big hardware problem!

[GeneralZed]

After transporting my computer by car, it was starting to act differently:

• When I press the 'turn-on' button, my computer doesn't start.
• I have to unplug it from the electric circuit to make it work
• After plugging it back, my computer sometimes works without problems
• And sometimes my computer tries to turn itself on for 4 minutes (the screen's all black and the computer makes loud noises) then suddenly after 2 minutes in this state, it works
• When I play 3d games like civ4 or cs:s the computer shuts down without warning
• Then I have to do the same procedure over again

Some people tell me its the power supply unit that causes all this, but it could be also the mainboard or graphic card. Any ideas?

ps.: please make a better suggestion than 'buy a new computer!', well, I'm willing to pay for a new power supply units or graphic card, but no new computer...

 

[Speedo]

Are we talking about a laptop or a desktop?

If its a laptop I would try to get another PSU (steal one from a friends computer or whatever) and try it out just to see if it resolves most of the problems.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

What exactly do you mean by "transporting by car". in my opinion, if you do that..and this is for future reference... put it into a box with padding if its a desktop, if its a laptop, put it into a laptopcarrying case. Also, if its a desktop, open it up and unplug and replug as many connectors as you can..maybe some of them became dislodged.

 

[FriendlyFire]

[*]When I play 3d games like civ4 or cs:s the computer shuts down without warning

I knew it. Your PC probably committed suicide because you made it play CS so much until it could take it no more.

I suggest a "complete" disasemble and reassemble of the PC

 

[Speedo]

Unless you put it through some seriously rough handling that stuff should be fine. All of the cables usually snap in pretty securely, and any add-in cards are (or should be) held in place with a screw. Unless you have one of the newer, heavy heatsinks and managed to bang it hard enough to crack the mobo... that would be interesting to see.

It won't hurt to open the case open and check, but I doubt that's the problem.

 

[GeneralZed]

It's a desktop.

I reconnected all cables twice, making sure they were all in.

@speedo
it's quite an old machine with a radeon 9100. I also looked at every point of the mainboard and I didn't see no crack or burned spots or whatsoever. It really seems to be the darn PSU.

But I don't know much about ac/dc and i've already burned out tvs and radios when I moved to switzerland and I'm not looking forward to burn THIS computer. What should I look after when buying a new PSU? Mine now has:
- AC input 230V~5A, 50Hz
- DC output 250W

May I buy one with DC output 300W and AC inpit 240V?