[Zacam]

As a person that works in an OEN that uses Antec True Power power supplies, I will _never_ personally buy or recommend one.

Me, I like the SeaSonic 80Plus Modular M12 series power supplies.

[Titan]

I like a plug that fits into a socket. As long as the computer works, everything else really just flies over my head.

However, that's far more then a lot of my teachers know.

[FUBAR-BDHR]

Start unplugging things (CD/DVD drive, hard drive, any expansion cards, etc. ) Could be as simple as a burned up CD drive shorting something.  If you get down to nothing plugged in and don't even get a post beep then it's probably the MB or CPU.

[Liberator]

Never underestimate the importance of a quality power supply.

Modern systems need a 500 watt power supply, minimum.  'Specially those overpowered dual, triple or quadruple video card monsters.  Good brands include Cooler Master, Antec(True Power preferably), PC Power and Cooling, and a couple of others.  What you want to look for is multiple high amp 12v rails.  Modern computers run on basically 12v power, there are things that need the other stuff, but the power hogs are all 12v.

I leave as an exercise for the reader to find the fault in logic.

I don't understand, there's no fault in logic, PC Power and Cooling is a recognized and highly reputed brand of computer power supplies and accessories.

http://www.pcpower.com/index.html

[S-99]

Just build your own computer next time. PC's built yourself are much more reliable.

[FUBAR-BDHR]

Not counting lightning strikes. 

[asyikarea51]

I once got this... while exiting Red Alert 2 and the game promptly crashed... press reset button, woohoo, same situation. Completely dead computer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a person that works in an OEM that uses Antec True Power power supplies, I will _never_ personally buy or recommend one.

/curious

Why's that?

[S-99]

Probably from his experience they suck

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Here's the scenario:

I'm playing FC2, tearing through Africa, when the screen freezes and my headphones emit an ear-piercing, monotone shriek.  Ctrl Alt Del does nothing (nor any other 'HELP!' key combo', so I reset the system.

Problem is, now when the system powers up, the HDD light comes on steadily and then nothing else.  No POST beep, no click-whirr from the HDD actually doing anything, and my monitor screaming "NO SIGNAL INPUT" at me.  I've rescued some pretty wrecked systems before, but this is new to me.

Before I start dismantling and replacing stuff, can anyone give me a clue as to what's most liekly to have failed?

Motherboard blowout?

[Ghostavo]

Never underestimate the importance of a quality power supply.

Modern systems need a 500 watt power supply, minimum.  'Specially those overpowered dual, triple or quadruple video card monsters.  Good brands include Cooler Master, Antec(True Power preferably), PC Power and Cooling, and a couple of others.  What you want to look for is multiple high amp 12v rails.  Modern computers run on basically 12v power, there are things that need the other stuff, but the power hogs are all 12v.

I leave as an exercise for the reader to find the fault in logic.

I don't understand, there's no fault in logic, PC Power and Cooling is a recognized and highly reputed brand of computer power supplies and accessories.

http://www.pcpower.com/index.html

You recommended PSUs with multiple rails and from PC Power and Cooling, guess what PC power and Cooling doesn't make.

I bought a 750 Quad from them a few days ago, that's why I'm familiar with this.

[Liberator]

That's interesting, I wasn't aware of that.  You woulda figured that there's be a circuit in there that combines all of the rails back into a single line.  Course, I'm a bit rusty on my DC wiring rules, so it may not even be possible.

[Bob-san]

Actually that's quite inaccurate. Most of the time, on 2-4 rail PSUs, a single +12V rail is running more than its "fair share". They're also setup so that high-end setups are balanced--by putting different graphics cards on different rails, they can run more cards. And actually, higher-quality PSUs are typically not triple or quad+ rail. They're usually dual-rail. That gives a nice balance between CPU and PSU. Anyways--any half-decent unit will be have a nice peak output and will be rated by sustainable max output at whatever temperature they determine (40C typically).

[Dark RevenantX]

an NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS.

The previous owner used it to play Crysis.

Which is why he gave it to you.

[S-99]

an NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS.

The previous owner used it to play Crysis.

Which is why he gave it to you.

ROFL, titan should have noticed the big dumbassed GS somewhere. You can't do **** with any geforce gs xxxx. The 8400 gs is an interesting card, but not what people desire. It is however the little engine that could. My 8400 gs in my laptop can play fs2 with adveffects and other mvp's on 1280x800 with some anistropic. There's some slowdown but very playable. I was surprised that fear 2 demo was playable, albeit with more slow down than fs2. Unreal tournament 2007 was also playable. Interesting card, but gs = low end. Low end never does anything desirable.

[Bob-san]

an NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS.

The previous owner used it to play Crysis.

Which is why he gave it to you.

ROFL, titan should have noticed the big dumbassed GS somewhere. You can't do **** with any geforce gs xxxx. The 8400 gs is an interesting card, but not what people desire. It is however the little engine that could. My 8400 gs in my laptop can play fs2 with adveffects and other mvp's on 1280x800 with some anistropic. There's some slowdown but very playable. I was surprised that fear 2 demo was playable, albeit with more slow down than fs2. Unreal tournament 2007 was also playable. Interesting card, but gs = low end. Low end never does anything desirable.

Actually 8400 = low-end. For the price difference for gamers, I'd definitely say look at Radeon HD 4830s or GeForce 8800GT/9800GT.

[Mars]

I gotta 8600 (GTS?) and it can play a suprising number of things . . .

[Liberator]

Any video card is adequate to display pretty much any game.  But there are acceptable minimum levels of performance that the stuff on the low end doesn't meet all that well.

Best bang for the buck right now is probably the Geforce 9800 and it's variants.  They can be had for $100-150 and were top of the line as recently as 1 generation ago.