Computers close together = crash?

Gannon

Senior member
Jul 29, 2004
527
0
0
I've been wondering about this for a while, my new Core 2 duo system crashes my old P4 system when I turn it on within a minute or two of booting the Core 2 system, my old P4 crashes hard. I'm guessing this possibly has something to do with EMI?

It is reproducible, so I found it pretty intrigueing... I'm guessing maybe theres not enough shielding on the case of either the P4 / Core 2 duo.
 

Ruptga

Lifer
Aug 3, 2006
10,246
207
106
I doubt it has anything to do with EM interference. You might see how much power you're pulling though, how old is your wiring and how much stuff do you have in that room?
 

Gannon

Senior member
Jul 29, 2004
527
0
0
Originally posted by: ADDAvenger
I doubt it has anything to do with EM interference. You might see how much power you're pulling though, how old is your wiring and how much stuff do you have in that room?

Wiring, not very old. How much stuff? Quite a bit...

Cable modem + Router + Voip + system, all on one socket (through power bar), but my other computer is on its own.
 

Ruptga

Lifer
Aug 3, 2006
10,246
207
106
It's very likely that there's only one circuit running to the sockets in that room, so regardless of where it's plugged in inside the room, it's all loading one circuit.

I'd expect the breaker would trip if this was a problem, I'm just shootin' in the dark there, but I am certain that it's not EM interference
 

dclive

Elite Member
Oct 23, 2003
5,626
2
81
A modern wall socket can deliver 1500 to 1800W. The 2 PCs together probably don't take over 450W.
 

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,727
46
91
Originally posted by: Gannon
I've been wondering about this for a while, my new Core 2 duo system crashes my old P4 system when I turn it on within a minute or two of booting the Core 2 system, my old P4 crashes hard. I'm guessing this possibly has something to do with EMI?

It is reproducible, so I found it pretty intrigueing... I'm guessing maybe theres not enough shielding on the case of either the P4 / Core 2 duo.

move them to another room that is on a different circuit and see if it happens. my home office runs a ton of stuff of a couple different outlets and never have any issues whatsoever
 

trOver

Golden Member
Aug 18, 2006
1,417
0
0
110v x 15amp breaker = 1650 watts. I dont think any of that stuff all combined is going to go over a 1000, unless you like plugged in a shopvac or something. Idk how much a pc pulls when it first turns on, but it cant be more than what the psu is rated for can it?

How old is your power strip? I had my vaccum plugged into an older power strip and it would overload the breaker in the power strip if i went though heavy carpet, thus causing the vaccum to turn off. You could be overloading your power strip?

Try plugging the C2D pc into a separate outlet, and the P4 into the power strip
 

myocardia

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2003
9,291
30
91
Originally posted by: trOver
110v x 15amp breaker = 1650 watts. I dont think any of that stuff all combined is going to go over a 1000, unless you like plugged in a shopvac or something. Idk how much a pc pulls when it first turns on, but it cant be more than what the psu is rated for can it?


Actually, it's 120v x 15A = 1850 watts. And there's no way that those two computers are using anywhere near that. As a matter of fact, I have two overclocked computers, plus a 19" CRT plugged into one surge supressor. And in the same room, on the same 15A circuit, I have a 32" CRT television, along with a 7 x 85 watt receiver, a 2 x 100 watt receiver, and a 200 watt powered sub, large ceiling fan, and three lamps, and the breaker has never once tripped, even when they're all going full-tilt.

How old is your power strip? I had my vaccum plugged into an older power strip and it would overload the breaker in the power strip if i went though heavy carpet, thus causing the vaccum to turn off. You could be overloading your power strip?

I would guess that he might be overloading the power strip, also.

Try plugging the C2D pc into a separate outlet, and the P4 into the power strip

Good call.
 

Gannon

Senior member
Jul 29, 2004
527
0
0
Well dammit it's on another outlet and it STILL does it, it MUST be proximity.

I can boot it up and then when it hits a certain time in the boot up like CLOCKWORK the other computer crashes... f'n weird! :)
 

seemingly random

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2007
5,277
0
0
Try experimenting with the distance separating the two pc's to verify your theory - separate them by a few inches further each time and try again. If faulty house wiring is strongly suspected it should be investigated - house fires are so inconvenient. I once experienced random circuit breaker faults that turned out to be a loose wire connection in an outlet. The inside of the box was black from fire but presumably quickly died for lack of air.

Definitely weird. Does this happen when the pcs are in different rooms?

A different receptacle doesn't guarantee a different circuit - iirc, the NEC has required two different circuits per room for 10-20 years - not necessarily that this happens though.
 

Gannon

Senior member
Jul 29, 2004
527
0
0
Originally posted by: Baloo
There must be something wrong with your clockworks, cause it was two months ago this thread died.

Yeah well I don't sit on the computer all day, and I had a power supply blow out, so :p
 
May 30, 2007
1,446
0
0
If you're plugging your Pc's into a "power strip" and not a surge protector. Don't be supprised when they rape you in your sleep ( and not in the good way either ).