PS problem

[smiley]

It's not exactly vintage...in fact, it's completely un-vintage. I have a vprMatrix 1820 that doesn't start up. I thought it was a power supply problem but now i'm having my doubts. Does the computer require a 4-pin connector in the shape of a square/rectangle to start? I put in an Enlight PS that almost exactly matched the power requirements except for the 4 pin Intel connector. So I ask you all, is this the cause of my problem? Or is my problem just a fried processor?
I think it'd be important to know that it blinks on for about a second then turns off.

Thanks,
E

[Vlad]

There's an ATX connector and near the processor should be a 4 pin square shaped one that is required to run. It supplies power to the proc. So you do need that 4 pin connection. It probably blinks and turns off to protect the motherboard from damage since you seem to be missing a connection.

-VK

[Scavanger]

Hi - If you do not have the correct PS, there are adaptors available, which [usually] connect to two of the standard 4-pin (as in HD/CD) power connectors. Why 2? pretty high current - though you may get away with just one.
-dim

[barythrin]

That 4 pin cable as far as I know is only for P4/Intel systems (atleast I haven't seen an AMD system need it yet *my newest system is a Duron so past that I could be wrong). So if you're running an Intel chip you'll need that cable and it's likely the source of this problem, if you're running an AMD system your problem may be elsewhere.

The system will shut itself down usually if it detects bad voltage, temperatures and sometimes a cpu fan failure.

Also a really handy (more importantly cheap) thing to pick up is a power supply tester. You can get a nice one for ATX (both newer and legacy (can't remember if it does AT)) at CompUSA for about $15. I have one and it's come in quite handy to tell me quickly that the PS isn't putting out good voltage, plus it can test all your device cables also (even SATA). This is only nice because AT you can atleast test with a voltometer, but since ATX doesn't have a power button (unless you're lucky enough to have a test button) you have to short 2 or 4 pins just to get the stupid thing to turn on THEN test it and I hate having to use paperclips as a diagnostic tool ;o)

- John

[bbcmicro]

I use an ATX power supply to power a CD drive/player. It has an on-off toggle switch that connects the green wire on that goes to the motherboard connecter with any black ground wire in the PSU. Comes in useful when you have motherboards without a power switch too.