Hello.

Wondering if there are any opinions on this forum about what could be the cause of this - general consensus elsewhere suggests it's the power supply, but I wonder if it's too consistent - the way it always takes 3 attempts?

Anyways, this is what should happen: it's a Dell desktop computer, Inspiron 530. On pressing the 'on' button, the computer bursts into life - as always - with the fan inside firing up to max speed for around 3 seconds - as always - followed by it slowing right down to almost complete silence - as always - and then the single, reassuring BIOS beep - as always. This all takes around 4-5 seconds, and the computer used to proceed without drama.

For the last few weeks, however, after the fan slows down - and before the BIOS beep - it goes 'click' and shuts completely off. A couple of seconds later it fires itself up again and goes through the exact same process - until 'click'. On its third attempt it gets there and starts up as normal.

Always three attempts, which it does itself automatically.

Any ideas?!

Thanks.

Take a look at this on the Dell support forum http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/p/19343947/19740698.aspx#19740698 For this person it was a graphics card problem. Is the PC under warranty?

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http://richardstk.wordpress.com/

Blimey! I spent an hour today trying to track down Dell forums for just this kind of info - to no effect..

So - THANKS!!! That sounds a likely candidate. Funnily enough, I did download a 'speedfan' tester which looks at processor temps and stuff, and the GPU (I'm guessing that's Graphics PU) was always showing as excessively hot - around 63oC (a little 'flame' symbol beside it!). Mind you, it would show this as soon as it was fired up, as soon as I could launch the tester, so perhaps it's an indication of a generally dodgy video card rather than one that's being cooked.

Anyways, that link does, indeed, have the exact same symptoms as mine.

Brill - much obliged!

Oi - where do you think you're going? Now that you've been incredibly helpful, I have more Q's...

Assuming it is the video card, can you suggest a replacement? My current one is an NVidia Geforce 8600GT. The poster on that link you gave me replaced his with a Radeon HD5570, but points out it should really have a 400W PSU. I don't need anything special in the graphics dept, but would hope that the new card would be marginally better than the 8600 if anything - I mean, tech progress, and all 'at. Soooo, what about the Radeon HD5450 - that has 2GB memory, no fan (heatsink), and is very well priced?

Or, how on earth do I choose a card from the multitude

Thanks.

Well, opened up the l'il fellow, and gave it a blow job. The hoover nozzle struggled to fit inside the casing so I had a brain-wave; out to t'garage and set it up on a bench out there. Fetched my leccy air pump - one of these high-volume, low-pressure types used for inflating rubber dingies and suchlike. Very powerful air flow.

Well, dust filled the air... And cobwebs, and the odd spider. It made a cracking job of cleaning it all out - aimed at the processor fans, the blades would spin until they sang like am air-raid siren! Absolutely clean when they came to rest.

Removed graphics card - started up normally. Refitted, and whirrr-click. So, that seems pretty conclusive.

Looking for a new card to have on standby when this one goes completely pants-up.

Is there a SIMPLE way to compare graphics card performances?

This is my favourite place to go for comparisons http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU/88 As you say, check that whatever you choose is compatible with your PSU.

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http://richardstk.wordpress.com/

Thanks, Rich - that looks promising. Cheers