PSU Instability?

[cboard_member]

You know, this is so not what I need right now.

So I'm sitting here having a friendly game of Unreal Tourn. 2004, when, without any warning whatsoever (no sound / image lockups), my PC dies. I mean completely - the whole thing powers off. It has never done this before - the worst it's done is the the graphics card has "failed to proceed" (monitor = standby until I hard restart - you may be able to dig up a thread on this regarding Freedom Fighters).

When I hit the power button, nothing happens. So I switch the PSU off at the back, go out into the cool Welsh night air and scream like a maniac (quietly, we have old neighbors. Mostly I just clenched and kicked things), come back and switch the PSU on. I am greeted by a playful flash from all my fans, as usual.

So it seems to be working fine now. No data lost or anything.

Does this sound like a PSU instability of some sort? I only meet the requirement in wattage for my graphics card (350W iirc) and I'm certain that figure isn't taking into account my 4 fans, HDD, DVD drive, sound card and fancy light, is it?

Well at least I know where the first ~£60 of my student load is going. They'd better bloody give me my first cheque tomorrow.

EDIT: I've been meaning to get a backlit keyboard for ages too - the novelty of guessing where keys are in the dark is starting to wear off.

[maxorator]

My friend has a problem with his computer, that when he plays some new games with the best graphic settings, instead of lagging, the computer overheats and crashes.

[cboard_member]

It's not an overheating problem. I used to have that until I bought better cooling.
I made some threads on ES about this I think.

[cboard_member]

Someone recommend one from this page:
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/store/2/cat/Power-Supplies

[SMurf]

It's not an overheating problem. I used to have that until I bought better cooling.

Better cooling for your PSU or system in general?

I had similar problems a couple of years ago, turned out the main fan in the PSU was so clogged up with cack that it was seizing up and causing the PSU to overheat. I tried to keep it going but in the end it had a go at opening a portal to Xen and did one of those big electrical explosion thingies.

[cboard_member]

>> Better cooling for your PSU or system in general?

Oh, sorry, I meant system in general.
I just had a look at the PSU and it isn't pretty. I'm going to buy a new one ASAP.