Is my psu dead?

Zanna

Zanna

Zanna

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14 Nov 2008
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114
Ok well come to my pc this morning before work and noticed it wasn't on. (i'd left it on overnight to do a virus/spyware check) Noticed the fuse had gone in the main lead, no biggie i thought i have several spares, well i switched the cable over and the moment it got plugged it *BOOM* big bright flash from the pc and that's another cable dead lol Now i was thinking of changing the fuse over and trying to see what happens with just the psu (not plugged into any components) just to be sure but i think as my pc has been running fine for months/years, that it must be the psu. I'm mainly concerned either way that a component or 2 may have been fried by the damn thing if it truly has gone. Anybody have any ideas?? Thanks
 
Who knows! Just get another PSU and try it :) If you had a decent one in there before you may be lucky and it took the shock, however if you had a cheap one, it could have taken the motherboard or more with it.
 
Well the one in there was an Enermax 600w one (forgot the exact model) so i hope it didn't kill anything. Was getting on for 4 years old though, so maybe it got too old. Anyone have any thoughts before i go spend some cash on a new psu? Any recommended power supplies? 600w seems to do the job for me at the minute so i don't think i need anything more powerful.
 
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Yeah, sounds like PSU...
Because of even connecting it to outlet is enough something in broken at least in primary side, maybe even primary caps which sure should be able to make good show.

Enermaxes are all at least decent PSUs so normally they shouldn't cause damage to components. One KIA Enermax I know went into the night only accompanied by muffled pop and slight smell of burnt electronics.
What components your PC has?
It's ~90% probable that 400W PSU would do well.


Oh and open that PSU and look if there's visible signs of damage and take few pics!
 
The pc is (well.........was) running a
939 athlon 64 x2 4200 @2.8ghz
Sapphire ATI 4850
3 hard drives and several fans etc for the watercooling.

I always felt safe with the 600w thinking i could keep it through several upgrades, now though i'm thinking i just need something to last me until i can afford to build a new rig lol (aslong as nothing is extra chrispy in my pc after this)
 
You will have to take capacitor ageing into account especially after 4 years. That could be the probable cause.

Just hope it has not taken anything else with it.

Good luck. :)
 
Well as it does look like i'll be buying a new psu then, any reccommendations? I can't really afford to be spending £100+ on a new psu at the minute but i don't want something cheap either.
 
Zanna said:
The pc is (well.........was) running a
939 athlon 64 x2 4200 @2.8ghz
Sapphire ATI 4850
3 hard drives and several fans etc for the watercooling.
Click to expand...
Like I guessed:
Peak draw around 250W.

I always felt safe with the 600w thinking i could keep it through several upgrades
Click to expand...
If some component is weak PSU can die all by itself regardless has it been under 60% or 20% load or has it been used for years or is it its first boot.
(single graphic card configurations have still around 350W max power draw regardless what BS departments claim)
 
Sorry should have worded it better i suppose lol by "safe" i meant for upgrading in the future. Always thought the psu would last me quite a long time even if it had the biggest mess of cables i've ever seen lol

What would you recommend i buy to stick in there with my current gear? I'd like something quite reliable again, so i don't have to worry about it too much until it comes to building a new rig.
 
Corsair VX450 would do well for that PC and 98% of modern single graphic card PCs. (and many lower end dual card configurations)
Probably even stronger than that blown up Enermax considering weakish 12V of all older than couple years old Enermaxes.
Also HX520/620 and TX650 are made by Seasonic so they're also very quiet PSUs.
 
I'd recommend a Zalman ZM750-HP Heatpipe Cooled 750W Modular PSU. They're a bit expensive but Zalman are awesome PSUS, being quiet and both mine have (so far) been reliable.
 
Any recommended modular ones? I'd rather not have to use those messy cable ones again. Although if it comes to it i'll just grab one of those ones lol Are the coolermaster psus any good? Found Coolermaster RealPower 520W for a good price online and was wondering what ppl thought about their psus?
 
Well just been home replaced the fuse in the plug and tried the psu without it attached to anything. Kinda amusing seeing it catch fire yet at the same time not. Think i can safely assume that the psu is fubar.
 
Well i replaced the busted psu with a corsair one and the thing started up fine! looks like i was quite lucky in that it hasn't taken anything with it (touch wood) Thanks for the help and advice guys!
 
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