Computer went black and started rebooting itself constantly. Now it won't boot.

ipublish

Distinguished
Dec 4, 2010
10
0
18,510
I was just minding my own business playing Contagion and all of a sudden, my computer screen went black. It then started to reboot itself for about 5 seconds then fail then again. I hard shutdowned my computer and turned it back on. It went for a longer boot (maybe 10 seconds) then stopped and now it won't turn back on. I've had this computer for about 4 years now. The PSU is making an extremely feint sound when I try to turn it on with nothing but the power cable attached. I have the Antec Earthwatts 650W.

5770 HD
i5 2500k stock speeds
4Gb DDR3 Ram
1tb HD
1x 320gb HD
P67a-C43
Is my PSU dead & im SOL?
 

jaraldo

Honorable
^Yea that would be the easiest way to check.

But, we can't rule out other parts failing aswell, try taking the graphics card out and letting the computer run on integrated graphics from the CPU.

If that doesn't work, it could be the ram to, but since you only have 1 stick it makes it hard to test :S 4gb isn't much to game on either
 

ipublish

Distinguished
Dec 4, 2010
10
0
18,510
Hey guys thanks for the replies. I had 2 sticks of ram 2GB each and i took one out and tried booting and still nothing. i also took out the 5770 and still got no good results. Nothing beeps or runs when I hit the powerbutton, the PSU just makes a feint feint noise that is barely audible unless you get really close to it.
 

ipublish

Distinguished
Dec 4, 2010
10
0
18,510
@Jaraldo

The system is not beeping at all. It's just the PSU buzzing trying to fire up is my best guess. Honestly, do you think it's the PSU because I am just about to replace it since I can't get anything to work. Thanks again.
 

jaraldo

Honorable
Yeah sorry about that, I think I got you mixed up with a similar thread :X

Well, your build reminds me of a prebuild because of some mismatching of parts. If it is, then yes I would assume it's the PSU and to get a new one.

Edit: what country are you in? You build won't take more than a 500w
 

ipublish

Distinguished
Dec 4, 2010
10
0
18,510
Thanks bro. I assumed that the PSU itcame with was good since it was an Antec Earthwatts. I'll pick up a different PSU and I just hope that the psu didn't damage anything else.
 

ipublish

Distinguished
Dec 4, 2010
10
0
18,510
Yup! I had the 650W version. Also, 4-5 hours before that happened, I did open up my case to install a second harddrive but I doubt that that is what caused it. I also remember hearing something in my computer fall off a few seconds after booting up after installing the harddrive.
 

ipublish

Distinguished
Dec 4, 2010
10
0
18,510


Hey Jaraldo. It turns out that it was the PSU! I've owned this PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371044&cm_re=antec_earthwatts_650-_-17-371-044-_-Product

It died after about 4 years of usage. I replaced it today with a crappier PSU because it was the only one that was 550W+ that Best Buy had in stock. My new PSU is:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153166&cm_re=thermaltake_TR2-_-17-153-166-_-Product

Hopefully it will run more than 5 years as guaranteed.
 

jaraldo

Honorable
:S

Well I understand if that's all bestbuy had. But that's a pretty bad one sorry to say :(

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html
It's at the very bottom. I don't think this will last long at all. If you can order a good one from amazon/newegg soon and when it comes, return this one before 30 days? Just tell them it couldn't hold run your graphics card or something :X

If you have to keep it, then just don't stress it too much. You might end up with reboots eventually, but at least you can delay it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news :(
 

ipublish

Distinguished
Dec 4, 2010
10
0
18,510


Damn! Do you think that it'll last me ATLEAST 2 years? I don't think I'm straining my PSU that much! I just have a little 5770 and a 2500k. :'( .
 

jaraldo

Honorable
Consider that psu maybe a little bit better than a walmart one, but don't hold your breath on it. I mean yeah it could last 2 years, but it could also go nuts in 4 months.
By stress it, I meant playing intense games or trying to max out settings. I mean, you could run an OCCT test to stress test it, but to be honest if it's bad quality the test would just kill it :S

Basically just keep your eye out for strange behavior and do what you would normally do. I pretty much stopped going to retail stores as you can get better parts for cheaper online, the exception being microcenter. Also since you are in the chicago, USA, you would probably get free 1-2 shipping from amazon as I'm sure they have a warehouse near you.