computer help

[kizzo]

I have a computer that i built over summer around june. up until today it was working very well. I went to turn on my computer and the unit turned on for about a second and turned off. I took the case off, unplugged one of the fans and turned the computer on, started fine. i turned it off, plugged the fan back in and it ran for about 3hrs before suddenly turning off. i tried to do the same thing (unplug one of the fans) and when that didnt work i continued to unplug other components to no avail. i plugged everything back in and now its just sitting on my desk.
heres all the hardware im running:

Maxtor DiamondMax 21 STM3320820AS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6300 - Retail

GIGABYTE GA-945GZM-S2 LGA 775 Intel 945GZ Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

WINTEC AMPO 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 3AMD2667-2G2K-R - Retail

LITE-ON 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE Model LH-18A1P-186 - Retail

APEVIA X-QPACK-NW-BK/420 Black Aluminum 1.0 w/ ABS plastic front panel MicroATX Desktop Computer Case 420W Power Supply - Retail

i added two more fans and a geforce 8600gt video card.

is there a possibility that my power supply is shot?

here are the specs for the power supply:

Power Supply specs:
Specifications:
Intel Pentium 4 support
SATA support
Wire sleeves on all wires
AC Input: 115V/230V~ 10/5A 50-60Hz
DC Output: 18A@+3.3V; 22A@5V; 20A@12V; .3A@-5V; .8A@-12V; 2.0A@+5VSB

http://www.directron.com/as420w.html

[Pete03GLS]

well...

id try a different power supply first... it may be dead or not beefy enuff for this setup

2nd... and this is just personal prefrence... i dont like most of the parts you bought... maxtor... bad hdd company... id go for a seagate.

gigabyte mobo's... not the best...

never even heard of "wintec" ram...

the only things i like and would purchase myself, r the C2d and LiteOn.

[wazntme]

either A. buy a power supply tester from radio shack ( retail 20.00) and test your power supply

b. try replacing power supply

c. check error logs on MB if you can get to them, sounds like a voltage problem or a faulty temperature sensor on the CPU, if the sensor reads over Xdegrees it will cut power to the system

[kizzo]

either A. buy a power supply tester from radio shack ( retail 20.00) and test your power supply

b. try replacing power supply

c. check error logs on MB if you can get to them, sounds like a voltage problem or a faulty temperature sensor on the CPU, if the sensor reads over Xdegrees it will cut power to the system

turns out i have a bad PSU.

the next step...

I have this case right here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144162

and i want to get a new PSU that can power my computer but a different brand then the cheap apevia one.

id like something in the 400-500w range but im not sure what will fit my computer, unless they are all the same size. im concerned because my PC is a MICRO FORM FACTOR and im not sure if all PSU are the same size (as in dimensions) or not.

[Pete03GLS]

id go with atleast 500watts

like this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171016

[wazntme]

personally i'd go for the thermatake 600w

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153033

i work with their products all the time and they rarley fail, power is never something you play with no-name brands with, because if your power supply fails the wrong way you have the possibility of destroying all the components in the computer or under powering certain devices and causing system instability

[Pete03GLS]

i have a fully built system... with all sorts of bells n whistles... over clocked... running on some 30$ no name PS... runs perfectly fine... aside from a noisy fan... never had any problems with it... so theres really no need to spend more . but hey... its all up to u man. we can only recommend

[Ugzz]

while that may be true that you can use crap psu's and get lucky, its not a good practice. buy a 80% or higher efficiency name brand 450-500 watt supply and call it a day. OR get a cheaper 70% efficiently 550-600 watter. i think you can get them at less then 70% effeciency if you buy some real crap.. which yeah, maybe itl be fine.. but then again.. maybe not :P

[wazntme]

in my shop about 50% if not more of all Hardware related issues are normally in some way realted to the power supply being a POS or just not outputting the correct rating, so you got lucky with your no name 30.00 cheapo unit, but quality matters in the long run... remember that 30.00 power supply is entrusted with not overloading the rest of your computer... so if you buy a 600.00 video card and trust a 30.00 power supply to run it... and it shorts it.. oh well...... (BTW power supply shorts not covered under most video card warentee's )

i personally run dual 600W power supply's , but i'm crazy and stupid...

[Ugzz]

but i'm crazy and stupid...

now thats the quote of the day right there :D
i have a 80%+ 800w modular psu in my rig, but i have dual vid cards and 4 hard drives, 2 dvd burners, 6 case fans etc.. so i wanted to be safe, i was even thinkin of a 1k :D