU was getting powered. Ok, no big deal.

I found on newegg also from Thermaltake a 4-pin to 8-pin cable adapter exclusively because of this reason. Now, because I had to wait, I bought a temporary PSU from Vantec (520W) from a local store. Everything worked ok with Vantec, I installed the XP (but keep in mind that I plugged in only the DVD-ROM, DVD-R, 2 HDDs, regular low power ATI Radeon 8500 and these dual CPUs). I also bought 2 Swiftech coolers and Arctic Cooling ATI Silencer for the X800XT PE but I didn't include those components when I was installing everything.

Now this is where the problem started appearing. The 4-pin to 8-pin adapter came and I took out Vantec, placed TT PSU inside and booted the system. Went into BIOS, saw both CPUs are recognized, voltages are good and CPU temperatures were ok for these type of processors (~45-50C). BUT, when I made some changes to the BIOS and tried to save, the whole machine shuts down. I can't even turn it on anymore.

I had to wait for 10 minutes, turn off and on the PSU switch manually and then the system reboots. This time I decide to go into Windows XP and everything boots fine. After I downloaded ATI drivers, I wanted to reboot..the same crap happens. The system shuts down. Now I'm really pissed. I take out the TT PSU and replace it again with Vantec 520. This time I boot the system and everything goes ok. I decide to put in the X800XT PE and replace the coolers to install the system properly.

Everything goes great and I install Steam to see how this thing rocks in CS:S. After I played for an hour. The system reboots by itself. I quickly go inside the BIOS and I see horrible things. One CPU fan is not recognized, the CPU1 temp is like 70C and the voltage on 3.3V is like 0! I turn off the system and start cursing everything. WTF is wrong with this SH*T.

Finally I RMA-ed the TT power supply and bought a 250 freaking dollars Enermax 660W with Active PFC and all the crap. Now my question is this: What seems to be a problem here? Did all this PSU fooking around messed up my motherboard, or the TT PSU is screwed up and the Vantec PSU can't handle the load or what? Is this Enermax PSU good or what? Am I to expect the same crap with it too?

Please help.

Thank you very very much.

BTW here's the list of components:

Dual Xeon 3.6Ghz EMT64 (if these died that would be the ultimate icing on the cake)
Dual Swiftech Coolers "MCX604-V" @ 28 dBA (what do I need these for when I can't get the freaking machine to work properly)
ASUS NCCH-DL Mobo (probably dead)
4Gb DDR400 OCZ Performance Series (4x1gb)
ATI X800XT Platinum AGP (now freaking dead and waiting for replacement)
Arctic ATI Silencer 4
NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive
ASUS 16x DVD-ROM
WD Raptor 74Gb + 300GB Seagate 7200.8 SATA NCQ
Thermaltake Silent PureCrap 680W PSU (and then Vantec 520 and then $250 Enermax 660W and still sh!t happening)
Lian Li Black Aluminum Case, "PC-V1200B"
===

 

[bmillerd]

Well let me first preface my comments by saying that I am not the most qualified person for such a question so please do not take what I say as correct. Now that that's out of the way, I had a similar experience.

I had an old Enermax 330W and upgraded my CPU/mobo and put 3 new fans in my rig. The thing would randomly reboot, would boot but not show video at all (as in the power would come but that's it), or if it did boot it would randomly restart. I tried everything, replacing the mobo and whatnot. I finally replaced the PSU only to find out that had been my problem all along. In the end I realized that the previous motherboard was actually fine. So if your situation is anything like mine, the PSU is definitely the culprit.

Throw the new PSU in there and fire the thing up. My guess is that it will fix your problem.


<edit>

Your rig rocks by the way. Just the dual xeon procs are worth more than my entire system combined =P (actually, probably double haha)

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi Boz, The PSU the most mis-understood device in a PC. Just remember what Abe Lincoln said,"Believe only half of what you see and nothing of what you hear". (or was that Will Rogers?) Jim

 

[VenomXTF]

The thermaltake PSU's are shit, and the Vantec is not powerful enough for that system. That Enermax should be fine if your mobo is not dead due to bad voltages. You should of just went with this from the start http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=17-103-478&depa=0

Full ESP12V PSU with 24pin and 8pin connectors. 36A on 12v line which is just amazing.

Here is one of the reviews on newegg with a similar system to yours:

"sarajlija,12/1/2004 12:34:52 AM

Hello everyone. This Beast is a real BEAST. This PSU is stable as rock. That's all what i have to say. This is what it powers:

-Asus PC-DL Deluxe mobo
-2x Intel Xeon 2.8 GHz 533 FSB 512 K @ 3.467 GHz
-2x Swiftech MCX603-V heatsinks
-1 GB DDR PC 2700 Samsung
-nVidia 6800 Ultra 256 MB Leadtek
-SCSI Controller 160
-SoundBlaster Audigy 2 6.1
-250 GB SATA Hitachi HD
-2x 73.4 GB SCSI HD Quantum or Maxtor
-CD-RW, DVD+/-RW Plextor
-FDD Sony
-Thermaltake Case
-Sparkle 550W
-With custome made Fan Controller with 9 fans using Thermaltake 80mm A2016 fan's. All fan's are adjustable from 2000-5300 rpm."

 

[bozilla]

God DAMN! I just got the Enermax 660W PSU (http://www.newegg.com/app/view...ion=17-103-438&depa=0) and when I plugged it in no life at all. It starts supplying power to the motherboard for a second and then NOTHING. In addition I think my X800XT PE got screwed up as well. Sh!t. I just can't believe this. In addition to this horrible experience and $6000 later (in total paying for additional PSUs and crap) this computer still doesn't work. But what really pisses me off is that the computer boots with stinking Vantec 520W PSU (but now when X800XT PE is in the slot it won't boot at all, but when I replace it with the old 8500LE card it works). WTF?!

Guys can you help me out here. I just order another ASUS NCCH-DL motherboard to replace this one (although I think I wasted money because if it was the motherboard it wouldn't boot with Vantec PSU either).

And what's with this Enermax 660W EPS12/ATX GES (crap) comes with like 24pin connector, 8pin 12V connector, but 24pin connector has some additional one pin on the side and has like 2 additional adapters. One with another 24pin and 12V 8pin but with that 1 pin on the cable female plug to match the original cable, and the other with 24 to 20pin regular ATX adapter. Can someone enlighten me what do with that as well.

Thanks a freakin' bunch.