Power Supply Issue?

MJFrog · Rated PG Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 5

First off here is my configuration:

MSI KT4 Ultra motherboard
Amd 3000 xp Barton 333
2 512 sticks 333 ddr mem
1 dvd rom
1 cd yamaha cd burner 44x
1 floppy disk
1 140 gig Maxtor hd
1 160 gig Maxtor hd
Asus Geforce 5900 fx Ultra
1 firewire pci card
1 10/100 lan pci card
1 leadtech wintv 2000xp expert tv tuner
1 Soundbaster Audigy XGamer
1 Tower fan
2 hd cooler fans

460 watt Enermax power supply.

Do you think my power supply is adequate?

Trouble with video on tv card when anything is plugged into usb ports... any thoughts? Also recently it has just been crashing for no apparent reason. System monitor tells me the cpu is not overheating. I have done a fresh install of windows and problems still persist.

Thanks

BeerCheeze · Posted: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 13:48:55 Post Subject:

Yea... a 460W SHOULD be enough. Using a calculator it comes up to 385W's.

The PSU could be failing though. If you have a multi-meter try measuring the out put.

Other possible issues....

Drive conflict (try making sure all drivers are up to date)
IRQ Conflict... they may say they support sharing, but it doesn't always work right.

Also, your computer may not like you. I have seen this before, when it happens you have to beat your computer with a hammer to death before it takes over your life, and starts destroying your credit, your GPA, registers you as a sex offender...... it gets ugly. You might just want to kill it now to be sure. (Please make sure you video tape it and show it here so we can make sure you killed it good.)

MJFrog · Rated PG Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 5

Well, recently I upgraded the cpu to the 3000 xp barton. Had a 2400 xp in it before but then the computer just wouldnt boot... didnt even let me into the bios. I concluded it was the cpu buy the process of elimination and replaced it. Since then, the problem with the original tv card started. I replaced the tv card, wanted a better one anyway, thinking it was the problem however it was not. Tried the card in every pci slot with no possitive result. This was also after a fresh install of windows.

However in my bios, when i check the voltage and fans it says all of them are running properly except for the system fan. The fan is running in actuallity and I mentioned this to a guy at a computer store and he didnt think anything of it. Said as long as the fan was actually running it didnt matter what it said in the bios. I am at a loss and grasping at straws here but is he right?

dadx2mj · Posted: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 14:29:04 Post Subject:

Have you scanned your system for virus/spyware/ Trojans? Could be something nasty got on your system and is sucking up CPU cycles int he back ground.

MJFrog · Rated PG Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 5

After I reinstalled windows, and put on the virus checker it has become too unstable to scan the entire hd for viruses. Windows crashed the last time I tried to scan it during the scan... When windows loads after the crash it says it had experienced a serious problem. Maybe install windows again?

Spire · Posted: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 14:39:53 Post Subject:

I am going to have to go with EC on this one, sounds like you have an IRQ conflict issue.

When you plug something into a USB header your problems start. You also have quite a few PCI cards.

Doesn't that board have onboard LAN? and maybe even onboard sound?

If you want to run these things from PCI cards, make sure you disable the onboard versions of these. Also, while you are in bios, try disabling the printer port, serial ports and any other goodies you can find. This might free up some resources.

MJFrog · Rated PG Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 5

Well, I turned off the parellel port and the serial ports in the bios and was able to scan system for viruses and trojans. The system appears to be free of both. It would seem as if turning off the parellel and serial in the bios has at least created a stable environment... hasnt crashed yet for no apparent reason so thats a plus. However on the minus side, I tried plugging in the usb ports and once again problem with the video.... just dont understand. I was working with all of these components perfectly before the first cpu was replaced. After I replaced it my troubles began. Thats why i initailly had the thought about the power supply. However I do not know why the original cpu burnt out since it was not very old and i do not overclock... could there be a short or something on the motherboard causing this? With just the graphics card, tv card and the hds, the problem still occurs when usb port used. I am baffled.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

HackaX0rus · Posted: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:35:36 Post Subject:

i had the same exact problem and mine was due to an old psu. i had usb problems and agp problems i was getting really bad artifact damage. then i got a new psu a Tt total watts viewer 480w 550 peak and that solved everything but enermax is a reputeable brand so i dunno...it wouldnt hurt to try a friends.

MJFrog · Rated PG Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 5

One thing in my configuration I neglected to list here:

E-dimensional 3-d glasses. There is a pass through between the graphics card and monitor.... any idea of the power requirements for it?

HackaX0rus · Posted: Tue, 01 Feb 2005 17:17:56 Post Subject:

not enough to make a difference...read the article on power supplies if it i still on the site. but it will help you figure out how much wattage you need for your system.