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PSU - Trying to confirm there's a problem

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  • Power Supplies
  • Components
Last response: in Components
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February 2, 2014 3:16:54 PM

Hi there,

I've been having some problems with my machine lately, and I'm 99% sure I've tracked it down to my PSU. Unfortunately I don't have a spare, so I've been unable to swap it out and prove it. I've ordered a new PSU anyway, but was hoping for some feedback to see if my assumptions were correct.

The issue is random freezes / crashes / reboots on startup, though the machine is normally stable in the long term. It's only the first few minutes of use that seems to be the "danger zone". In the Windows Event Viewer they're always coming up as "Kernel Power Event 41", a Critical Issue.

There's a squeaky / squealing noise that comes from the PSU during startup and randomly after that. It's quite quiet, but sounds "staticy" (if that makes sense). It was also buzzing whenever I moved the mouse at one point.

I've noticed inside the PSU there seems to be a strange dried substance, greeny-blue, on some of the components. Googling has told me capacitor fluid is usually yellow, so I'm at a loss as to what this is, and whether or not it's a problem. Nothing external has ever been spilled inside the PSU.

I also read a good thread here about monitoring voltages with HW Monitor, so I ran Prime 95 and these were the voltages I got:

CPU VCORE: 1.152V
VIN1: 1.520V
+3.3V: 3.360V
+5V: 5.000V
+12V: 9.792V
-12V: -12.288V
-5V: -8.704V
-5V VCCH: 3.575V
VBAT: 3.072V
CPU 1.168V

I have to admit, I don't really know a lot about voltages and these kinds of things, but from what I understand the discrepancy between the voltages at +12V and -5V probably isn't good?

Any advice appreciated - just trying to put my mind at rest that buying a new PSU wasn't a waste of time and money, and that I diagnosed the problem correctly.

Thanks!

More about : psu confirm problem

a c 2469 ) Power supply
February 2, 2014 3:23:54 PM

What power supply.
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February 2, 2014 3:24:49 PM

It's an OCZ 850W power supply. Sorry, probably should have mentioned that!
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a c 2469 ) Power supply
February 2, 2014 3:24:50 PM

If the power supply sounds that bad replace it.
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February 2, 2014 3:27:06 PM

My problem was I wasn't 100% sure the PSU was the problem - had no idea whether those kinds of noises were just normal or not, whether the green / blue substance was just part of how it's put together, and whether those voltages were right or not etc. But if the signs I've described make you think it's "that bad", then hopefully I was right in my assumption!
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February 2, 2014 3:36:21 PM

So basically, yes - if the voltages are out by that much, it's faulty?
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a c 2469 ) Power supply
February 2, 2014 3:38:43 PM

It's a poor power supply to begin with and from the looks of it , looks like it's on it's way out.
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February 2, 2014 3:41:26 PM

As strange as it sounds, I really do hope so! It caused a lot of problems and took me days to realise it was the culprit, so I'm relieved to know that I wasn't just drawing the wrong conclusion, and that the new one was worth buying.

I purchased a Coolermaster GM Series G750M, should be here Tuesday.

Thank you!
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a c 2469 ) Power supply
February 2, 2014 3:42:31 PM

I hope the new PSU solves the issues.
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