Do i need a new PSU?

[hoon]

My computer has been freezing randomly and sometimes I can't boot up fully.
Sometimes it works fine for days and weeks sometimes. But when it does go bad, when it freezes, I reboot it, then the screen goes all weird, with distorted lines and sometimes a checkered display.

At first I thought it was the graphics card but I was looking at the voltage of the power supply and my +3.3V looks to be low. It's ranging from 3.075 - 2.9ish. Shouldn't it be closer to 3.3V?
Is my PSU dying? I'm pretty sure I need a new one. Just wanted to confirm.

[willy]

How old/new is your PS ? What kind of system do you have ? Is the problem only happening recently ?

It does look similar to my own PS incident a while back ... The system rebooted randomly. The +5V *fluctuated* (quite rapidly actually) between 2V-4.5V. It's quite 'interesting' to see I replaced the powersupply and problem fixed.

I then opened up my PS (It was an Enermax) and here's the reason ...

[Jucius Maximus]

Ensure that you measure the voltage with an actual multimeter. The measurements in the BIOS mean nothing.

If you are ~10% off or more, I'd say it's time for a new PSU.

[hoon]

whoa that doesn't look good at all..

Specs. (old comp over 5 years)
P4 2.8GHz
2 Gigs of RAM
ATI RAdeon 9500 pro
Antec 400W PSU (SL400)

This happened before about 2 months ago, but it ran smoothly after.
Then it started happening again about 2 week ago. I thought it was the HDD at first, so I formatted it. Comp still randomly froze. Then it worked again for 2 weeks without any problems, then the past couple of days, the comp has been going crazy.

I'm still monitoring the +3.3V and it's still fluctuates between 3.075 and 2.95. My ASUS PC probe monitor keeps beeping if it goes below 10%. And it beeps every so often. The +5V is stable and the +12V is stable. Just the +3.3V is unstable and LOW. I'm convinced it's the PSU. It's probably just old.

I'll probably replace it with the Antec EarthWatts 380W. I've been reading good reviews.

[willy]

Before you replace the PS, have you tried to test the RAM ?

I'll probably replace it with the Antec EarthWatts 380W. I've been reading good reviews.

If you plan to buy an EarthWatts 380W, I would actually buy the whole NSK4480B from Dell for $65 ... http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topi...3881&lid=77903 ... EarthWatts 380W alone probably costs you $50 ...

Very good deal ....

[hoon]

No i have not, but it's relatively new memory, bought last year.

[willy]

I would run a round or 2 Memtest .... just to make sure ....

[hoon]

thanks for all your input willy
and that dell deal looks pretty good.
thanks again

[terrybear]

You know, believe it or not Dell Canada actualy has some better deals on things, which in itself is scary thought!!! BUT I'd rather buy something from them than tigerdirect !!!!!