Weird CD drive problem

[zacs7]

Hello,

Bare with me, but the history could have something to do with my problem.
About 2 years ago I bought a new HDD, and acquired another shortly after that. Meaning my computer had the following set-up:

ide0: 80GB (master), CD drive (slave)
ide1: 200GB (master), 250GB (slave)

I noticed that my CD drive was starting to mess up, I could not use the drive without my computer 'freezing'. In both Linux or Windows. Trying several new and used CD and DVD drives the problem still existed. I got rid of my 80GB thinking it could be a device conflict.

At the start of the year I upgraded my PC, keeping only the 200GB and the 250GB HDD from the old system.
Running:

ide0: 250GB (master), DVD drive (slave)
sata0: 200GB (with a IDE->SATA converter since my mobo only has 1 IDE slot)

neux:/home/zac # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hda1   *           1       30401   244196001    7  HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sda: 200.0 GB, 200048565760 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24321 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1       14701   118085751    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2           14702       24320    77264617+   f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5           14702       19800    40957686    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6           19801       19994     1558273+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7           19995       24320    34748563+  83  Linux

It especially seems to freeze when I try an access the 250GB while the DVD drive is in use. I'm starting to run out of disk space, so I've started to put things on DVD/CD.

Another possibly related problem, a few weeks ago one of my drives reset it-self during use (happened a few times) -- but hasn't happened since. I ran the manufacturers diagnostic tool on both of the drives and they seem fine. Are one of my drives dying?

So my question is, what's going on?! How can I cheaply rearrange my PC?
Will putting both the 200GB and 250GB in an external case (USB) solve the problem? Running the DVD drive on it's own (ide) and buying a sata drive for the OS?

Sorry my post is soooo long, I'd really appreciate any comments or suggestions. I know it's not a software issue, I run both XP and openSuSE 10.2 (the problem happens in both, even after a few re-installs).

Thanks in advance!

[zacs7]

Further research shows it could be my power supply?

All I have is a 500W (advertised, however it's only 422W). +12V on the rail 18A
Powering:
1. DVD drive
2. HDD drive
3. HDD drive
4. 8600GT PCI-E
5. AMD Athlon 3800+ X2 (dual core, 64bit)
6. 2 case fans
7. A few case lights
8. Motherboard

I've used a few 'wattage' calculators on the Internet to find my system only needs 322W?
The research was encouraged by the fact, my PC's case lights at the front have started flickering while the CPU usage is over 100% on either core.

Since I'm a poor student, I have another PSU kicking round (300W), is there anyway I can run 2 so I can diagnose my problem? Before thinking of buying a better PSU?

Speaking of which, PSUs have never been my thing -- I know power is important, but what *should* I get?

PSU                                                 $AUD
------------------------------------
SHAW 550W / 600W Max.                               23 / 23
SHAW 720W (Dual Fan) Max.                           25
SHAW 860W (Tri Fan) Max.                            35
Thermaltake 430W / TR2 470W / TR2 550W              39 / 75 / 101
Thermaltake ToughPower 600W / 750W                  156 / 198
Thermaltake ToughPower 850W / 1200W                 256 / 405
                                                    79
Thermaltake 250W Power Express for Nvidia & SLI VGA
GIGABYTE 460W / 800W                                55 / 222
Coolermaster Extreme 500W /550W /600W               69/75/89
Coolermaster Extreme 650W                           101
Coolermaster RealPower Pro 550w /650w               143 / 163
Coolermaster RealPower Pro 750w / 850w              199 / 245
Coolermaster RealPower Pro 1000W                    315
                                                    143/182
Coolermaster RealPower Modular 520W / 620W
Super Flower 500W / 550W                            65 / 77
Super Flower 600W / 750W / 800W                     104 / 159 / 189
Topower 420W / 520W "Fan-less" EPS Real             138/165
Topower 500W / 600W / 750W                          69 / 113 / 170
Topower 900W / 1000W / 1200W                        203 / 280 / 329
Antec Earth Watts 380W / 430W /500W                 70 / 85 / 105
Antec T.P.3 Trio 430W / 550W / 650W                 98 / 131 / 179
                                                    85/95/129/146
Antec "NeoHe" 380W/430W/500W/550W
Antec "NeoPower" 430W / 500W / 550W                 99 / 139 / 159
Antec TPQ 850W / 1000W                              275 / 325
Seasonic S12 II 430W                                105
Seasonic S12+ 550W /S12+ 650W                       165 / 190

[Neo1]

Well on paper your PSU looks fine really, 18amps should be plenty.

But if you wan't to start your 300watt PSU outside the case, all you do is ground the green wire in the ATX plug. The easiest would be to just connect it to the black one which is already grounded, then it should fire right up, oh, and i take no liability and stuff like that, things might fry

Edit: http://www.xoxideforums.com/attachme...horttheatx.jpg

[zacs7]

Hmm thanks, well I've decided to smash the issue completely. Having researched that my PSU is made by 'Deer' whom make a lot of PSU's -- and often doesn't run anywhere near the amperage or wattage advertised.

* New 650W PSU
* Run the DVD drive on ide0 by itself (no slave)
* Put the 250GB in an external case

[Neo1]

Good descision. That Seasonic S12 would be areally good choice...