Hard Drive Hangs

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Agui41

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Feb 16, 2014
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Hi everyone

My main language it's not english so tell me if you don't understand something.

I have some problems with a PC that I got. Here is the problem:

I first want to be sure that my Power Supply is the adequate for the entire Rig.
So I have a XFX 550W Power Supply for an Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz, a Geforce GTX 650 Ti Boost also a Seagate Barracuda ST31000340NS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive and 8Gb RAM.

The reason I need to know this it's because sometimes the Hard Drive hangs, I mean, it stops working, the screen freezes and then I have to restart the PC using the power button. So I believe that if the Power Supply can't satisfy the power demand by these components it could lead the Hard Drive to stop working. (I'm not an expert, it's just a thought).

Another and most probably reason is that the Hard Drive it's malfunctioning, because it sounds horrible, like if it were scratching something. Knowing that it should even sound at all.

So I need to know, It's the Power Supply not enough for the RIG? or I have a damaged Hard Drive?

Any more information, Just tell me.

I need help as soon as possible.
Thank You Beforehand.
 
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Samuelquick

Samuelquick

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Nov 9, 2012
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550w MAY be enough.
But I would really recommended at least going 750.
Also, sounds more like the Hard Drive is failing.
Try plugging a different one into the computer, see if it does the same.
 
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mrmez

mrmez

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If it regularly hangs during high power usage (games etc), it might be the PSU. 550w is a little on the low side, but xfx is a decent brand.

If it crashes randomly, especially under light load and the HDD is making a noise, it's almost a guarantee the HDD if failing.

HDD's can fail randomly and at any rate. They might go from 100% to 0 in an instant, or most most often they slowly degrade over time. Any ticking or clicking is a sign of death.
 
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GhislainG

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Jul 16, 2008
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What's the basis for the 750W recommendation? A similar system draws 231 Watts form the outlet: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2013/03/26/nvidia-geforce-gtx-650-ti-boost-2gb-review/8 His 550W PSU certainly is powerful enough. If the hard disk hangs, then it's defective.
 
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mrmez

mrmez

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It's likely the PSU has multiple power rails.
While the PSU might output 550w, this is often a peak load rating, not a continuous, and could be split over 2-4 rails.

An unlucky user could run a CPU and GPU off the same rail unknowingly. 120v power output lowers psi efficiency. 80% might be a good guess. You can still push your PSU hard, but as efficiency drops it: a) It dramatically reduces the life, b) When a PSU dies it can take the mobo with it. c) If available the fan with spin faster adding to the noise level, and possibly add extra heat into the case, depending on setup.

The 12v1 rail normally carries the most current, but might be limited to 50% output, and considering you don't want sustained loads over ~80%.....

550w x 80%, divided by 50% (for the max of that rail) =......

220w.

The similar system peaking at 231w (albeit total consumption), puts it in the range of a POSSIBLE PSU issue. Unlikely, but possible. Fortunately it's relatively easy to diagnose, so rule it out first.
 
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Agui41

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Now I'm sure it is a total HDD malfunction, you said that it might be the PSU due to the possiblity of high power usage of gaming but mostly of times that the HDD has stopped working was when I wasn't gaming. Even on the desktop it failed many times with just Chrome opened.

But this certainly lead me to some questions.

1. It may be possible for the components to fail if there is not enough power supply?
2. Knowing this what you'd recommend?

And of course this has a concern on me:
When I install or copy big amounts of data all of a sudden the whole system slows down dramatically, I proceed to check the task administrator but it shows that the CPU usage it's only at 10-20% and the memory it's at 2GB max. so this can attribute to the HDD too?
 
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GhislainG

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Jul 16, 2008
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You provided a very good description of a failing hard disk.

1. The CPU, motherboard and memory would also be affected and the system would crash.
2. Get a new hard disk.

I had a similar issue with my desktop and the hard disk (a Seagate Barracuda) eventually stopped working.

Edit: Did you run Seatools to check the hard disk?
 
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Agui41

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I did! it pass all of the tests except the advanced test because I didn't try it
 
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GhislainG

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It's up to you, but I would try a different hard disk. Before mine failed completely, the system took several minutes to boot, copying large files would keep the hard disk busy for an abnormally long time, loading an application was painfully slow and the system was unresponsive with the disk very busy, etc. When booting from another hard disk, the system was fine.
 
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Agui41

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Feb 16, 2014
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I won't run the advanced test but I'll totally ask for a HDD change. It is absurd and incredibly how it sounds. it's so annoying. Thank you very much for the help!
 
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