is my psu too small?

[zatro]

My computer restarts randomly every now and again and was wondering if my psu is too small for my setup.

i am running:

intel duel core 2 2.13
2GB ram
radeon x1650 512mb
300 hd
350w power supply

[Capper]

Hi zatro, welcome to HL. Please take a few minutes and put together a detailed signature with your system specs....to better help us diagnose your problems.

Does it do this randomly, or when the system is under load? Is the system running hot?

[MantaBase]

Echo Capper

I've got a fully loaded HTPC with two opticals, 2 HDD's, a 7000 series nVidia and a CD2. It runs fine on a 350 Bestek PSU (hey - it's OEM!).

That's not to say the PSU is not your problem, we just need more info.

Could be any number of things - including heat or a virus (unlikely - but possible)

[PrOLifIC_onE]

In general the answer is NO (your PSU is not too small). A good 350W PSU should be able to handle the hardware that you have listed there without a problem. However, the reason they are asking for more information on your specs is because you may have a low-end PSU that could be causing some issues. There are a number of reasons, hardware and/or software relatead, that might be causing your issue. If we have make/models of your components that would help us help you even better. Additionally include other components that you have connected, internally (DVD drives/burners, etc) and externally (USB devices, etc). Having a lot of extra components could also change the answer.

If you are not real knowledgable about these things, it's ok, just do what you can and we will try to help you along.

[Boy'nBlack]

echo, echo, echo! Prolific shines the light a little better on why...

Many PSU's are over rated and might not get close to what the sticker says on the side. Most of them that come with cases are these type (some not included in this like Silverstone, Antec, or a brand that happens to make good PSU's). They can over rate by listing specs based at an unreal (low) temp. Since supplies generall operate over 90F, it's good to see ratings based on these temp ranges and not something like at 20C. With heat comes resistance, which skews Ohm's law enough to make it look good on paper, but poor in use.

A general rule of thumb might sound funny, but the weight and price tells a lot right off the bat. If it's light, it is probably highly over rated. When in doubt and we know the brand, we can look it up and dig deeper into whether it's to blame or not.

Also, even if it is able to handle your load in watts, there's always the Amps that could be too low. Some can load most of the watts in the 12v range and skimp on the others.

[zatro]

I just realized I have a 375 watt psu, not 350 but anyways here is a more detailed description of my setup.

• Coolmax Ap-450x 375watt psu
• Intel core 2 2.13
• Sapphire X1650 ddr2 512mb
• ocz ddr2 pc2-5400 gold edition dual channel 2x 1024mb (total 2gb)
• WD 320GB SATA 300 16mb cache 7200rpm
• sound blaster audigy 2 ls sound card
• light on combo ltc-48161h
• light on dvdrw sohw-1673s
• ASUS P5L-MX LGA 775 Intel 945G Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Here is the temp of my components when its idle
mobo 50 C
cpu 29 C
Video card 42 C
Hard drive 41 C

I noticed that my computer mostly restarts when its under load like when I play video games but once in a while it will restart when I'm just surfing the web or talking on aim with my friends. yesterday it restarted when I was burning a CD.

I built this system little less than a year ago as a budget gaming computer for about $500 (kept the cd rom drives and sound card from my other pc but everything else was new)

I now plan on building a decent rig in the next few months but until then I would like to figure out this problem so I can give this pc to my mother once I build my new one and so I don't have the same problem when I build my new computer.

[MantaBase]

First, make sure the "reboot after error option" is not working. Someone can tell you how to shut it off. I always forget since I do it once and it's done.

This will hold the system at the blue screen if there is an error cause the restart.

Second, run a virus scan.

If there is no error when it restats, and no virus , then you are most likely looking at overheating or a weak or faulty PSU.

There are many utilities that will measure your heat under load. You IDLE temps look very good though. Is the room hot when it restarts?

Best way to check the PSU is to borrow another larger one and try it for a bit. Also, ensure that you are not daisy chaining any adapters in the PSU (like "Y" adapters).

That's my first pass.

Manta

[Sumgai]

Note: To turn off the automatic restart: Go to 'Start' > Right click on 'My Computer' > 'Properties' > 'Advanced' > 'Startup And Recovery' Settings. Under the 'System Failure' section, un-check 'Automatically Restart'. Now the next time you get a BSOD, it'll stay up so that you can write down the error name and code.


If what was said above by others doesn't change anything, try running a few passes with Memtest86. I had the exact same issue as you a couple years ago on my old ASUS board and it turned out to be a bad DIMM slot. Needless to say, that motherboard is now used for mock-up duty and I hope that your problem has a different solution that doesn't involve the term 'RMA'. Good luck! Let us know how it goes and we'll do our best to help you get it fixed.