Custom desktop shuts off randomly and will not power back on most of the time.

Steve w

Reputable
Apr 27, 2014
2
0
4,510
OK.. I built this desktop in 2009. Its a Raidmax ATX case, Asus M3A79-7 delux board, AMD phenom II X4 black edition 3.2ghz, 800 watt XION power supply, Radeon HD4870 1Gb pci-e card, 4-1gb OCZ platimum ddr2 ram 1066, and 2 WD 320 GB sata drives. It has a total of 6 external fans, the cpu heat sink fan and PS fan. Running win XP Pro 32 bit

The computer ran great for about 2 years. All the sudden it would randomly shut off and would not power back on unless i turned power supply off and then back on. This occasionally starts the computer back up. Most of the time though it will just power up for about 2 seconds then power back off. Again requiring me to turn off PS to try again. A local computer had desktop for approx 3 months and fixed nothing. It then sat in corner for probably 2 years. Last week i tore it all apart, cleaned everything, reinstalled all equipment making sure all connections were seated and nothing could be shorting out. It powered up and ran for 36 hours approx. It just powered off and back to same original issue. PLEASE HELP
 

Steve w

Reputable
Apr 27, 2014
2
0
4,510



Is there a more advanded way to test a PSU. I used my multimeter and pin jumper method and all tested fine.
 

clutchc

Titan
Ambassador


All the VOM meter will tell you is that the output voltage is correct (or not). The problem is apparently happening due to a failing capacitor or other component inside the PSU. The Xion is a cheap PSU. Check out where it ranks in a tiered PSU list: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?108088-Official-XS-Power-Supply-Ranking-Phase-I
(You have to scroll down to the old list)