Is this a Power Supply Problem?

[Thumpe25r]

So the other night I went to turn my PC on and when I did the lights can on and the fans started running but nothing showed up on my monitor. I tried 2 other different monitors and same thing. I tried turning the pc off and on several times and then all of a sudden it worked. Everythings good right,,, wrong! After shutting it down that night the next night when I went to start it same thing only this time I could not get it to turn on at all. Its a Dell system and it still under warranty so I called tech support. They had me completely unplug both my pc and monitor for 20-30 seconds and plug everything back in. It booted up , the tech support took over my pc for a bit and updated bios and different things like that and everything seemed fine. Next day got up and turned my pc on and it booted up no problem. Shut it down for a while when I was out and booted up again no problem. Tonight when I got home from work it would not boot up, same problem as before ( lights on and fans running but nothing on my monitor) , so I unplugged the PC and monitor and plugged it back in and same problem , tried a second time and it booted up. Im not really sure if this a a power supply problem or would it be a graphics card problem?
System is
Dell Inspiron 5675
Ryzen 7 1700x
gtx 1060 6gb
16gb ddr4 2400
450w power supply
dell 1440p 24 monitor.

Up until the other day I had never had problems with this unit and its ran fine.
Not sure whats going on with it now.
Thanks for any help !!

 

[dudmont]

OEM PSUs are usually complete turds. While it sure sounds like a PSU issue, only real way to find out is to swap in a known fully working unit. You don't have a spare fully functioning PSU lieing around do you?
Even if you don't, I suggest you open the case and get all the info you can off the makers plate on that PSU. Google the info, find out who makes it, and while you're inside the case, get out your tape measure and get some measurements of the PSU. In replacing the PSU, you'll have to find a high quality replacement that fits(assuming the current PSU is somewhat proprietary in size).
This is the time to check all your warranty info regarding this system. Does the warranty cover replacement PSUs? Do you void the warranty by opening the case up(if you do, then disregard my instructions from the second paragraph)? Problem with computers that you buy from someone else, you don't have any options but to follow their instructions on the thing. The stuff the Dell tech support did was standard stuff that has no effect on a bad PSU. They, for cost reasons, will not want to replace the PSU or do anything that actually costs them money, so you're going to have to be firm with them.

 

[smashjohn]

does your keyboard fire up? can you toggle the numlock on and off?

 

[Thumpe25r]

OEM PSUs are usually complete turds. While it sure sounds like a PSU issue, only real way to find out is to swap in a known fully working unit. You don't have a spare fully functioning PSU lieing around do you?
Even if you don't, I suggest you open the case and get all the info you can off the makers plate on that PSU. Google the info, find out who makes it, and while you're inside the case, get out your tape measure and get some measurements of the PSU. In replacing the PSU, you'll have to find a high quality replacement that fits(assuming the current PSU is somewhat proprietary in size).
This is the time to check all your warranty info regarding this system. Does the warranty cover replacement PSUs? Do you void the warranty by opening the case up(if you do, then disregard my instructions from the second paragraph)? Problem with computers that you buy from someone else, you don't have any options but to follow their instructions on the thing. The stuff the Dell tech support did was standard stuff that has no effect on a bad PSU. They, for cost reasons, will not want to replace the PSU or do anything that actually costs them money, so you're going to have to be firm with them.

I had the pc open and looked at the psu but there was no info on it at all that I could see. I don't mind spending the money and putting a decent new psu in it myself but I don't want to waste the money on a psu if its not that.

 

[Thumpe25r]

does your keyboard fire up? can you toggle the numlock on and off?

I honestly have no idea, I never checked. The next time it does this I will take a look.
What does it mean if the keyboard fires up and what does it mean if it does not?

 

[dudmont]

Well, without swapping out the current PSU and doing extensive testing, you'll not know for sure. Do you have a friend who has a spare unit that works(even if it means pulling a computer apart to do it)? Those are your choices, buy a new unit(without verifying the old is the problem, even if it likely is), or get your hands on a working used PSU, if just to verify the current is bad.
When you had the case open, did you sniff around? Sometimes your nose will be able to smell that fried component smell and that can help you in this process.

 

[smashjohn]

If you can toggle numlock, it gives a general indication that your mainboard is powered and your bios is functioning. This generally points to a problem with the graphics card; power/psu, cable, seating, etc. If the numlock doesn't work, then you probably have a problem with the core hardware; cpu, memory, bios, motherboard, psu.

Nothing guarenteed. But for your numlock to toggle, the bios has initialized, which means your CPU/Memory are testing good and you have functional communication to USB.

 

[Thumpe25r]

If you can toggle numlock, it gives a general indication that your mainboard is powered and your bios is functioning. This generally points to a problem with the graphics card; power/psu, cable, seating, etc. If the numlock doesn't work, then you probably have a problem with the core hardware; cpu, memory, bios, motherboard, psu.

Nothing guarenteed. But for your numlock to toggle, the bios has initialized, which means your CPU/Memory are testing good and you have functional communication to USB.

I will check it our if/when this happens again. Thanks for this info man!

 

[Thumpe25r]

Well, without swapping out the current PSU and doing extensive testing, you'll not know for sure. Do you have a friend who has a spare unit that works(even if it means pulling a computer apart to do it)? Those are your choices, buy a new unit(without verifying the old is the problem, even if it likely is), or get your hands on a working used PSU, if just to verify the current is bad.
When you had the case open, did you sniff around? Sometimes your nose will be able to smell that fried component smell and that can help you in this process.

I have never smelt anything wrong ( and I would know a bad electrical smell ) . I will try to see if I can grab a psu off a friend and have it on hand for next time. Only problem is, since I have to unplug the pc to replace the psu it would start up normally anyway. I may just have to replace the psu and then if it does happen again I know its something else and not the psu and if it does not happen again then we know the psu is at fault.

 

[Thumpe25r]

TY both very much for the help !
Its greatly appreciated .

 

[Thumpe25r]

Night Owl,
I started my pc today without a problem then I shut it off as I wanted it off for when Dell tech support call me today. When they called and I turned it on it would not turn on again, I checked the keyboard and it had no power. The numlock and caps lock would not work at all but my mouse did light up. The Dell tech support had me try starting the pc with no memory and there were no beep codes. He then had me put the memory back in , plug everything back ina and it started up. He had me go into the bios and do a diagnostic and everything checked out fine. Pretty much as far as they are concerned the pc is working but I know its not fixed. Im at a complete loss as to why when it does not work and I unplug it it will work and then will work the first time I try turning it back ok and then it will not turn on a second time unless I unplug it again.

I just want to add, when it does turn on I have a device notification sound every time the pc turns on .
Also, when the pc is on I have no problems with it at all. Its does not slow down over time, web pages dont freeze, there is no distortions on the screen and when playing BF1 ( the only game I play ) it plays fine and the frame rates dont drop. Once its on it works perfect!