Okay, I've had a few hardware failures on this machine of late, and I'm starting to get nervous.
First, my CPU died, but I got it replaced on warranty. No harm, no foul. Thanks, Intel.
Then about a week or two later I had some weird GPU bottlenecking - the GPU was being underutilised and I was getting some mad lag. I tried a bunch of things to get it working again, but I couldn't. Eventually, after two weeks dwelling on this problem, I switched the RAM from my wife's computer into mine, and the problem went away. Obviously a RAM problem, then.
Then I put the original RAM back in an hour or so later, because I was curious and wanted to run Memtest. Then the computer wouldn't boot, and started cycling on and off every 5 seconds or so. For those keeping score at home, that's a new problem - the RAM wasn't stopping the computer from booting before this. So naturally I pushed the power button to stop it, and turn it off completely.
It turned off successfully, but then some tiny component on the motherboard SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED. WHAT THE CRAP? After cursing prodigiously for a few moments, I found the location of the spot fire - some inconsequential looking thing between the audio input/outputs and the PCI-E 16x slot, where my GPU is, had some burn marks on it.
Anyway, feeling a bit balsy, I tried turning the computer on again, to see what it would do. One of the RAM sticks is busted custard, but the other one is fine. The computer turns on fine, and it loads XP without any problems. WHAT THE CRAP? Why does the computer still turn on? Was this little component just a nothing part?
I'm guessing that only a PSU could cause this kind of widespread damage. I have a multimeter at home, so is there any way to test whether the PSU is eating my parts? I also thought it could be the motherboard somehow, although I'd be surprised if that was the problem.
Of course, the other issue is, if I find out that it's the PSU, can I still use that motherboard? I've got a photo of the bit that went boom. Can I replace that one tiny component, or can I happily run the MOBO without it? I'd appreciate any uber boffins who have access to this kind of knowledge, as I'd like to only have to replace RAM and PSU, not MOBO too.
Also, I have a photo of the burnt bit on the MOBO, but I don't know how to attach it to a forum message, so if anyone can enlighten me, I'd be very appreciative.
System Specs:
CPU: Intel Q9450 @ 2.66GHz
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS4P
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD4850
RAM: 2x2GB Generic 800MHz DDR2
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 500W
First, my CPU died, but I got it replaced on warranty. No harm, no foul. Thanks, Intel.
Then about a week or two later I had some weird GPU bottlenecking - the GPU was being underutilised and I was getting some mad lag. I tried a bunch of things to get it working again, but I couldn't. Eventually, after two weeks dwelling on this problem, I switched the RAM from my wife's computer into mine, and the problem went away. Obviously a RAM problem, then.
Then I put the original RAM back in an hour or so later, because I was curious and wanted to run Memtest. Then the computer wouldn't boot, and started cycling on and off every 5 seconds or so. For those keeping score at home, that's a new problem - the RAM wasn't stopping the computer from booting before this. So naturally I pushed the power button to stop it, and turn it off completely.
It turned off successfully, but then some tiny component on the motherboard SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED. WHAT THE CRAP? After cursing prodigiously for a few moments, I found the location of the spot fire - some inconsequential looking thing between the audio input/outputs and the PCI-E 16x slot, where my GPU is, had some burn marks on it.
Anyway, feeling a bit balsy, I tried turning the computer on again, to see what it would do. One of the RAM sticks is busted custard, but the other one is fine. The computer turns on fine, and it loads XP without any problems. WHAT THE CRAP? Why does the computer still turn on? Was this little component just a nothing part?
I'm guessing that only a PSU could cause this kind of widespread damage. I have a multimeter at home, so is there any way to test whether the PSU is eating my parts? I also thought it could be the motherboard somehow, although I'd be surprised if that was the problem.
Of course, the other issue is, if I find out that it's the PSU, can I still use that motherboard? I've got a photo of the bit that went boom. Can I replace that one tiny component, or can I happily run the MOBO without it? I'd appreciate any uber boffins who have access to this kind of knowledge, as I'd like to only have to replace RAM and PSU, not MOBO too.
Also, I have a photo of the burnt bit on the MOBO, but I don't know how to attach it to a forum message, so if anyone can enlighten me, I'd be very appreciative.
System Specs:
CPU: Intel Q9450 @ 2.66GHz
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS4P
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD4850
RAM: 2x2GB Generic 800MHz DDR2
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 500W