Bad/failing PSU?

[Roger24]

Lately my computer has started crashing/rebooting/shutting down in games after 15-45 minutes, it used to be stable. It also runs stable in desktop, surfing etc.
I'm running Windows 2000 Pro SP2 and have a MSI K7Pro mainboard.
Overclocking isn't to blame either, since I was running original 750MHz 1.7V when the problem started, I'm now running 850MHz 1.8V. I have the same problem at original speed.
I'm wodering if my power supply is going bad. I have an ADT-300 PSU rated at 300W that came with my Aashima WTY-400 miditower (I've had it for almost 3 months now, the problems started a few weeks ago).
Here are a couple of high/low readouts from Motherboard Monitor, the current values on the first set were recorded when I was playing Quake, 10 seconds or less before it crashed.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Total number of readouts: 237 CPU Speed: 850 MHz |
|Running from: 13.02.2002 21:41:31 till: 13.02.2002 22:32:37 |
+-----------------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|Sensor | Current | Low | High | Average |
+-----------------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|Sensor 1 | 34° C | 30° C | 37° C | 33° C |
|Sensor 2 | 36° C | 34° C | 42° C | 34° C |
|Sensor 3 | 35° C | 31° C | 35° C | 33° C |
|Core 0 | 1,73 V | 1,62 V | 1,81 V | 1,72 V |
|Core 1 | 3,28 V | 3,26 V | 3,31 V | 3,28 V |
|+3.3 | 3,30 V | 3,22 V | 3,34 V | 3,30 V |
|+5.00 | 4,92 V | 4,92 V | 4,97 V | 4,95 V |
|+12.00 | 11,73 V | 11,61 V | 13,32 V | 12,06 V |
|-12.00 | -12,27 V | -12,27 V | -12,11 V | -12,20 V |
|-5.00 | -5,29 V | -5,64 V | -4,14 V | -5,23 V |
|Fan 1 | 6887 RPM | 6750 RPM | 6887 RPM | 6821 RPM |
|Fan 2 | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
|Fan 3 | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
+-----------------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
Here are some that I've recorded this afternoon, from I woke it from standby up until now. Only been surfing, playing mp3's etc. No crashes.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Total number of readouts: 2042 CPU Speed: 850 MHz |
|Running from: 14.02.2002 14:59:33 till: 14.02.2002 20:39:49 |
+-----------------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|Sensor | Current | Low | High | Average |
+-----------------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|Sensor 1 | 33° C | 26° C | 35° C | 31° C |
|Sensor 2 | 34° C | 29° C | 41° C | 32° C |
|Sensor 3 | 33° C | 29° C | 34° C | 32° C |
|Core 0 | 1,71 V | 1,62 V | 1,81 V | 1,72 V |
|Core 1 | 3,28 V | 3,18 V | 3,34 V | 3,28 V |
|+3.3 | 3,30 V | 3,22 V | 3,39 V | 3,30 V |
|+5.00 | 4,95 V | 4,92 V | 4,97 V | 4,95 V |
|+12.00 | 11,98 V | 10,94 V | 13,32 V | 12,04 V |
|-12.00 | -12,19 V | -12,35 V | -12,03 V | -12,19 V |
|-5.00 | -5,24 V | -6,15 V | -4,09 V | -5,22 V |
|Fan 1 | 6887 RPM | 6750 RPM | 6887 RPM | 6811 RPM |
|Fan 2 | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
|Fan 3 | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
+-----------------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
Anything bad/suspicious here?

[nikhsub1]

What concerns me is the fluctuation in the +12v line and the -5v line and the core 0. Those are some HUGE fluctuations shown by MBM but are they really correct? If MBM is reporting properly I would be nervous using that PSU. Only way to know for sure is to get or borrow a different PSU and see how much fluctuation you get then.

[deathstar13]

wow must be psu day! ive answered about 5 questions all about lackluster voltages.
Current | Low | High | Average
|+3.3 | 3,30 V | 3,22 V | 3,34 V | 3,30 V |
|+5.00 | 4,92 V | 4,92 V | 4,97 V | 4,95 V |
|+12.00 | 11,73 V | 11,61 V | 13,32 V | 12,06 V

Core 0 | 1,71 V | 1,62 V | 1,81 V | 1,72 V |
|Core 1 | 3,28 V | 3,18 V | 3,34 V | 3,28 V |
|+3.3 | 3,30 V | 3,22 V | 3,39 V | 3,30 V |
|+5.00 | 4,95 V | 4,92 V | 4,97 V | 4,95 V |
|+12.00 | 11,98 V | 10,94 V | 13,32 V | 12,04 V |


see you voltages all fluctuating? especially on the vcore?1.72-1.81
and the 5v rails drop too 4.92 . and the 12v is 10.94

those all need to stay in there specified minumums. and most psu problems are the 5 v and the 12v lines and yours drops drastically. i also would bet u added soemthing a few weeks back the same time this stuff started?

its the psu. gonna need a upgrade or a 2nd psu added.

[Roger24]

zero volts???? ow!
|+5.00 | 4,97 V | 0,00 V | 4,97 V | 4,95 V |

[mEKbOY]

Its the 12v and your 5v. I am currently having them same problem as well. I ordered a new power supply and recomend you do the same.

[Roger24]

I have now ordered a Sirtec 300W, along with a Seagate Barracuda IV 60Gb and an AOpen 52X cd-rom (Have been planning to buy a new hd and burner for a long time now, have been waiting for Lite-On 24X burners to restock, but no one will have them in stock for atleast another 2 weeks, I'll probably buy a burner later). I did a search on Sirtec/Chieftec powersupplies on google groups, and read good things about them, and they are good value too.
If there's one thing to conclude from all this, it's stay away from Aashima (there's a reason they make the cheapest cases, and I just found out :) )

[Crash893]

time to whip out the mulit meter

do you guys know witch pins to bridge to turn the psu on with out haveing it pluged in?

[NedClocker]

Crash, I think this is what you're looking for. Hope so, anyway.

http://www.burningissues.net/how_to/power/psu.htm

This method of connecting 2 PSUs together may not work with all PSUs. Before purchasing any of the apparatus mentioned below please disconnect your PSU from your motherboard and drives etc. Using a piece of wire, connect pin 14 to one of the 6 grounds, i.e. pins 15, 16 and 17 to name but 3. If your PSU kicks in then you are probably safe to continue. If your PSU doesn't kick in then you may like to try shorting pins 7 & 8 as well.

There's a picture on the website.

[Hoot]

Originally posted by crash893
time to whip out the mulit meter

do you guys know witch pins to bridge to turn the psu on with out haveing it pluged in?

Taking voltage measurements without any load on a PSU can intelf cause erratic readings. You're better off firing up your PC and with it idling, reading the voltages at the ATX connector. Cheap, so-so PSUs are as abundant as fleas on a stray dog. You really don't want either of them. Do yourself a favor and get a decent PSU to start with. There is nothing worse than buying a PSU, not getting the performance you want from it and having to buy another one, when the total cost for both would have gotten you a good one to start with.

Hoot

[d@rker]

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Total number of readouts: 2040 CPU Speed: 701 MHz |
|Running from: 17/02/2002 16:09:35 till: 17/02/2002 21:49:25 |
+-----------------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|Sensor | Current | Low | High | Average |
+-----------------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|Sensor 1 | 38° C | 38° C | 40° C | 39° C |
|Sensor 2 | 30° C | 30° C | 32° C | 31° C |
|Sensor 3 | 23° C | 23° C | 24° C | 23° C |
|Core 0 | 1.92 V | 1.91 V | 1.92 V | 1.92 V |
|Core 1 | 0.30 V | 0.30 V | 0.30 V | 0.30 V |
|+3.3 | 3.36 V | 3.36 V | 3.36 V | 3.36 V |
|+5.00 | 4.95 V | 4.93 V | 4.95 V | 4.95 V |
|+12.00 | 12.01 V | 11.95 V | 12.01 V | 12.01 V |
|-12.00 | 0.00 V | 0.00 V | 0.00 V | 0.00 V |
|-5.00 | 0.00 V | 0.00 V | 0.00 V | 0.00 V |
|Fan 1 | 5192 RPM | 5113 RPM | 5273 RPM | 5187 RPM |
|Fan 2 | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
|Fan 3 | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
+-----------------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+

i'm using an Enermax 431W psu (which i love ;))

just a question :

why don't i get the -12 and -5 results ?