Maybe the insufficient power supply is the issue.
Maybe the insufficient power supply is the issue.
Hello,
I had a PC with the following specs:
- Intel Core i9-12900K
- MSI RTX 3050
- Fractal Design Ion+ 760P, 80 PLUS Platinum, 760 W
Even I realize this might be a minor issue, since the GPU requires about 550W and the CPU around 241W. Could anyone confirm this and suggest purchasing a 1000W PSU?
Everything functioned well for a few years, except occasional USB port problems. I use the computer for music production and video editing. Sometimes external drives would shut down instantly and restart right away. This didn’t happen with other computers using these drives. The issue appeared with the USB ports on the motherboard and the case ports.
It might be related to insufficient power supply. I’ve checked the connections on the motherboard, but now I’m trying to find a solution by researching power supplies.
I’m not very familiar with these things yet. It was my first computer I built, and I really appreciate all the help you’ve provided.
Thank you for your feedback. The issue and its resolution should be addressed elsewhere. I’m curious about possible causes for the USB port problems. It bothers me because every time it occurs, I have to restart Premiere Pro and Project to reload the videos that got lost during shutdown. Here are the components listed: Gigabyte Z690 Gaming, Intel i9-12900K, Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 5600Mhz CL 40 32gt(2x16gt), Gigabyte Aorus Gen4 7000s 1t M2, Msi Geforce RTX 350 Gaming x 8g, Fractal Design Ion+ 760P, 80 PLUS Platinum, 760 W, Fractal design Define 7 Compact, Arctic Freezer i35.
USB hard drives may use enough power through the USB connection to be noticeable, but this is rarely the main issue. When powered externally or via an external hub, they won’t draw power from the PC at all. The real problem lies in the signal quality not meeting expectations at that speed. Even if everything seems functional, a drop in signal quality can cause 100% devices to appear as failures. I don’t know how to test this on Windows, but if you’re using Linux it’s straightforward to check logs and query USB status. Do you have Linux installed? Also, could you clarify why you suspect power issues? Remember, a disconnection doesn’t always mean a power cut.
Your psu has functioned perfectly for years.
If issues arise now, it could be related to the psu.
Check it with a reliable, high-quality psu.
If everything is fine, start an RMA; your processor comes with a 10-year warranty.
The graphics card plays a key role in psu power consumption.
Upgrading to a more powerful component later won't cause any damage.
Two points to consider.
1). Are the external hard drives 2.5" (laptop-sized) models, using USB3 connectors, housed in compact caddies, or are they 3.5" (desktop-style) drives placed in bigger enclosures with dedicated 12V DC power supplies? Could it be that their external SSDs are also connected?
2). Have you turned off Windows Power Management for all USB hubs and similar devices? Also, is USB Selective Suspend enabled in the Power Management settings? Details below.
Power Requirements
If these external drives draw power solely from the +5V supply on the USB cable, they should be capable of extracting up to 900mA from a standard USB 3.0 Type A port, or around 500mA from a standard USB 2.0 Type A port.
2.5" drives typically operate at about 500mA on a USB 2 connection, but may perform better with up to 900mA on a USB 3 connection. Should the USB cable provided with the 2.5" drive be USB 3 (blue tip), avoid connecting it to a low-power USB 2 port.
For 3.5" drives, power comes from the +12V DC power brick. The cable is intended for data transfer only.
Hub Power Control
Microsoft often attempts to conserve energy by turning off USB ports when not in use, as well as on WiFi and Ethernet chipsets. That's a good thing! This helps reduce power consumption.
Consequently, your drive may enter sleep cycles when power management activates. When trying to read or write data, Windows will activate the USB port, but certain devices might struggle with this state and fail to resume properly. Drive letters could remain unchanged, and printers or scanners might stop functioning after disconnection. It can be quite frustrating.
Open Control Panel, navigate to Device Manager, locate Universal Serial Bus Controllers, and expand them carefully. Proceed through each entry slowly. Search for the Power Management section and open it. Uncheck the box next to "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" and click Apply. Continue down the list of connected USB devices.
You might also want to explore Windows Power Options, adjust Plan Settings (for active plan), modify Advanced Power Settings, Hard Disk settings, disable "Turn off hard disk after", set Hard Disk to Always on, or enter 0 to keep drives permanently active. Save your changes. The default setting is to power off drives after inactivity, which may not suit your needs.
Further down, look for USB settings, the USB Selective Suspend option, and change it to Disabled. By default, this is enabled. I prefer my USB ports not to be in a suspended state.
Microsoft's efforts to reduce energy use are commendable in office settings where many computers stay on overnight or on weekends. However, on a personal PC where uninterrupted operation matters—especially after a quick coffee break—it can be inconvenient to shut down and restart devices.
A final tip: if you face issues connecting fast USB 3 card readers to the front panel port, try connecting them to a rear panel USB port. This shortens the cable run. I personally use Startech 30cm/1ft USB3 cables with my Kingston CF and SD card reader to prevent long wires and data loss. With modern card speeds surpassing 200MB/s (and even faster with CF-Express and specialized SD cards), it's wise to keep cables as short as possible.