Need Help! Power Supply blowing like crazy, computer slowing down.

[fifthoctave]

HEy guys, I'm having the strangest problem with my computer.
I don't know what to do... I'm realllly hoping someone will be able to help me. Thank you guys in advance!

1) When loading into XP, my computer will show the counter loading into XP and randomly reset over and over until finally one time it will load into Windows properly. When it resets, it asks me if I've chnaged any of my hardware and that it will reset in 30 seconds.. gives me a choice of normal, safe, etc.
Eventually it loads in. When I try formatting, it will reset but then give me an IRQno Less message. I'm guessing my RAM is messed. if so, how would I test it?

2) My power supply fan will randomly start blowing like crazy, and it's a lot of hot air coming out of it. I've bought new chassis and cpu fans inside my computer, but have not replaced the one on my power supply. They seemed to not have helped much. When the fans do start blowing, the computer slows down by an insane amount. Just opening internet explorer could take a full minute. Before I bought the extra internal fans, it would randomly shut off, but the power light would stay on, which was weird. That would mostly happen if I was playing too much video. I'm positive it's the power supply fan and not the graphics card fan because it's a very loud noise and if I put my hand in front of it, i can feel a lot of hot air being blown out. I downloaded a program to check my cpu temps and all are normal. I have no viruses. I unfortuanly do not have nay access to checking the temp or speeds of my chassis fan or power supply fan....
I cleaned my power supply fan a month ago.


I'm not sure if these two problems are linked together. I've done diagnostics with an ASUS program, to check RAM, etc. I've done temperature diagnostics with CPU, MB, CPU fan speed with a program called Probe, all is normal, even when fans are blowing and computer slows down.
What could this be?
Thanks!

[Whyzman]

Hello fifthoctave,

Welcome to Forums!

Dos memory tester: http://www.memtest86.com/

I would also suggest that you download and run your harddrive diagnostics...these can be obtained from the harddrive manufacturer's website...

Was the computer ever working properly? You could have a power supply heading for PSU heaven...can you swap with a known working PSU??

Warm air from the PSU is normal...it is not only exhausting heat generated within the case, but also its own transformer heat as it converts voltages...

However, for now, would you run the Memory test and the diagnostics and post back...

[fifthoctave]

Problem finally solved!! I've had the computer for 1 year and for almost 5 mohts it's been like this. but after all diagnotics telling me everything was fine, my heat sink was dirty and I bought new thermal paste, applied it to the heatsink, and the cpu and put them together and what have I got? bibitty bobbity boom.
a perfect computer.
wahahahahaaaaa!!
I'm so happy, it's insane.
thanks!!

the fifthoctave

[gwallen4]

I would give it a few days before you celebrate too much.

A power supply heats up suddenly if it has to supply extra power - like an intermittent short in some component of the PC. You can almost bet that the problem will return.

[fifthoctave]

Nothing yet. But if it does return... what does that mean?
thanks again.