[SOLVED] How To check for PSU problem

[mirkojpn]

hi guys.
i have a some problem with my pc, my new SSD sometimes slow down speed until freeze for some seconds, this happen when i'm installing some software or games.

another issue is that something my usb memory fail to transfer data returning an error, sometimes this happen also with my hard drie used for storage of data (not an SSD)

my configuration is

CPU : interl core i7 4770
RAM : 16GB DDR3
Graphic Card = sapphire rx 480 8gb nitro
Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-z87x-ud3h
PSU = silverstone sst=st8sf-g 850W
OS = windows 10

 

[Darkbreeze]

First, get rid of HWmonitor. It's terrible, and OFTEN not even remotely accurate. Half the time it cannot even report sensors correctly or reports the wrong sensor value, substituting a value for a sensor that is not even the correct sensor. Not worth using in my opinion.

Download and install HWinfo. Download Prime95 version 26.6 or Realbench. Install HWinfo, run "Sensors only" (Unselect the summary option). Start Realbench or Prime95 (Version 26.6 ONLY. Small FFT option ONLY) and then take screenshots of the HWinfo sensor values for the 3v, 5v and 12v system voltages. That will tell us at least something about the condition of the power supply, which when new, was not great, but was ok.

For the drive itself, it would help to know the model of the SSD.

 

[mirkojpn]

First, get rid of HWmonitor. It's terrible, and OFTEN not even remotely accurate. Half the time it cannot even report sensors correctly or reports the wrong sensor value, substituting a value for a sensor that is not even the correct sensor. Not worth using in my opinion.

Download and install HWinfo. Download Prime95 version 26.6 or Realbench. Install HWinfo, run "Sensors only" (Unselect the summary option). Start Realbench or Prime95 (Version 26.6 ONLY. Small FFT option ONLY) and then take screenshots of the HWinfo sensor values for the 3v, 5v and 12v system voltages. That will tell us at least something about the condition of the power supply, which when new, was not great, but was ok.

For the drive itself, it would help to know the model of the SSD.

firstly, thank's you for your help.
i did it and this is the screenshots

and this is my SSD

TC SUNBOW 240GB 256GB SSD 2.5 Inch SATAIII 6GB

 

[Darkbreeze]

So that screenshot of the HWinfo sensors was taken WHILE you were running Realbench stress test or Prime95 version 26.6 on Small FFT? Or are those with the system just running the HWinfo program?

 

[mirkojpn]

while Prime95 version 26.6 on Small FFT is running

a benchmark of my SSD

 

[Darkbreeze]

Ok, no. I don't need to see the SSD benchmark while running Prime95. I need to see the HWinfo sensors, just like you posted them before, but WITH Prime95 running so that I know the PSU is under a heavy load. That is when it will show lower voltages if there is a problem with it.

The SSD benchmark is not helpful in any way with these troubleshooting procedures. Once we get to doing that, you will use a diagnostic utility to check the drive. Benchmarking tools are not a diagnostic utility, well, sort of, but not really.

 

[mirkojpn]

this is in idle

and this is after some minutes of prime

 

[Darkbreeze]

Ok, well PSU looks fine to me.

So next, I'd download and install either Seatools for Windows, Western digital lifeguard tools or Hard disk sentinel. Run the quick self test (Also known as the short test, short DST or short drive self test) and the extended test (Also known as the long test or long generic test).

Run the short test, and if it passes with no problems then run the long test. If it does not pass either test then the first thing you want to do is try using a different SATA data cable. If you get the same problem, try a different SATA power connector from the power supply. If you STILL get the same result, try a different SATA header on the motherboard to connect the drive to.

If none of those changes the fact that it won't pass one of the two tests, then you need to either RMA the unit or replace it.

If it passes both tests, then I'd do all of the following, and see if you still have issues.

Here are the first steps to take when trying to solve these kinds of hardware problems. If you have already tried these steps, all of them, exactly as outlined, we can move along to more advanced solutions.

If there are any you have NOT done, it would be advisable to do so if for no other reason than to be able to say you've already done it and eliminate that possibility.


First, make sure your motherboard has the MOST recent BIOS version installed. If it does not, then update. This solves a high number of issues even in cases where the release that is newer than yours makes no mention of improving hardware compatibility. They do not list every change they have made when they post a new BIOS release.

Second, go to the product page for your motherboard on the manufacturer website. Download and install the latest driver versions for the chipset, storage controllers, audio and network adapters. Do not skip installing a newer driver just because you think it is not relevant to the problem you are having. The drivers for one device can often affect ALL other devices and a questionable driver release can cause instability in the OS itself. They don't release new drivers just for fun. If there is a new driver release for a component, there is a good reason for it. The same goes for BIOS updates.

IF you have other hardware installed or attached to the system that are not a part of the systems covered by the motherboard drivers, then go to the support page for THAT component and check to see if there are newer drivers available for that as well. If there are, install them.

 

[mirkojpn]

weill,
both test is passed without errors, i'm use the WD one
i have still updated my motherboard BIOS to latest driver, same for the sata cable, i tried 3 of them, same problem...also switching between sata ports on motherboard doesn't have any effect.

the driver is all updated, windows update has installed more recent driver than gigabyte site one.

nothing else is attached to my motherboard so that's why i thought that was for my PSU issue...

right know i have no idea to how fix this.

if i'm installing one game i'm not able to open a internet browser becasuse may take also 2 or more minutes, it is too strange for an SSD

 

[Darkbreeze]

No, you don't want to use the drivers from Windows update. Those are generic, NOT specific to the hardware. The ones on the website are specific to the hardware.

I would install THIS chipset driver, which is the latest and ONLY drivers you should use for the Z87 chipset on Windows 10.

http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Driver/mb_driver_chipset_intel_w10.zip


Also, you should install ALL of these. Do not trust the Microsoft provided drivers to offer device specific support. Those are generic in nature and often do not support all, or the best, features for a given hardware component. Microsoft supplied drivers should be used only when no other better hardware vendor specific driver can be found or if one is not available for the required OS version on the motherboard product page.


Audio: http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Driver/mb_driver_audio_realtek_8series.zip

Network adapter: http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Driver/mb_driver_lan_intel_w10.zip

Marvell SATA/AHCI controller: http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Driver/mb_driver_marvell_sata_controller_w10.zip

Unpack/unzip and install all of those drivers including the chipset driver listed first, then reboot, and see if you still have issues.