Is theAntec Phantom 350 to blame?

[ksquared]

I am hoping to find out what went wrong with my computer.

Everything was fine for several years. Then I couldn't get the computer to restart after it was turned off overnight. It would power on, go for several seconds, and then turn off. it then wouldn't respond to the power button, so I would have to unplug everything and try again.

The problem seemed to be the driver for the motherboard (SK8V) hardware connection to the Internet. Several times I was able to restart it, then reinstall the driver, and have it work. I was leaving the computer on 24/7 but at one point I needed to restart. It restarted, flagged the bad hardware from the motherboard, and seemed to be the usual situation.

Then I did something which apparently I shouldn't have. I clicked "enable" and that was the end. It did seem to be making some noise while it was running that final time, but I couldn't tell if it was coming from the motherboard or the power supply.

Everything looks OK from what I can see, but then again I'm not much of an expert on electronics. Also, when it is turned on the little green light on the motherboard comes on, so I'm not sure if that means that the PSU is supplying the power, or if it could still be the PSU that is bad but just supplying a small amount of power.

So I'm hoping for and would greatly appreciate help from the experts here.

[Super Nade]

Hello and welcome to the forums! What kind of noise are you referring to? A buzz or something more significant? There could be several possible issues. First off, I'd check the caps on the mainboard for leaks or bloat. Then try checking your CMOS battery. It is possible that it could have drained intself.

Try another PSU and see if you still have the same problem? Basically, you have to perform a component by component elimination to sort out the problem.

[ksquared]

Yes, it seemed to be a buzzing noise. I also thought of the CMOS battery and bought a new battery, but no improvement.

I was mostly wondering if the fact that the little green light on the motherboard is lit means that the PSU is OK. I've read some negative opinions of Antec, so that worries me somewhat. But for me the Phantom 350 has been fine. Until of course possibly now.

[Springbok]

I used one of those Antec Phantoms for years and it never gave me any problems, it's a well built power supply so I'd be surprised if it's dead. Recently the Antec Neos have caused some problems, I have a friend whose Neo died on him the first day thanks to motherboard incompatibility(Asus A8N32 with 8-phase power). I'd guess that it was your motherboard, how old is it? Could you list your system parts?

[Super Nade]

Any bad caps on the MB? If your PSU is NOT under warranty, open it up and check for bad caps on the output side.

[RollingThunder]

Any bad caps on the MB? If your PSU is NOT under warranty, open it up and check for bad caps on the output side.

S/N,

Aren't those Phantoms fanless?

[Oklahoma Wolf]

The Phantoms are slightly better built than Antec's other CWT made units. They still use Fuhjyyu, but the critical caps are Panasonic. However, for a fanless unit, there should be no Fuhjyyu anywhere in them. I do see them failing now and then.

But, I'd also be looking for bad caps on the motherboard first before calling it a PSU issue ;)

[ksquared]

Judging from the response here, it seems most likely that it is the SK8V motherboard. That board is probably three or four years old. I am glad to hear that the Phantom is high quality. I know I've always been happy with it. It is a fanless PSU, but I guess now it isn't being made anymore. I think Antec is making the Phantom 500 now though.

I suspected the motherboard too because the hardware problem was always the same, with the Internet connection hardware. And, it seemed that since the green light on the motherboard came on that indicated that the power supply was OK. Unfortunately I wouldn't really know a bad cap from a good cap unless the bad one had smoke coming out.

[RollingThunder]

[QUOTE= Unfortunately I wouldn't really know a bad cap from a good cap unless the bad one had smoke coming out.[/QUOTE]

This thread may help a little:

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=495380

Especially the cap in the last photo first thread, it's leaking. The caps are normally flat on top. Bad ones will begin to show when the tops get rounded and bulged like they are going to blow out those seams. The purple colored ones are the most suspect.

I've had some experience spotting bad caps on Antecs. :confused:

[Oklahoma Wolf]

I am glad to hear that the Phantom is high quality.

Just slightly above average - high quality PSU's don't use Fuhjyyu anywhere I'm afraid.