Help! My computer just shuted off and doesn't turn on

Hi, I was just playing my computer (surfing afterdawn, listening to music). Then suddenly it turned off and now when I turn it on, it only goes on for like 1 sec (I see the blue LED's just for a sec and it turns off). I'm thinking that my psu broke? It's a Axio 480w and here's the specs of the computer it was powering and everything attached to it:

Intel 3.2 with HT oc @ 3.8
Asus P4P800-E Deluxe mobo
2gbs of pc3200 corsair ram (1gb x 2 dualchannel)
ATI radeon x700 pro 256mb ddr3
Sony DVD burner
200gb seagate hdd @ 7,200 rpm
Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 Speaker System
Microsoft optical intelimouse
Keyboard
Microsoft Fingerprint reader
ethernet to my router
theres about 8 fans in my computer (2 inside the psu, 1 in the back, 1 for the cpu, 1 on the vid card, 1 blue led fan on the middle of the case, 2 in front)

Is that too much stuff attached to be powered by an Axio 480w so it broke? All the little extra's just been added in about November and I think it just died now unless there's another way to fix my computer without buying a new psu. Oh yea it's also protected by a surge protecter and there's 2 leds on it that tells wether the surge protecter is doing its job and that it doesn't need to be replaced yet. Thanks in advance

 

Try the simple solution first.

Disconnect your power from the surge protector and go straight from the wall.

Surge protectors are nice, and they work well for generic/older power supplies. But your medium to high end power supply vendors have built in surge protection in the PSU.

 

480W should handle that ok.
Does the CPU fan spin?
Have you checked the fuses?

Also I know that those boards are a real pain sometimes.
I know people that have used them, and one day they work, then they stop working.
Try them again and again and nothing happens, then another day they up and work again.
Seen a few people have also had this problem with that board, a lot got sent back as RMA's

 

Ok, the simple solution didn't work. I pluged it into the wall directly and it still didn't work.

Like I said, it turns on for like 1 second and turns off. Well it does still at least provide some power but probably not enough because on my mobo, theres a green lightbulb that lights up to indicate it has power. I seriously hope my mobo didn't break as I just replaced it less than a year ago.

You guys think I could use a 250w psu to at least try and power the cpu and mobo by itself?

Thanks for replying guys.
P.S. wow that's one really nice system you got there BigDK

Also I've seen on almost all websites that offer reviews, Ultra PSUs are crappy. They're really nice looking though. Have anyone used a Ultra PSU yet, specifily those plug in only the ones you need.

 

Ok, I tried a different cord with the same psu and to my dismay it wasn't the cord that was broken. I just took a 300w psu from my brother's stock computer and now my computer turns on again. So I guess my Axio 480w psu is broken.

@BigDK, do you mean that I should open the Axio psu and see if the fuse is broken?

I'm guessing that I will have to buy a new psu unless there are fuses inside the psu and I could fix it just by buying new fuses (don't know much about psu's so any sugestion?) Well the Axio psu is nearly 2 years old and I got it with the case I brought from tigerdirect --worst customer services ever!!! and I'm starting to think their products are crappy too.

I brought a gateway laptop from them and it arrives dead, so they exchange it for another one and that arrived dead. Then I wanted to return it since I just wanted to buy from bestbuy or somewhere. So it took me 2 months to get my money refunded. During that time, they said just don't pay anything even the late fees and they'll credit it. Which they still haven't. Thanks to them, my parents won't let me get a laptop right now and we owe billmelater $200 late payment fees because of tigerdirect, don't know what to do. Any sugguestions would be nice on this too.

Sorry for making it so long. So should i check the fuses inside? And if I can't, what kind of psu should I buy and from where? Thanks again

 

com on anyone? just some recommendations on some psu brands at least?

 

With what you've said, it’s not worth looking inside the PSU, as there is likely to be only one main fuse and that obviously hasn't blown as it still provides some power.
I can definitely recommend the Hyper Type R but they may not be available in the US.
Otherwise Antec make very good quality PSU's.
The more you can spend the better; you can then keep the PSU as you upgrade systems over the years, as you just seen cheaper models are false economy as they don’t last and the power they provide can be very unstable.
I prefer the modular types, as it keeps the cabling tidier.
You’ll know you have a good PSU when you get it, because unlike the cheap ones they weigh a tonne.

 

firstly, NEVER open a power supply, you'll probably kill yourself. Second, I'd avoid Tiger direct (you know to now), the fact that the laptops were DOA isn't really to do with them, but their customer service isn't brilliant.
Above all, get a new, more expensive (and as BigD says weighty) PSU, Hiper Type-Rs are good, but I've not heard the best of reviews from Antec (and in any case they were involved in the bad capacitor scandal)

 

Ok how much watts should I use for my system?

So far how good are these psu?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817174024
This one is $70, 600w and has some good review but it says warranty is avaible thru manufactorer only though. Shipping is $7 so I'm guessing it's much heavier than the one below.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153023
This is $40 and has a $10 MIR to lower it to $30 but it's only 430w. Also has good reviews. It's only a dollar shipping so it's not heavy I'm thinking.

I don't really want to buy an expensive one because I don't really plan to upgrade my computer anymore. I think I want to wait until 2008 when vista and more high-end components will be standard and just buy a new one when I go to college.

Thanks for replying.

 

The hipro looks very good, and at 865W total rail power with dual-rail, and non-standard fan layout, it's quality assured.
Thermaltake stuff, while pretty, tends to be cheap. The ratings on the PSU are good, as are the reviews, but the top one is clearly better. Delivery with newegg isn't really indicative, so i wouldnt use that as a weight guide.
My instinct says go Hipro, you can never have a too expensive PSU.

 

Ok if within the next few days anyone have any suggestions go ahead. Now its time for me to try and convince my parents to actually let me buy this and explain that it wasn't my fault that my computer broke, "it just broke out on me for no reason". Does anyone know a good place in Colorado or someplace that I can pay with COD or something? Thanks

 

Well I found another psu that I want to buy instead of the 600w hipro one. Is this one any good?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817174023

 

I've never heard of Hypro so can't comment on the quality.
Chances are, at just over £20 UK money it isn't going to be too good a PSU.
You need to appreciate that the whole system depends on the PSU for it to run reliably and correctly.
Especially when the system gets put under load, it stresses the PSU and poor quality components tend to show their limitations.
You'll get voltage fluctuations and errors on the system.

Maybe read this before spending money on something you'll regret buying.
http://tomshardware.co.uk/2004/01/22/getting_the_right_power/

P.S. I've change my mobo twice, my GPU twice (soon to be 3 times) and added various bits, but at the heart of my system has been this PSU and before that my Antec True Power 550W was used in various setups.
I've never regretted spending money on a descent PSU, but I have in the distant past regretted buying cheap ones.

 

Yeah just noticed how cheap they are - that's not a good sign. $36.50 for a 500W works out at about £20.70. I paid £24.99 for a 450W that destroyed half my system, so nah, best avoided. Have a read of that THG article.

 

Ok after a week of doing random stuff and selling some of my stuff, I have $105 I can use on a disposable credit card so I can use $100. According to http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=142753 it says that HIPRO isn't really that good so I decided to go with antec. How's this psu?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931

I've got $100 to use a psu so if anyone thinks this is a bad psu can you help me find a better one off newegg? I'm also thinking that $100 could buy some cases that includes a psu, would you recommend me on getting a case that has a psu for this much or just getting a quality psu that cost $100 by itself? thanks in advance!

 

Never buy a Case that comes with a power supply, they're terrible, probably about half are DOA, the others will pop within a year, often taking components with them. Antec Truepowers are usually pretty good, but no brand is free from problems. There's an astonishing number of reviews for that PSU (265) but in the first 100 reviews I count about a dozen DOAs, that's quite a high percentage, despite a 5/5 rating.

 

Get that Antec.

 

Does the high number of DOA (that means dead on arrival right?) really reflect the quality of this psu? because since newegg is cool, I could just RMA it back if I get a DOA but does that mean these psu's don't last a long time?

 

I found another antec one that looks good, it looks the same as
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931
but it has two fans instead of one but it costs about $25 more. Here it is:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103932

 

Oh well the other antec has a lot of bad reviews so I got the first antec one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931

I'll tell you guys about it when I get it on Wednesday. Thanks for all your help!