Do I need a better power supply?

[xidiliar]

Recently Iv'e started having multiple problems with my PC. I get false starts where the computer powers on and off a couple of times before actually posting and sometimes when I start my computer the pump on my brand new swiftech h220 just won't start. The only way I can get it to start is to unplug everything, wait about ten minutes, and then plug it directly into the power supply by itself and start it. Also, windows occasionally freezes at startup for no apparent reason. I don't get a blue screen or anything. It just freezes and the only way to fix it is to reboot. What leads me to believe my power supply may not be providing enough power is that when I built my PC 8 months ago I was on a budget. This is the power supply I bought http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152036. It's 730 watts and isn't even 80-plus certified. The power draw from my system has increased dramatically since I originally built it. As of now I have a Gigabyte 990fx-ud3, a gtx 660 with a slight overclock, 16gb of Corsair vengeance 1866 RAM, The swiftech h220, 2 fan controllers, an LCD panel, an LED controller that mounts in a drive bay, a 10 foot long LED strip, 5 120mm led fans, 1 230mm led fan, 1 140mm led fan, 2 120mm static pressure fans, 2 UV cathode tubes and an AMD FX-8350 at 5.0ghz which is probably the most power hungry thing in my system. I'm sure 730 watts would be enough to power this stuff If I actually had a decent power supply. But I question whether my 8 month old cheap, not even 80-plus certified power supply even outputs close to that anymore. This is the new power supply I'm looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171055&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL071213&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL071213-_-EMC-071213-Index-_-Mobile-_-17171055. It's 1200 watts which is more than enough, gold certified, and active PFC. It's also currently on sale and I can save $80. I just wanted to get other opinions before I go and spend a bunch of money on a power supply if I don't need to. Thanks.

 

[bob1033]

WOAH, you should stay away from raidmax's as much as possible!! I think you problem is a combination of too little amps on the 12v rails and with a 8350, the system draw a butt load of power. The raidmax probably doesn't even pump out the rated watts after one year, so I strongly recommend you buy a new one by a more reputable company such as antec, LEPA, Corsair, Seasonic, XFX, just to name a few

 

[nostall]

Lose the Raidmax before it cooks your system.

Here's a link to that 1200watt monster you want. Johnnyguru gave it a recommendation and it looks to be well built:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=193

Here's my recommendation
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207019
XFX ProSeries, 1000Watter. Made by Seasonic (a better build then the CoolerMaster)
Here's the link to the review.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=267
Might cost a little more, but the quality will be worth it.

 

[xidiliar]

Lose the Raidmax before it cooks your system.

Here's a link to that 1200watt monster you want. Johnnyguru gave it a recommendation and it looks to be well built:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=193

Here's my recommendation
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207019
XFX ProSeries, 1000Watter. Made by Seasonic (a better build then the CoolerMaster)
Here's the link to the review.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=267
Might cost a little more, but the quality will be worth it.

I have heard really good things about Seasonic and I like that it's platinum rated. So do you think my power supply is what is causing my problems? Iv'e already had to RMA one swiftech h220 because I had one of the units that made the awful clicking noise. The one I have now works great except for when it refuses to start with the PC. Is there anything else that could be causing this? Once I manage to get my PC to post, boot into windows, and the pump on my h220 is working I don't have any problems at all. The problem is it can take well over a half hour to do this and get past the false starts, windows freezing at startup, and the pump on the swiftech refusing to start. Iv'e had my PC running for days because I'm afraid to turn it off. I would hate to buy a new power supply and still be having all these problems.

 

[nostall]

Well, quite a few things can cause the problems you have described, but that PSU is the main suspect. You have a lot of money tied up in what appears to be a really nice system; that PSU (Raidmax) can destroy it in a fraction of a second. That PSU has no active power factor correction (PFC); the design is old enough to require selecting the input current (from the wall) with the red switch in the back. That means there is probably no filter on the input wiring/circuit. It is not rated by 80Plus standards, which means it either doesn't meet them or failed; so your PC might be able to us 70% of the current it draws from the wall. Really inefficient.
A link for you to look at while I go to lunch. There are also several other posts here on Tom's about RaidMax problems, a few of them pretty horrific.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-oem-manufacturer,2913-2.html
This next one has some great information, but I found nothing on RaidMax, though there are some PSU tests on other products manufactured by the people who build RaidMax.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/
Use the search function and search reviews. Try Topower and Andyson (I think I spelled those right).
Keep us posted.

 

[xidiliar]

Well, quite a few things can cause the problems you have described, but that PSU is the main suspect. You have a lot of money tied up in what appears to be a really nice system; that PSU (Raidmax) can destroy it in a fraction of a second. That PSU has no active power factor correction (PFC); the design is old enough to require selecting the input current (from the wall) with the red switch in the back. That means there is probably no filter on the input wiring/circuit. It is not rated by 80Plus standards, which means it either doesn't meet them or failed; so your PC might be able to us 70% of the current it draws from the wall. Really inefficient.
A link for you to look at while I go to lunch. There are also several other posts here on Tom's about RaidMax problems, a few of them pretty horrific.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-oem-manufacturer,2913-2.html
This next one has some great information, but I found nothing on RaidMax, though there are some PSU tests on other products manufactured by the people who build RaidMax.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/
Use the search function and search reviews. Try Topower and Andyson (I think I spelled those right).
Keep us posted.

Okay, now you have convinced me that even if my PSU isn't causing the problems Iv'e been having it will probably cause my PC to spontaneously erupt into a ball of flames. Iv'e decided to get the cooler master I was originally looking at. With the Newegg promo code and the mail in rebate I can get it for $160 which is a bargain for such a high quality PSU. Hopefully it does solve my problems but even if it doesn't I'll at least have some peace of mind.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207023

XFX P1-750X-XXB9 750W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

+ $15 off w/ promo code EMCXNXL25, ends 7/15 $79.00 after instant coupon...Sick Deal

Grab this and it's high quality made by Seasonic.

 

[xidiliar]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207023

XFX P1-750X-XXB9 750W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

+ $15 off w/ promo code EMCXNXL25, ends 7/15 $79.00 after instant coupon...Sick Deal

Grab this and it's high quality made by Seasonic.

Thanks for the recommendation but I already bought and installed the 1200 watt cooler master. It seems to have solved all my problems. It just seems strange that a pump that probably doesn't even use 20 watts was causing me trouble. The false starts have gone away and I haven't had windows freeze yet. Hopefully it keeps behaving this way. As a side benefit the power supply is completely silent unless I put my head right beside it. Thanks for the help everyone.