Vista only occasionally starts - power supply fault?

[Blade285]

well hopefully it's a simple and cheap problem but if it is the power supply
if you don't mind spending a bit more money, i'd recommend http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=56LN
i use corsair (620HX) and it's great

[computeruler]

i would say thats overkill and you can get away with a crosair 750 wwatt

[Blade285]

better to be safe than destroy a PSU

[computeruler]

i dont think that a 8800gtx needs that much power

[BC_Programmer]

probably true, but at least this way they will be set for any future expansion.

[anger99]

 >:(all these people have no idea what they are talking about,

the xps 710 and xps 710:h2c, both use a proprietary power supply, and It has twin 24-pin power plugs WITH NO 4PIN/8-PIN CPU POWER PLUG ,(i.e.  a regular atx power supply you buy retail will only have one 24-pin power plug and a 4-pin or 8-pin cpu power power plug to go with it, and that will not be enough power for the board the way it wants it.

this problem has to do with both the powersupply and the mobo, as i have switched out more than 5 of these for a customer that got them all upgraded when the upgrade was offered, and after the switch the computers started doing the same blinking amber light thing ( i.e. a boot every other day or hour or so ).

And, no, a regular btx motherboard will not fit because even the cpu fan assembly is proprietary, so even if you manage to seat another mobo in the case, the cpu fan screw holes will not line up correctly, and even a stock btx intel fan will not seat correctly either.

so, the way i use my xps 710 ( crap box) is as a ps3 media server.

I just slapped all the hard drives in it I could ( and took out the video card and tv tuner and etc...) and got it to boot in my server room( it took over a week to get it to boot because of the amber light issue)

i then turned off all the power saving features in windows and the thing has been running since the 08' dec. release of googles ps3 media server, plus some folding

So in summation:
1. DO NOT BUY A REGULAR ATX POWER SUPPLY AS A REPLACEMENT FOR A XPS 710 CASE, IT WILL NOT WORK RIGHT
2. here is the site for the replacements that don't cost $150

http://www.discountelectronics.com/index.php?l=search_list&s[match]=all&s[search]=710&s[title]=Y&s[short_desc]=Y&s[full_desc]=Y&s[cid]=63&s[subcats]=Y&s[mid]=0&s[sku]=&s[price_from]=&s[price_to]=&s[weight_from]=&s[weight_to]=

or just
the 750 watt for $70
http://www.discountelectronics.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3816

BEST ADVISE BEST ADVISE BEST ADVISE BEST ADVISE BEST ADVISE BEST ADVISE

3. BEST ADVISE
SWITCH OUT THE CASE WITH A GENERIC ( CHEAP ) REPLACEMENT
SWITCH OUT THE POWER SUPPLY WITH SOMETHING REGULAR ( CHEAP)
SPEND SOME MONEY ON A GOOD ATX MOBO ( LIKE A P45 CHIPSET SO THAT YOU CAN USE THE NEWEST CORE2QUADS { 95XX SERIES} WHEN YOU DO WANT TO UPGRADE ( PCI-EX 2.0 SLOTS WOULD BE NICE TOO)

THIS IS WHAT I ENDED UP DOING TO THE GUYS 5 XPS 710'S AFTER HE SPENT OVER $500  (IN PARTS AND LABOR) TO TRY AND FIX THE ISSUES.

P.S. DON'T LISTEN TO DELL, I HAD TO TELL EVERY TECH ( SAVE ONE) WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHAT I HAVE DONE ALREADY ( I.E. I HATE HAVING TO REPEAT MY PROCESS 13 TIMES)

JUNK THE CASE AND POWER SUPPLY, YOU WILL BE HAPPIER 3 YEARS DOWN THE LINE WHEN YOUR COMPUTER STILL WORKS

[computeruler]

I was thinkin about it might needing a propriary PSU but SOMEONE said it didnt [cough]BC[/cough]

[BC_Programmer]

tssk tssk. I guess Dell went back to the dark side of proprietary parts...

[patio]

tssk tssk. I guess Dell went back to the dark side of proprietary parts...

Actually maybe not...it may be a mini ATX PSU which won't fit the normal case config...smaller.

[BC_Programmer]

which means, by all definitions it isn't really "proprietary" but rather simply unsuitable for upgrade.

That's a difference.

"Proprietary" in this context means pretty much that it doesn't follow any set standard... like the actual proprietary dell supplies. For no reason other then to force consumers to buy PSUs from them, they changes the pin outputs on the PSU and inputs on their mobo's.

[patio]

Correct.
I'll have to do more research into the "mini-rant" above to verify this...as some of the info sounds sketchy. Why have a PSU with 2 24 pinouts for example and no 4pin/8pin ? ?

[anger99]

man,

 :-\some people are too high on their horse to believe someone that knows what they are talking about

in this day in age i think if someone replies to a post about specifications then he/she should check the specifications first, before they post anything at all

here is an engaget article and pic of the stupid mobo

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/16/dells-xps-motherboard-exchange-program-goes-live/

(20-pin top right next to yellow sticker , and a 24-pin under the sata ports)

hope you guys believe me now 

[computeruler]

I see them.  That motherboard is REALLY REALLY weird looking

[patio]

man,

 :-\some people are too high on their horse to believe someone that knows what they are talking about

Why don't you take a chill pill Mr. Expert ? ?
No one was questioning your experience with that particular MBoard or model...
But i bet if you asked at 10 different hardware Forums you wouldn't find one in a hundred that happened to see that twisted Dell layout....

As a matter of fact i stated this:

I'll have to do more research into the "mini-rant" above to verify this...as some of the info sounds sketchy. Why have a PSU with 2 24 pinouts for example and no 4pin/8pin ? ?

Don't cram around here questioning our expertise because we happen to be unaware of an abomination of PC design.

Other than that ...carry on...

[computeruler]

Ya like I go googleing for the weirdest motherboard designs