I'm at Wit's End

[neo9999]

I have a Dell Precision 490 5130 2ghz xeon running 64 bit windows 7 pro.
Original hardware: 2Gb pc2 5300 ecc ram, asus 210 silent gpu, 1 TB 7200 rpm SATA HDD, Dvd-rom, DVD-rw, 3.5 fdd.
Awhile back, I installed upgrades for gaming and better performance: 16Gb pc2 6400 ecc ram, asus gtx 950 gpu. It works wonderfully for month. Intermittently, it starts shutting down for no good reason: while I'm playing games, while I'm surfing the web, while I'm doing nothing at all. Eventually it starts shutting down while the os is trying to initialize. I reformat the hd and reinstall windows... Same problem. I reinstall the original hardware... Same problem. I clean the fans and components as best I can... Same problem. I try to boot from windows 7 boot disk... Same problem. I leave the side panel open and point a house fan (on high) directly at the cpu... Same problem. I think the power supply needs to be replaced, but I'd like an expert opinion before I spend more money.

 

[Gr3iz]

Hello and welcome to TSG!!

Have you tried testing the hard drive? Most Dells have a diagnostic option using a function key (can't recall which one, offhand) at power up. Either that or download the diags from the drive's manufacturer site.

 

[neo9999]

Hello and welcome to TSG!!

Have you tried testing the hard drive? Most Dells have a diagnostic option using a function key (can't recall which one, offhand) at power up. Either that or download the diags from the drive's manufacturer site.

I do recall running a diagnostic on the hard drive. It passed. At this point I can't even get into CMOS settings anymore after I disabled the 'fast boot's option.

 

[managed]

I think for Dells it's F12 then arrow keys to select 'Diagnostics' from the menu that appears, try tapping F12 continuously just after switch on.

 

[Gr3iz]

Was this recently? You say the problem s fairly recent.

When it shuts down, is it a sudden power off type of shutdown? Or a graceful, close all programs kind of shut down?

 

[neo9999]

Was this recently? You say the problem s fairly recent.

When it shuts down, is it a sudden power off type of shutdown? Or a graceful, close all programs kind of shut down?

It's a sudden power off. The problem of it shutting down while it's loading BIOS started today after I disabled fast boot. It's like it just runs out of gas.

 

[Gr3iz]

It could very well be the PSU. Is it the original?

 

[MisterEd51]

Are you sure your RAM is compatible? That workstation is picky about RAM.

 

[flavallee]

I have a Dell Precision 490 5130 2ghz xeon running 64 bit windows 7 pro.
Original hardware: 2Gb pc2 5300 ecc ram, asus 210 silent gpu, 1 TB 7200 rpm SATA HDD, Dvd-rom, DVD-rw, 3.5 fdd.
Awhile back, I installed upgrades for gaming and better performance: 16Gb pc2 6400 ecc ram, asus gtx 950 gpu.

What is the exact 7-character "service tag" number on your Dell Precision 490 WorkStation?

It has a very weak Intel Xeon 5130 2.00 GHz dual core processor, but it has a strong NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 graphics card.



Because of its very old age, there may be other issues with it, but its very weak processor is a severe bottleneck to quality gaming.

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