NZFF

Heres my sypmtoms:
-Sometimes on booting, either hard drive isnt found by BIOS
-On occasions, attmpeting to read a DVD or CD results in drive cutting out, and PC freezing, with the optical drive door refusing to open
-Wireless connection disconnects when PC is under load
-Hard disk 1 or hard disk 2 (both 200GB) may simply stop during normal computer use, resulting in Windows crashing (if HD1), or half of my programs stopping (if HD2)

And the biggest of all:
The PSU size calculator reccomends a 451W power supply. I am running a 400W "Hyena" branded one.

Am I wrong to say it is indeed the power supply?

There are only 3 common factors in all of these things:
1. The PSU
2. The motherboard (still less than 1 year old, and under warranty)
3. The hard drives, both under 1 year old, and under warranty

Also, what would be a good power supply to get. I want atleast a 500W for now, just to restore reliable pc use. I also want to keep the price under $100 NZD ($75$ USD) (40 Pound)

Do the obvious first,you have one other common factor and thats the BIOS.check it out and see if there is a new one available.If there is then reflash with the new one.A small volt meter is also helpful as it allows you to monitor the voltage on the 12v and 5 v lines when the computer is under load.If all is ok in the BIOS department then I'd be going for a bigger PSU 5-600 watt

Hyena is to PSU as Default Aircraft is to flightsim...

ie. OK-ish, but unsuitable for a power user.

You will want to get yourself an Enermax or Silverstone PSU. They are both top notch brands... that will of course demand a top notch price... a 500W Enermax is probably going to be around $150.

The issue with the cheap and nasty PSU, is that if you start pushing them to the limit, they are not able to supply stable voltages. The fluctuating voltages then cause problems for the components and errors occur.

Very similar to the way overheating components cause instability.

PSU calculators are pretty conservative in their estimates. Especially if you're overclocking, a good power supply is critical. Try un-overclocking all your stuff to see if that relieves the problem.

Having said that it could be a motherboard problem since I'm not sure there is a big PSU draw on startup.

From past experience, I would not recommend skimping on the power supply. I understand your on a budget, but maybe get a bit more cash together before changing your power supply so you can get a good one.

It may cost a bit more, but its certainly cheaper than having to replace stuff that gets wiped out by a cheap no-name power supply.

so what you guys are saying is save up, and get something proper, and only have to get it once rather than stuffing around with the cheap junk? Sounds like a plan....

If you are going to save up, I recommend this OCZ Technology GameXStream 700W Power Supply unit which can also run in SLI

Description- (MPN: OCZ700GXSSLI)
Price Range: $114.99 - $170.73

Description: The SLI-Ready GameXStream 600/700 Watt power supplies are designed specifically for the demanding computing environments of PC Enthusiasts, Power Users, and Gamers. As more and more gamers take advantage of the gaming benefits offered by mu.... Read More
Description: The SLI-Ready GameXStream 600/700 Watt power supplies are designed specifically for the demanding computing environments of PC Enthusiasts, Power Users, and Gamers. As more and more gamers take advantage of the gaming benefits offered by multi-GPU technology the need for improved power supply solutions increases greatly. The GameXStream features high-quality components to ensure your PC?s vital hardware is supplied with clean, stable and reliable power without compromising effectiveness. Kept ultra-cool with a large 120mm fan, the GameXStream remains virtually silent and supremely cool even at peak loads. The highly efficient GameXStream core is sheltered in a standard dimension chassis, resulting in a smaller footprint and more legroom for system-cooling modifications. GameXStream PSUs provide Active PFC to effectively regulate input voltage to deliver superior operation in a wider range of environments and countries with varying voltages. Second to no other gaming PSU, the GameXStream?s unprecedented quality and performance is the ultimate solution for serious gamers.

There are many more out there, but for the price range this is a bargin

Im using a Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W ATX 12V & EPS 12V Computer Power Supply, Active PFC, CrossFire & Quad GPU Ready, w/ 140mm Fan Highly recomended.



Marcus

Im using a Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W ATX 12V & EPS 12V Computer Power Supply, Active PFC, CrossFire & Quad GPU Ready, w/ 140mm Fan

Sounds really cheap

Price Range: $114.99 - $170.73

Joy Oh joy

obviously some people are beyond help!

Im using a Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W ATX 12V & EPS 12V Computer Power Supply, Active PFC, CrossFire & Quad GPU Ready, w/ 140mm Fan Highly recomended.

1200W!?!?!?

I hate to think what your power bills are like!

On a shoe string probably an excessive amount really.

My company pays 6 power bills with a tag of 40+K per/annum and a water bill almost double that, so its all relative in the scheme of things.

To be totally honest between 700W - 1200W I don't believe you can really notice the difference performance wise, this is the second extreme machine Thermaltake have built for me and included only the highest of specs each time. So far no complaints but will be adding in the new year Nvidia Graphic boxes and they have my order for 2x Quadro Plex 2, one for home and the other for work and will interface with my latest PC. They hopefully will be due to arrive early to middle of next year

'nuff said