Burning problem fixed

[toomanycats]

I had been experiencing a burning problem which I posted on and recieved the standard check this or that response which is probably correct 99.999% of the time. My computer is an AMD 3200 64 with 1 gig of ram with a Radeon 9800se video card. The problem turned out to be my Video card. It finally started to exhibit the problems so that I could see them, namely it was locking up. Eventually it locked up so bad it started craching the system. I purchased a Radeon X800pro card and found that I could burn again with no problems. I am an electronic technician but that didn't help me out much. The dead giveaway was when I rebooted the machine and stared at a black screen that had the phrase "You have disconnected the power to your Radeon 9800se video card", since I hadn't , well you can figure out the rest. By the way, ATI had a refurbished X800pro card with a 3 year warranty on sale for $179.00, which is really cheap.

[anonymez]

glad it all worked out

just curious, did the problem only happen when burning?

[toomanycats]

Yes, only when burning. I could make .ISO files with shrink. I used two different burning programs Ulead Movie Studio 2se and InCd/DVD by Pinnacle, which both made movies that would stop and the play, (they stuttered) and the sound would drop out. All programs are curent with updates. I use a Lite-on 16X DL burner. Of couse, it could be something else completely. The Video card was definately toast though, you could barely touch it when the system would crash, (at the end I took off the cover to test for overheated components). My system has not crashed since.

[Taelon]

So apparently either the vid card was generating too much heat which affected the burner, or more likely was intermittently spiking the power rails which would cause the discs to be burnt unevenly. Looks like you've been fighting this problem since May?, glad you finally resovled it!

[toomanycats]

I'll go with the spiking power rails. The power supply cable for the video card branches off the cable connected to the burner. I am going to connect it to a slaved hard drive which is used less often. I have a dual boot set up so the 2nd hard drive disc is not used often. I actually have 3 hard drives. I use a 160G for storing all data, (pictures, ISO files etc.) and the other hard drives for the O.S.. Burners are so cheap I don't mind running them into the ground, though this Lite On seems pretty durable.

[Chewy]

Think about another power supply, monitor the voltage rails.

[toomanycats]

Funny you should say that. I was going to include that with my previous post as a question i.e: Should I...change....? Any suggestions on a good one. Are there any that have a separate power lead for the video card?

[Chewy]

What brand and ratings of power supply are you using?
Is the 12 volt rail stable?
With your computer I would use at least a name brand 450 watt,
Antec, Rosewill(cheapbut good), Coolmaster, Thermaltake.
12V+ 22-30A. Vidcard really sucks up that rail.

[toomanycats]

I am going to take you advice and puchase a new one. This machine was built by Tigerdirect.com (Systemax) so I really don't know what is in there.

[Chewy]

If it's along these lines?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1480771&CatId=6

that's only a 350W power supply,
it should say on the side of the power supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153006

would be the minimum I would use, it's 12v rail is conservatively rated
I waited for a sale on the rosewill 450's, have my spare now.

[Taelon]

Fortron, Tagan, Enermax, OCZ, Seasonic, are good supplies, I wouldn't buy a thermaltake or rosewill.

Best deals on PS right now is Fortron 400w (dual 12v rails @18A & 16A) for $47 shipped or Fortron 450w (dual 12v rails @18A ea.) for $57 shipped.

Chiefvalue is actually the same company as NewEgg.

[SkaarjMaster]

My vote is for Enermax!

[toomanycats]

I ended up ordering a Coolmax CX550 based on the current and voltage specs to price ratio. Years ago I fixed some of power supplies and it is amazing how many use the same parts inside. I've got my fingers crossed. It was $57.99 so if it sucks at least it wasn't too expensive. (Unless it burns my house!!)