AdviceIs my PSU failing?
Posted:

AdviceIs my PSU failing?Posted:

SSpiegelaar
  • New Member
Status: Offline
Joined: Sep 25, 20221Year Member
Posts: 4
Reputation Power: 0
Status: Offline
Joined: Sep 25, 20221Year Member
Posts: 4
Reputation Power: 0
(relevant specs at the bottom)

(TLDR: system keeps crashing after installing new GPU; bootloops, BSOD, and (temporary)artifacting. Multiple things tried to solve issue. I think my 12+ yo PSU is failing, what do you think?)

Ofcourse I have tried narrowing down and fixing the problem, so trust me... most if not all standard methods have already been tried. I know how to build, maintain, and fix a PC so please: No standard advice you'd give to inexperienced people. If I wanted that I'd just do a google search instead of painstakingly writing down everything and posting to an internet messageboard. I'm looking for a second opinion on my initial diagnosis.

Hi y'all!

After recently acquiring and installing a new graphics card I am encountering a few very specific problems which can indicate any number of hardware issues. I have a strong feeling my PSU is the culprit but, as always, it's good to ask for a second opinion. Anyway, bear with me as I try to explain as best as I can:

Recently I bought a new graphics card to update my old GTX 660, yay! But... after updating my BIOS drivers so I could use the new GPU the problems soon arose: Random system freezes for up to two minutes, BSOD's -usually followed by a bootloop, and the occasional screen artifacting accompanied by my system not recognizing the card after re-boot (forcing the resolution to 800x600) and sometimes my keyboard isn't recognized as well.

Now I know what you're thinking; Because of the artifacting the new card is bad. Well so did I but, after switching the card to a second set-up it seems to work just fine, and, after letting my system sit turned off for a while before re-booting the GPU is eventually recognized and the problem fixes itself. Not for long though, by now I've reached a point where if I try to do anything more demanding (in terms of power and graphics) than, say, watching a Youtube video or something similar it soon crashes, starting the whole circus all over again. When it started I was able to run games and stuff, but it's been getting progressively worse. So far my enjoyment over my new GPU...

Computer Fixing 101: Localize the problem first. From experience, though, the aforementioned problems can be caused by anything from an overheating CPU to a not properly seated or faulty RAM-bank. Hence my asking here for people's (semi)professional opinion. Like I said, I think it's my PSU, so my question is somewhere along the lines of "Am I wrong in thinking my PSU is to blame?"

Here's what I did so far:

  • Re-seated RAM
  • Re-seated GPU
  • Cleaned CPU heatsink plus PCI-E slots etc. (compressed air)
  • Disconnected old low prio drives/peripherals
  • Reinstalled GPU driver
  • Ran RAM diagnostics, no errors
  • Ran SFC and CHKDSK, any errors were fixed
  • Checked MBR, is ok
  • Reinstalled OS (clean install)
  • Rolled back GPU driver to older version


Important to note: MoBo succeeds POST, my PSU is 12+ years old, and after each of the steps above the problems seemed to have subsided for a while. Also my CPU runs at a cool 8 to 45 C. No problems during boot from install-disk or in Safe Mode.

IMO, After this the only things that can be the problem are my MoBo, my PSU, or the card itself. What do you guys think? A new PSU has already been ordered, but I just want to know the chances of it fixing the problem, or that there is still a significant chance of having to save-up for an new GPU.

SYSTEM SPECS

PSU: Corsair CX600
MoBo: MSI 970A-G43
CPU: AMD FX-8350
RAM: 16 Gb (4x4) DDR3 1600MHz
GPU: Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1650 OC 4g
OS: Windows 10 pro 64-bit running from a dedicated SSD
(Other drive currently in use is a new 1Tb SSD)
#2. Posted:
SSpiegelaar
  • New Member
Status: Offline
Joined: Sep 25, 20221Year Member
Posts: 4
Reputation Power: 0
Status: Offline
Joined: Sep 25, 20221Year Member
Posts: 4
Reputation Power: 0
EDIT: Problems now also persist in Safe Mode and boot from install-disk.

Also important to note: Sometimes, but not always, after performing a hard re-boot the system won't power on anymore. I'm talking pushing the power button and nothing happens. In order to get it powered again I have to flip the switch on my PSU and wait a couple seconds before flipping the switch back. Only then will my system power-up again
#3. Posted:
Adam
  • Ninja
Status: Offline
Joined: Dec 10, 201112Year Member
Posts: 6,058
Reputation Power: 30859
Motto: :Salt:
Motto: :Salt:
Status: Offline
Joined: Dec 10, 201112Year Member
Posts: 6,058
Reputation Power: 30859
Motto: :Salt:
Nice post. A bit about me, I've been working in IT professionally for 8 years now and have a fair amount of PC hardware knowledge under my belt.

With that out of the way, I wouldn't rule out your motherboard. Since your new GPU is only drawing it's power from the motherboard's PCIE lanes and not via the PSU directly, it wouldn't surprise me if it's having a hard time.

I'm with you though on the PSU being the main culprit. The CX range wasn't amazing when they first came out let alone now. Corsair updated the range which seems to perform way better, you'll see them with the white logo instead of the green.

I'm very much doubting it's a driver issue since windows reinstall ect so that rules that out straight away IMO. That said, BSOD's only really occur with driver issues but it's not unheard of when you have bad power too.

What new PSU have you got on order? Also, you mentioned that you're using another GPU to test. What GPU is that?
#4. Posted:
SSpiegelaar
  • New Member
Status: Offline
Joined: Sep 25, 20221Year Member
Posts: 4
Reputation Power: 0
Status: Offline
Joined: Sep 25, 20221Year Member
Posts: 4
Reputation Power: 0
Hi Adam. First-off, thanks for your reply! I really tried to present my case as clear as possible

The new PSU on order is the Sharkoon SHP Bronze 600 W. Looking at the worldwide reviews, and also my wallet, this seems like a decent PSU. It's not the best, but then again I can't really afford the cream of the crop anyway. Any experience with this one?

I tested with my old GPU first, and that didn't give any problems. but seeing as the GTX 660 is powered by a separate 6pin, that might explain why it doesn't give any problems. Then I tested the new card in a different computer -my roommate graciously offered his own set-up for me to test it out. Worked fine.

It also just occurred to me; When I ran the 660, I never connected the 8pin for the CPU (because of case restrictions and cable length) Never gave any problems whatsoever. Now, with the 1650, Whenever I unplug that cable and power-up, my system won't even bother giving me any video signal. Only once I reconnect the 8pin specifically for the CPU will my system boot "properly".
#5. Posted:
lina145
  • New Member
Status: Offline
Joined: Oct 25, 20221Year Member
Posts: 1
Reputation Power: 0
Status: Offline
Joined: Oct 25, 20221Year Member
Posts: 1
Reputation Power: 0
Your PC may have a dead power supply if it shuts off during startup or use. When playing video games or compressing videos, for example, your PC can shut down unexpectedly. If this happens, you should be very careful. This happens when the power supply is unable to support the computer's needs.
Users browsing this topic: None
Jump to:


RECENT POSTS

HOT TOPICS