PSU Failure (I think)

Hi,

I'm not particularly familiar with computer supplies, so I’m looking for a bit of diagnosis.

I was playing Crysis (and had been for an hour or so), and suddenly two loud pops and a bright white flash shot out the back of my machine. It was about the height of the PSU but it happened so quick I could not be sure.

I unplugged immediately and let it cool down. I tried powering my machine up again, but there was absolutely nothing.

I took the back off the PSU, however there was lots of things in there that looked as if they could give me a bit of a kick if I went poking around too much. However, there was no sign of burning or scorching, and there was no smoke when the thing blew.

My questions are:

-Does this sound like a typical PSU failure?
-What else could it be, I have 130 quids worth of gfx card in there and I
would be annoyed if that had popped (less than 6 months old)
-What are the consequences? Will my mother board and hard drive and gfx card be knackered if the PSU has blown?
-Are PSUs standard so I can buy a new one and fit it myself?

Any information and help would be greatly welcomed.

Thanks

Graeme

 

Broken Power Cord?

Hi Graeme, you probably have a PSU failure, but to be sure it is not something less, check to see if the power cord is OK. What you described can be caused by a faulty cord or plug shorting out, and as it plugs in the same location as you observed the "flash" it's worth checking out. If you have another cord (one from a monitor would do), exchange it with the exsisting cord and try to power up again.

 

Hi Pete, John

Thanks for your prompt replies;

To reply to Pete first - I think you are probably right about the PSU being on the limit, I knew it would be when I bought my new gfx card, but I took a chance and it seems I have paid the price, literally. I have checked my gfx card and Mother Board, and there doesn’t seem to be any signs of shorting on either, although in saying that, I don’t really know what I'm looking for. If you say the shorts would be obvious (i.e. melted resistors, blown capacitors, melted/burnt plastic etc), there is no sign.

John. Let me refer to the power cable to the blown PSU the 'old cable'. I tried this cable on another computer of mine, and there were no signs of life when I tried to power the machine up.

I then took the cable from my other computer (it’s a good cable) and plugged it directly into my blown PSU. The PSU was unconnected from the motherboard at this time. Nothing happened. I don’t know what I expected to happen, maybe a light come on or the fan wind up but there was nothing. I then reconnected my blown PSU to the Mother Board and then connected my old cable to the PSU. Again nothing happens. It seems to me the cable and the PSU has blown. If that’s relatively common, I would say it’s highly likely that both have blown as there was a LOUD band and a flash.

If there is anything else you would like me to do, I’m all too happy to have a go.

Thanks

Graeme

 

PeteC

Thanks for that. I checked the fuse, and it's still in tact.

I am going to take the PSU to work and let the IT bods have a play with it. I'll probably end up getting a new PSU (higher rated). I'll keep you informed of how things go.

Playing Devils Advocate - if the PSU is found to be OK, do you know of any other problems/solutions which it could be?

Thanks

Graeme

 

Sounds like the plug in at the PSU and the cable end that goes into it may be fried as well as the PSU. Hopefully the short didn't fry anything on the MB side of the PSU. A new cable and PSU shouldn't be too costly and gives you a chance to up the capacity of the PSU.

Let us now how you make out with the IT guys.

 

Well, I've got to weigh in a little differently - now I don't know a lot about your power over there but Stateside, nine times out of ten, if one see's and hears a flash out the back of their machine in the general vicinity of the PSU and thereafter, the machine won't power up - its a Blown Power supply - no ifs, ands or buts about it. And, the last thing I would ever recommend is trying to fire the machine back up with that PSU connected. New cord, old cord or any kind of cord - just as much concern if its a fused cord and the fuse is intact - don't try running your machine with that PSU.

Most blown PSU's won't take the board with them but it does happen. Did you smell any ozone after the flash? I've seen some strange things with power supplies blowing and if I hadn't witnessed them first hand, no one would have been able to tell me what I saw really happened. Replace that puppy and don't try to fire anything up with it.

 

Hi

Thanks for all your sugggestions. I shall action them in due course and keep you updated.

Another thing to throw into the mix - I have a wireless Logitech keyboard which I have used without problems for many years. I was using it on my blown up system with its original gfx card with no problems. When I changed the gfx card I began having problems.

During period of rapid mouse clicking (ie during gameplay) the system used to hang (it always hung after a right mouse click), the picture would freeze and the sound would just stutter (and lock up) like a broken record. The only way to 'fix' it would be to press the reset button. I have not tried with another keyboard mouse combination.

I contacted ATI support and they suggested I upgraded the driver for my Motherboard, mouse and keyboard, and a whole host of other things. I updated my mouse and keyboard drivers first and the hangs became less frequent, although they still occured. I havent had the confidence to update motherboard drivers and the like because Ive heard stories that if you install the wrong ones all hell can break loose. I checked the driver dates on my machine, and they corresponded with the dates suggested on the website from which i downloaded. So even though they may not be 100% upto date, I dont think they are years old?

-Do you think this hang problem could have been the beginning of the failure? The blow up problem I had, occured during a period of rapid clicking
-Does it sound like the PSU was not man enough to supply the new gfx (since all the problems started with the new card)

My mouse and keyboard also run through a Belkin KMV switch. I wouldn't have thought this would have been the problem

Just to cover a few points. I am from UK. I will let the IT bods have a look at my PSU tomorrow. My blow up PSU was a 450W unit.

Thanks again.

Graeme

 

Hi Graeme,

Yes a dodgy PSU can cause system instability.

Best wait until your tech's report though I've no doubt a new PSU will be required.

Once the necessary repairs are done we can worry about your keyboard/mouse issues.

 

I have some photos of my mother board.

Can i attach them somehow?

 

Ok

I shall try my best to describe the picture i took.

As I'm sure you know, there are 2 large 200V capacitors very close together. Between the capacitors there is some brown 'goo'. I thought initially that it could be some insulating resin or something, but maybe it is a sign of capacitor leakage.

I suppose the best way I can describe it is like melted sugar (when it gets really hot and brown and sticky).

 

Definately Blown. Perfect description.

 

Right, update for you,

I took my blown power supply to the IT bods at work and their diagnosis was 'Yeah, thats f*****d'. That was enought to make me buy a new one.

I went onto dabs.com and bought the following.

http://www.dabs.com/productview.asp...11259&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11259,49450000

It came this morning. However, I think i have messed up big time. My mother board has a 20pin connection, however, my new power supply has a 24 pin connector. I can put the first 20 pins from the connector into the connection, but this obviously leave 4 spare male connections in free space? This is probably a very silly question, but is this ok.

Have i cocked this up?

 

$5.- will buy you a 24 pin to 20 pin adapter.

http://www.atxpowersupplies.com/24-pin-to-20-pin-atx-converter.htm

 

Sorry for not being on for a while, my modem has broken down, and I had to wait till I got back into work.

After the initial panic af buying the wrong thing, I sat down with the instruction manual, which said the 24 pin connectors double up ad 20pin connectors +4 redundant pins.

All is sorted now, back working so thanks for your help. System is a lot more stable with the mouse clicks aswel, no hangs as of yet.

Only problem now, is after I moved all my systems round, I accidently plugged my speakers power cable into the power socket on my modem and that blew a capacitor. Now waiting for a new modem. after 15years of having computer systems, I have never blown anything. Now 2 in 2 weeks, albeit from my own stupiditiy both times. My ISP is now sending me a wireless router because they now longet stock hard line modems, so i now have to fork out for wireless ethernet cards.....

Lesson learned - the expensive way.

Thanks for the help everyone...