my pc is(has been) fuxxed

[Bartylby]

so for awhile now my pc won't turn on, when i try to turn it on the power light blinks amber.

now i've checked my mobo for popped capacitors and char marks and there are none, i've tried replacing the hdd to see if that fixxed it with no luck. with my current knowledge the only other option is the psu and i'm wondering if i missed anything in my thoughts.

i'm asking cause i dont wanna replace the psu and find out it was something else all together cause i really can't afford it.

[Edrick]

It sounds a lot like the PSU. The only other thing I can think of it being is something odd with the motherboard. Every time I had to deal with that problem, though, it's been the PSU. But, like all other computer problems that would cost money to fix, I'd get at least a second opinion on it before going out to buy anything.

As for PSUs, I'd recommend a brand you know (I like Antec, personally) and get a cheaper one of those. Around $40 should net you a solid PSU if you don't need much power from it. Just some thoughts, though, in case it helps.

[Bartylby]

yea i was gonna go with an antec, my previous was only 350w and it's a beefy computer so i figure it was running on redline powerwise most of the time...

that and the fact i didn't shut it off for like a year straight led to it's demise shorter than it should have i spose.


thanks for the advice

[Vyvian]

I had 2 machines with this problem in the last week, one was a bad PCI wireless card, and the other was a bad stick of ram. Bad connections or faulty hardware can sometimes cause power shorts, I'd at least play around with the ram combo and see if that matters.

[Zigma]

buy a psu tester for like 99 cents on ebay and check. It can be the motherboard.

[Bartylby]

i checked the memory, removed one, removed the other and seated them in different spots with no luck still.

previous to the computer not turning on the psu's fan wasn't working at all (week[s] timewise)... that's also why i was leaning towards it being the problem

[alt]

From your descriptions, i'm almost positive its your power supply.

Never heard of a power light blinking amber though. I have had two power supply's die on me before, one was from an electrical surge through the socket (which took out the graphics card and motherboard as well), and the other one just died.

[Sigi]

Definitely power supply. Amber light equals borked voltage

[Avanarius]

blinking amber is something older dells tend to do when they die

[Bartylby]

thanks to everyone who suggested psu problems. you were correct, as i am posting from my computer again!

i ended up getting a 430 watt 7 amp antec truepower trio for 100 at best buy.

*forgive the necro, but i figure people who replyed deserve one in return from me

[levish]

Good Job on resolving your problems,

keep your reciepts handy and hope you don't have as bad luck with Antec supplies as I have had (2/3 dead).