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Shop System Takes Big Poop


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V.T. Eric Layton
Posted

Well, I moseyed on out to the shop for the first time in a while yesterday to tinker around. While I was out there sharpening kitchen knives, sweeping the floors, smoking ciggs, etc. I had a great idea.... "Hey!" I said to myself. "I should juice up the shop system and get it updated and all that." It's been a while since I powered it up. I didn't realize how long of a while till I glanced at my update log there on the desk... 2017!!! Holy-Moley!

 

Well, it had been disconnected from everything since then (no AC power). I figured it would fire up OK; it always has in the past. This system is my old ericsbane05 main system from a few years back. It's since then been re-named:

 

ericsshop02-wifi

Generic case
Generic PSU
GigaByte 785GTM-E45 socket AM2+ motherboard
AMD Phenom 9750 Quad-Core Processor
AMD chipset
4Gig Centon DDR2 800 PC-6400 RAM DDR 800 (slots 1 & 2)
Onboard video (bad PCIe socket)
IDE 0 Master: Master: DVD Writer 840
IDE hdd (2)

Updated 28 Dec 2016

 

Well, when I powered 'er up, all I got was fans and a power light on the front of case. There were no post beeps, no signal to monitor, etc. In other words, a boat anchor. Past experience tells me this is a PSU issue. There's just an old "el cheapo" PSU in there that was originally scarfed from some dead or dying machine in the computer graveyard. I had used it as a "tester" PSU while troubleshooting other machines, but when fixing up ericsshop02-wifi, I needed to use it for that machine. It has gone to the great Chinese PSU pile in the sky, evidently.

 

Unfortunately, I do not have a replacement, so ericsshop02-wifi will have to remain out-of-service until the time comes when I can acquire another salvaged PSU from somewhere. No biggie. The shop system isn't a very "needed" system in my scheme of things. It was just nice to have it out there for research, music listening, etc. when piddling in the workshop. I'll get 'er up a running again sometime down the road.

 

And so it goes...

securitybreach
Posted

Yup as I was reading about lights and fans, I knew it was the PSU as well.

  • +1 1
Posted

I think I've gone through 2.5 times as many PSUs as I have computers. Current ones are mid-range Antec and Corsair units, been running for a decent few years each now, touch wood. Low end generic ones work out more expensive in the long run due to regular replacement needed. The old adage "I'm too poor to buy cheap" applies in spades to PSUs. Guess it doesn't apply to free ones though.

Eric, I thought you quit the ciggies?

 

V.T. Eric Layton
Posted

I've gone through some cheapos in my time, too. However, my two Antecs, one that lasted through four previous ericsbanes (main systems) and the one I'm using in ericsbane07 right now have never given issues. The original Antec lasted nearly 10 years in four systems. It died of old age. ;) I have absolutely nothing bad to say about Antec PSUs.

 

Folks always talk about the processor being the heart of the system. That's baloney. The heart is the PSU. The processor is the brain. Brains of any type don't work too well without a good strong heart pumping that needed blood/oxygen around.

 

Meh... like I said, no priority. I'll scarf another PSU off the next junker I run across. Heck, I might even take that one out there apart and see if there's anything obvious about what's wrong with it. It's just a standard baloney switching power supply. I was repairing those at component level long before computers ever became a thing. Sony used switchers in their high powered amp and receivers; one of the first manufacturers to do that. I was fixing those Sonys all the way back in the early 80s.

 

Might be a fun tinker one of these upcoming cool evenings. :)

  • Like 1
Posted

I've had 2 Antecs die which is significant as I've only ever had 3 desktop computers. First one was a cheapie that came included in a $AU99 Antec case - bottom of the line. I replaced that with a Neo-something which died within warranty period and the shop took months to replace it so Neo wasn't available and they replaced it with a higher wattage Antec Earthwatts unit which is still running after maybe 10 years and that system runs almost 24/7. Companies like Antec don't actually make PSUs so outsource to 3rd parties. 2 models of the same brand can have totally different manufacturers.

The Corsair 750 RMi on my production system has been perfect so far so I might stick to Corsair in future, but again only midrange ones, not the cheapest.

V.T. Eric Layton
Posted
1 minute ago, sunrat said:

Companies like Antec don't actually make PSUs so outsource to 3rd parties.

 

True. It's all from China; one way or another. However, a company like Antec needs to protect their reputation, so I'm sure they're rather choosy about who/what/where the put their name to.

Posted

I had an EVGA BQ 600 die on me earlier this year. It wasn't one of EVGA's premium models though. I replaced it with a Corsair CX650. Corsair has been a reliable brand for me.

Posted

I see the updated version of my Corsair is listed as best overall PSU at https://silentpcreview.com/best-power-supply/

The also recommend EVGA and Seasonic. I did have a Seasonic die way before its time but after warranty period due to it sitting in its unopened box for years before I actually used it; it's what I replaced with the Corsair.

There used to be a great site where they reviewed and stress tested PSUs and also revealed who the OEMs were as well as the company whose brand name they were sold under. Couldn't find it searching just now.

  • Like 1
Posted

I have a Corsair AX 850 Modular psu in my main Skylake build. It has been running 24/7 since it was installed in the build in 2015.

 

My sister has my old Corsair 520 (i think that is the right model) which has been running since 2007.

 

I recon it is best to have a larger psu than you need as it will never get overstretched/overheat and therefore last longer. 😎

securitybreach
Posted
1 hour ago, abarbarian said:

I recon it is best to have a larger psu than you need as it will never get overstretched/overheat and therefore last longer. 😎

 

And that is why I went with a one that is 1050 watts....

  • +1 1
V.T. Eric Layton
Posted

My favorite Corsair...

 

865e99db8c463a06e504d97d6d0a61ab.jpg

 

Probably the greatest fighter plane of the WWII era. The P-51 Mustang is often heralded, but the ol' Corsair could give that Mustang a run for her money any day! There aren't that many still flying these days, but I've had the honor and thrill a couple times of standing nearby while those 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasps were warming up on the tarmac. What a thunderous sound of pure power!

 

Vought F4U Corsair

  • Agree 1
  • +1 2
V.T. Eric Layton
Posted

We won, so I can disregard all those other losing participants. ;)

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