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Funky D · 08-31-2002, 10:10 PM

I need to let off a bit of steam... I'm sure a lot of you can relate with the following story, so I'll just let the steam flow right here! (sorry if it gets long)

Given that CPU prices dropped last week, I decided to splurge on my dream system. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity for all the parts, I finally got a chance to assemble it all yesterday:

Asus P4T533 mobo
P4 2.53GHz
512 (2 256) megs of PIMM 4200 memory
2 40 gig hard drives
Dedicated 3ware PCI RAID controller
Plextor 40/12/40 CDRW
Pioneer slot DVD
Antec Plus660 case
Gainward GF3, SB Live, and 60GB hard drive out of my old system.

Got up and running without a hitch, played around a bit with overclocking (couldn't get above 2.7Ghz, probably a limit of the memory), ran some benchmarks and burn-in tests, and went to bed a very happy gamer.

This morning she was still chugging right along... Until I bumped the side of the case with my chair. System shuts off instantly, but when I look down the power light is still on... hmmm, interesting... I wiggle around the power cord a bit and turn the system back on.

Back up and running fine, until I accidently hit the case again. This time I get a blue screen. So, I rip the case apart, check the mobo and HD power connectors, and start her back up.

I start chugging along again, until I try copying some files off the CD-RW. File copy error; I check the event log and see it lost contact with the IDE interphase. Ah-hah! Power down, reconnect the CD-RW power and IDE cables, and power back up.

Thats when it happend....

BZZZSTTTTT!!!!!
"F#$@K!!!"
<unplug power cable>
<smell of burnt electronics fills the room>

I unplug everything and put it on my workbench. I noticed I was in the dark because the machine tripped the breaker. Pulled everything out, sniffed around, and my nose lead me to the power supply. I checked out the mobo and peripherals; everything seemed free of blown components.

So, I rip out the power supply (Antec "TruePower" 330W) and run to CompUSA. All they had were cheap-o CompUSA brand powersupplies and... yep! More Antec "TruePower" 330's (overpriced at $70, of course)! So, I grabbed another Antec, popped it into my system, prayed to the computer gods, and luckily I'm writing this message to you all on my new system.

What floors me is these Antecs are SUPPOSED to be good power supplies... Enermax, Antec, and PC Power and Cooling, that's what everyone praises. Well, after today, and after doing some google groups searching, I'm not sure if I trust any of those "good" power supplies. I don't care if it's a $150, 500W top-of-the-line Enermax. They just don't make these power supplies like they used to. I still have a working PS out of a 286, and this damn Antec can't even last a day without some solder joint coming loose (I'm guessing thats what happened). What exactly does that $70 go for? An extra $15 80mm fan that sucks a bunch of hot air over already hot PS components?

You would think after all these years, power supplies would be a little more sophisticated. Maybe some solid state electronics to monitor the voltages, or some built-in surge and brownout protection. I deal with at least one blown power supply every other month at work, and thats only among 70 or so computers. I wonder what the national average is? lol....

Anyways, I'm done ranting... Time to throw a few dead power supplies out a window!

Paul

08-31-2002, 10:10 PM	#1
Funky D Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 8	Power Supply Rant... (long) I need to let off a bit of steam... I'm sure a lot of you can relate with the following story, so I'll just let the steam flow right here! (sorry if it gets long) Given that CPU prices dropped last week, I decided to splurge on my dream system. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity for all the parts, I finally got a chance to assemble it all yesterday: Asus P4T533 mobo P4 2.53GHz 512 (2 256) megs of PIMM 4200 memory 2 40 gig hard drives Dedicated 3ware PCI RAID controller Plextor 40/12/40 CDRW Pioneer slot DVD Antec Plus660 case Gainward GF3, SB Live, and 60GB hard drive out of my old system. Got up and running without a hitch, played around a bit with overclocking (couldn't get above 2.7Ghz, probably a limit of the memory), ran some benchmarks and burn-in tests, and went to bed a very happy gamer. This morning she was still chugging right along... Until I bumped the side of the case with my chair. System shuts off instantly, but when I look down the power light is still on... hmmm, interesting... I wiggle around the power cord a bit and turn the system back on. Back up and running fine, until I accidently hit the case again. This time I get a blue screen. So, I rip the case apart, check the mobo and HD power connectors, and start her back up. I start chugging along again, until I try copying some files off the CD-RW. File copy error; I check the event log and see it lost contact with the IDE interphase. Ah-hah! Power down, reconnect the CD-RW power and IDE cables, and power back up. Thats when it happend.... BZZZSTTTTT!!!!! "F#$@K!!!" <unplug power cable> <smell of burnt electronics fills the room> I unplug everything and put it on my workbench. I noticed I was in the dark because the machine tripped the breaker. Pulled everything out, sniffed around, and my nose lead me to the power supply. I checked out the mobo and peripherals; everything seemed free of blown components. So, I rip out the power supply (Antec "TruePower" 330W) and run to CompUSA. All they had were cheap-o CompUSA brand powersupplies and... yep! More Antec "TruePower" 330's (overpriced at $70, of course)! So, I grabbed another Antec, popped it into my system, prayed to the computer gods, and luckily I'm writing this message to you all on my new system. What floors me is these Antecs are SUPPOSED to be good power supplies... Enermax, Antec, and PC Power and Cooling, that's what everyone praises. Well, after today, and after doing some google groups searching, I'm not sure if I trust any of those "good" power supplies. I don't care if it's a $150, 500W top-of-the-line Enermax. They just don't make these power supplies like they used to. I still have a working PS out of a 286, and this damn Antec can't even last a day without some solder joint coming loose (I'm guessing thats what happened). What exactly does that $70 go for? An extra $15 80mm fan that sucks a bunch of hot air over already hot PS components? You would think after all these years, power supplies would be a little more sophisticated. Maybe some solid state electronics to monitor the voltages, or some built-in surge and brownout protection. I deal with at least one blown power supply every other month at work, and thats only among 70 or so computers. I wonder what the national average is? lol.... Anyways, I'm done ranting... Time to throw a few dead power supplies out a window! Paul