Mobo or PSU problem. Not sure.

Hi all,

I got:

P4 3.4Ghz (Prescott)
P4C800-E mobo
350W PSU
ATI X800XT
2 HDDs + 1 DVD-Burning

It started a week ago, when I power ON the computer in the morning it automatically powers down after 1.5 sec (without any on-screen activity), after some troubleshooting I figured out that if I disconnect the power from the DVD-ROM or any of the HDDs it boots but it complains that the computer is over-clocked incorrectly (I did not touch the over-clocking options), it gives me the options to continue (F1) or reset the over-clocking to default (F2). So what I do is press (F2), and shut down right before it loads windows, I re-connect the power to the HDDs or DVD-Rom and it successfully loads windows.

Yesterday windows complained that I changed the hardware significantly enough to have my MS Windows CD-Key expired, or disabled, it asks me to re-activate my windows with another key, also when I do some functions in some games the computer gives up and just powers off. (It all started a week ago, I did not have any problems at all before then)

I wonder, do I have a Mobo problem or a PSU problem… AsusProbe doesn’t report any problem, PSU voltages are OK, CPU doesn’t over-heat, no hints what-so-ever.

I would highly appreciate any coherent opinions you guys might have before I proceed with the next troubleshooting step (which is buy a new PSU or a new Mobo).

Thank you in advance,
Victor.

Your power supply is too weak to supply enough voltage during cold bootup. I had the exact same problem with another asus board, and changing the ps fixed it. I suggest sparkle (fortron), antec, or enermax in 450-550 watt range.

A 300W FSP power supply would do the job, or a 350W Antec, any lower-budget parts might work for a while but will probably just go bad again.

Let me repeat: Your system could kill a 550W generic $25 power supply, but it would barely even push a top-quality 300W unit.