oh, man... WAS: Re:is my power supply failing?

[Matt Price]

On Thu, May 04, 2006 at 11:01:06AM -0400, linux-5ZoueyuiTZhBDgjK7y7TUQ at public.gmane.org wrote:
> >
> > my question:  how do I find out more about what are acceptable voltage
> > levels on Power Supply outputs? for instance I'm getting a +12 voltage
> > of about 13.0 (not in this particular case, I knw):  is this way out
> > of spec?  If so, will changing my PS fix thep roblem?
> >
> > thanks a lot for your help,
> >
> > matt
> 
> That doesn't look too good...
> 
> Generally there is a sticker on the side of your PSU that *should* tell
> you the designer's expected variation levels per voltage rail. Anything
> over 5% on the <5vDC rails and 10% on the 12vDC rails though makes me
> nervous, given how sensitive things are.
> 
> If you do need to replace your PSU, one of my all-time favourites for rock
> steady voltage rails is the Antec TruePower (TP) line. Remember though,
> don't get the highest wattage you can afford! PSUs are most efficient at a
> percentage of their maximum load (generally around 75% of their max). So
> if you're drawing around 250w, a 330/350w(ish) PSU will be best for your
> hydro bill. :p
> 
> HTH!
> 
> Madison

Well, as to whether it helped...  a little hard to say.  I managed to
generate another crash by running my dvd player & compiling a kernel; I
watched the cpu temp rocket up and the voltages move further off their
marks, and decided I really needed a new PSU right away.  SO I just cycled
down & bought a medium-priced one -- perhaps not an ideal choice -- and
switched them out...  and voila!  I've produced an absolutley screwed up
system.  THe mystem starts to boot, gets to the memory check, finishes it,
and then... nothing.  can't get into BIOS or anything.  I tried the old PSU
and it doesn'twork.  I'm wondering if I've forgotten something fundamental
but can't think of anything (well, that's the definition of 'forget', isn't
it...).  The main power is plugged in properly, the HD's are powered on...
is there anything else?  The CPU is recognied, as is the memory -- what else
would prevent me from getting into BIOS?

anyway, sorry to start moving OT, I'm just a bit panicky & depressed (is
that possible?) about this.  

In German there's a special word for this: "verschlimbessern" hwich means
"to break something further by trying to fix it".  I use that word more
often than I wouldl ike to.

matt

> 
> --
> The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org
> TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
> How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml

-------------------------------------------
Matt Price	    matt.price-H217xnMUJC0sA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org
History Department, University of Toronto
(416) 978-2094
--------------------------------------------
--
The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://tlug.ss.org
TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://tlug.ss.org/subscribe.shtml