Is my PSU bad?

[Project86]

The problem: When I start up any newer game that uses lots of CPU/GPU (MoH: Pacific Assault, Call of Duty Allied Assault, UT2k4, etc) my system completely powers off at random. Sometimes I can play for a long time, sometimes only for 30 seconds. Complete power shutdown, as if I yanked the plug out, except for the LED on my power button is still lit.

This was happening a while back, and I tried lots of things to fix it. I was able to play completely through the original Call of Duty with no problems though, so I figured maybe I had "accidentally" fixed it somehow. But it is still doing it...

I'm just trying to see if anyone has any other ideas before I buy a new PSU. I'm extremely happy with this PSU other than that issue: it's almost silent, and has very solid rails (as measured by MBM so who knows). I pieced together this computer all at once, so I've never ran a different PSU to know if that would be the cause. Could my motherboard have a problem that somehow causes this?

Specs:
XP-M 2200+ cooled by Thermalright SI-97
Chaintech 7NJS-Ultra
2X256mb Kingmax PC3500 and 512mb OCZ Premier PC3500
BBA Radeon 9800pro VGA Silencer rev. 3
80gb Maxtor, 30gb Western Digital hard drives
BenQ 1620 DVD burner
Coolmax Taurus silent series 400 watt PSU
4 case fans all @7v with rheobus


My temps are usually pretty good. I max out at 50c or so under full load, so I know it's not that. I've checked my settings in BIOS to make sure there is no protection shutdown thing activated for a low temp--it's not supposed to shut down until I hit 100c, so that isn't it.

I've done some overclocking to 215X12, and I've tried stock 166X11, and eveything in between, no luck. I've overclocked the video card and also tried it stock, doesnt matter.

Is my PSU just sucky or what?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Does this only happen when you play games?

It could be a bad video card also.

Could be bad memory too but I doubt that its memory!!

I doubt its your PSU iether.....

I wouldn`t buy anything until I am absolutely sure what it is!!

Also bear in mind there are those who will ask you what brand PSU you have and then based on the brand--nothing more they will try to tell you that its your PSU.....

Good Luck!!

 

[Project86]

Yeah t's only happened when in the middle of some extreme action on video games. And not just any game--seems to be 3rd person shooters only. I can still play Need For Speed Underground 2 for hours with no problem (not that I have time for hours of gaming!).

I've tried running only the OCZ, and tried Running only the Kingmax, no difference.

I don't see how it could be a bad video card... there's no artifacting or extra heat or any other of the usual symptoms.

Yeah you're right people on here tend to say "OCZ/PC P&C/Antec only! Everything else is CRAP!!!!!" But this is a very nice PSU. It's a lot heavier than my old Antec 350w, has a high quality finish/great build quality, is extremely quiet, rock solid rails, etc. I've been using the 300w version in a rig I built for my parents for several years by now, no problems.



Any other ideas?

 

[Safeway]

Since you checked your overclock, it might be bad RAM or a defunct PSU.

Memtest86 your RAM sticks together. If there is an error, test them one at a time. If there's a bad stick you will get errors - and hopefully they are in warrenty. Otherwise, you are SOL and need to buy new sticks.

If there are no errors w/n the RAM, it would be the PSU causing issues. When everything spins up and throttles up for high intensity games, the PSU might be choking.

 

[Project86]

I have memtested these sticks before, no problems. Should I do it again? Can stick "go bad" after a year or so of normal use? And wouldn't a bad stick cause a crash or some other type of BSOD or something, not kill all power completely?

I'm thinking of just buying a new PSU anyway, I have about $80 in my paypal account, so I could get a decent PSU for that. While it would be great to have a nice new future proof PSU anyway, I would be mad if I blew my $$ on that and still had the problem. Then I'd have to spend even more on whatever the real issue is.

 

[Safeway]

Yes, a stick can go bad. Other than that, buy a new PSU - that's the only thing I can think of.

And some advice - don't leave $80.00 sitting in a PayPal account. Bad things can happen.

 

[JEDIYoda]

yep--buy a PSU thats the safe way to do it!!!