Black outs during startup

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

System blacks out during startup. Sometimes during bios, sometimes soon after windows boots. Sometimes I can run it for hours and hours before it blacks out. I've taken it apart, checked connections, cleaned thoroughly, re-applied thermal grease.
At this point, it looks like either a Mobo or PSU issue. Anyone have any insight?
Possibly related, around the same time the ps2 keyboard port seems to have failed. I've switched to a usb kb, but now can't access bios menus and the like, as it doesn't seem to activate except under windows.

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

What is your full list of specs?

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

lemme put that together, I should have been prepared for this question.

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

Mobo: Geforce6100PM-M2
PSU: Cooler Master "Extreme Power Plus" 600w
cpu: Phemon 8450
GPU: EVGA GTX560
RAM: Ballistix 4gb
am I forgetting anything?

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

I would start by running memtest for 6+ passes to check for bad RAM.

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

Do I need to have the computer on to run memtest? At this point that would be a snag. Right now I'm not getting very far into bios before it blacks.

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

YOu need to be able to boot to a DVD from the bios.

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

no can do. Besides not having a working DVD player available, the bios process crashes after about 9 seconds.

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

Why do you think its the ram? Will a system run with no ram chips? should I pull them out and attempt another run?

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

No, it will not run with no RAM. This is just characteristic of bad RAM.

Unplug all HDDs and try to boot.

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

HDD unplogged, hasn't crashed yet.

Still running, "Insert System Disk"

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

Your HDD could be toast if it does not crash with the HDD unplugged.

Boot to the bios and see what happens.

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

Forgive me, what do you mean, boot to bios?

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

Instead of letting the computer just boot and not go anywhere with no HDD, boot into the bios by pressing f12 or delete or whatever it is on your computer to enter the bios.

But, it looks to be your HDD has given up.

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

At a blue menu, no crashes since HDD unplugged.

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

Thats good. Looks like the HDD.

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

Thank you.
How did you guess this?
Also, what about the failing ps2 port? unrelated failure? Also, why am I sometimes able to start it and run it for a long period?

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

I have no idea why it works for a while then fails, this is reminiscent of a RAM issue.

The PS2 port likely hasn't failed. Could just be working weird because of the other issues.

Im not 100% its the HDD. It could be the motherboard. Do you have another HDD?

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

An old one, not sure if I retired it for failure or what else. Worth trying though.
Just plugged the usual HDD in, it's booted and running for now(but poorly). oddly it doesn't seem to be connecting to internet right now.
side note. I'm pretty near building a brand new system, as this one is aged. Is this a good time of year to buy components? also, have you seen any good current builds in the 1k to 1.2k range?

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

I can make you something for that budget if you like. Do you need an OS or monitor?

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

I can reuse the Win7 64bit from this system, also, my monitor is fine.
Uses would include heavy gaming, in dusty conditions.

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

What resolution is your monitor?

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

Looks like...
1920x1080
it's a flatron ew224

tiny voices · Nov 16, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($78.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($484.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $1172.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-16 20:23 EST-0500)

user44992 · Nov 16, 2013

That was really fast, how can you put all this together so quickly?

Black outs during startup

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