My PSU popped.

lcg

lcg

lcg

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Hello,

I installed some RAM in my system today, and a new graphics card, HD 5770. I first installed the RAM, tested the PC and it seemed fine. I then took out my old video card, and installed the new one. I then turned on my PC, and it booted up okay. The resolution though was low, and so the computer hadn't seemed to have detected the graphics card. After about a minute after logging on the computer froze - it seemed to do this after making the hardware detected noise. It didn't freeze up in safe mode, but I guess this is because in safe mode the graphics card wouldn't be detected.

I shouldn't have done this as it was unnecessary, but I decided to take out my old RAM, and left the new in there, just to make sure that the problem didn't lay with RAM - in hindsight it seems clear that there wasn't a problem with the RAM. I connected my PC back up, and it made a pop sound, but the motherboard continued to boot. I could then smell a little bit of smoke, and immediately pressed the off switch at the back of the PC. I'm a bit afraid to do anything now. My power supply is a corsair 520W one.

What should I do now? Did I overload the power supply? But if I did then why did it work okay before I removed some RAM?

Thank you in advance.
 
Check all power connectors on the board are secur, you may of knocked one when changing the gpu ect.

If you want to test the psu, remove all leads from the pc and link pins 13 & 4 on the main atx connector, I would just connect a fan to one of the molex connectors.
 
Superewza said:
Kettle lead plugged in properly?
Click to expand...
I don't know - maybe it wasn't inserted quite fully. I quickly plugged everything in, and then switched the computer on at the back; then it popped. Could it really be that though, seeing as it popped and then I could smell (but not see) some smoke?

RJC said:
Check all power connectors on the board are secur, you may of knocked one when changing the gpu ect.

If you want to test the psu, remove all leads from the pc and link pins 13 & 4 on the main atx connector, I would just connect a fan to one of the molex connectors.
Click to expand...
I'll have a look. As for testing the PSU, is there any need in doing that, seeing as the computer started to boot up after the pop? As soon as I smelt the smoke, I immediately flicked the switch at the back to switch it off (a kind of reflex reaction, really).
 
lcg said:
I'll have a look. As for testing the PSU, is there any need in doing that, seeing as the computer started to boot up after the pop? As soon as I smelt the smoke, I immediately flicked the switch at the back to switch it off (a kind of reflex reaction, really).
Click to expand...

Just going through the process of illimination to try and find were the buring smell was coming from, even the psu will not be under any great load.
 
RJC said:
Just going through the process of illimination to try and find were the buring smell was coming from, even the psu will not be under any great load.
Click to expand...
Okay, thank you.

I've realized that in taking out some of my RAM, the remaining RAM was in wrong slots *hits head* - do you think that has caused this? :confused:
 
Depends what wrong slots it was in.

I've had two Corsair HX620s do exactly the same as you describe, usually after being plugged in or being opened. Perhaps they're not earthed properly or something, both were older (near launch) models that had problems. They popped every now and again when the mains turned on.

I must add - the Corsair PSUs are quality, both worked fine even after popping, and didn't do any damage to the components. Got them RMA'd ok, though the second Corsair allowed me to use their UPS account, as postage is astronomical to the netherlands.
 
alexhull24 said:
Depends what wrong slots it was in.

I've had two Corsair HX620s do exactly the same as you describe, usually after being plugged in or being opened. Perhaps they're not earthed properly or something, both were older (near launch) models that had problems. They popped every now and again when the mains turned on.

I must add - the Corsair PSUs are quality, both worked fine even after popping, and didn't do any damage to the components. Got them RMA'd ok, though the second Corsair allowed me to use their UPS account, as postage is astronomical to the netherlands.
Click to expand...
The RAM was in slots 2 and 4. I'd taken my old RAM out of slots 1 and 3 (in dual channel), which was rather stupid. I really don't know, my HX520 has never done this before, and it's just over 2 years old.
 
It won't have been the RAM.

I suggest you get in touch with Corsair for an RMA if it was bought at OcUK. Some other online retailers (not ocuk) will deal with Corsair returns directly, saving heaps on postage. Expect to pay over £20 to Corsair to get it there though.
 
Thanks for your responses.

I might be completely wrong, but I'm beginning to feel that it might not be the power supply. I think it could be something to do with the graphics card, which is scary :( but I don't see what could have caused it. I smelt the power connector to the card, and it seemed to smell a little smokey (again, I could be wrong). All I did was take out my old card (7900 GS) and fit the new card in the same slot, and connected the power connector to the card - the same connector that was used on the old card. I used this cable,



The cable that came with the 5770 was this one.

Both are six pin molex connectors.

This wouldn't make any difference, would it? :confused:
 
hi , why did you not use the 6pin pci-e cable that came with the corsair it plugs into the psu and can only fit in the proper connector suppling the correct voltage etc, you may have blown the psu because you used the wrong GFX card power connector thus suppling wrong volts and blowing your psu..
 
It looks like the cables are different - the top one connects both 5V (red) and 12V (yellow), the bottom (original) only the 12V. So depending on how the 6 pin connector is wired (can't tell from the photos), you may have shorted the PSU's 5V and 12V lines together. It wouldn't like that :(
 
I've just realized what my problem is likely to have been.

I didn't realize that the connector I used had five pins rather than six,

dsc0329j.jpg

^ Left: 5 pin, Right: 6 pin

dsc0325ib.jpg

^ The bottom one, which has five pins, is the one I used.

But the thing I don't quite understand is that when I first switched on the computer it was fine, except for the fact the computer froze after a minute or so from logging on. I also rebooted numerous times into safe mode and safe mod with networking, and nothing happened. Did I just get unlucky after removing the RAM, and switching the PC back on? Also, it's worth noting again that the computer didn't turn off after the pop - I turned it off because of the smell.

What a stupid mistake I've made. I should have just used the connector provided with the graphics card (the top cable) :(

Having done this, what do you think has happened?
 
Do you read the replys you get from peeps, read this reply please,

YOUR PSU HX520 > HX620

NO YOU USED THE WRONG ONE ALL TOGETHER THE CORSAIR PSU's SUPPLY YOU WITH TWO 6PIN PCI-E POWER CABLES FOR TO CONNECT TO THE POWER SUPPLY
AND ONLY FIT THE RIGHT CONNECTION SUPPLING RIGHT VOLTS ETC FOR GFX CARDS. YOU USED THE WRONG 6 PIN PCI-E CONNECTOR AND HAVE BLOWN YOUR PSU BECAUSE OF IT.

D
 
lcg,
The dual molex to 6 pin PCI cable doesn't connect the 5V, so there's no problem there.
You didn't connect anything wrong at all, if you had you'd have seen problems right away. I've used those connectors myself on occasion with no issues. The worse thing that may have happend with using that cables is you put more load on the 12V line than the PSU was happy with, but it should shutdown to protect itself.
Have you actually tried switching back on since?
Have you looked for any signs of damage on the motherboard FETs? (or anything else for that matter)
 
weird_dave said:
The dual molex to 6 pin PCI cable doesn't connect the 5V, so there's no problem there.
Click to expand...
I think you're right :o - it looks like it uses a red wire for a second 0V... well spotted!

On the 5770 cable, it looks like the row of 3 pins towards the clip are 0V, and the other row are +12V. I'd check that the other cable uses the same pins for 0V and 12V - if so it shouldn't be the cause of the problem. If it's wired differently though...
 
Have alook at the link showing the HX520>HX620, LOOK AT SECOUND SET OF PICTURES >

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article692-page2.html

NOTE>>> top 5 connectors ARE FOR SATA AND ATA, FANS>>>NOT FOR GFX CARDS

Note>>> botton 2 connectors this is where the supplied 6pin pci-e cables 12v fit your GFX card FOR POWER.

NOTE>>>You can not connect a GFX card anyother way TO THE POWER SUPPLY AS THE MOLEX CONNECTORS DO NOT SUPPLY ENOUGH VOLTS ETC FOR A GFX CARD..

Again this is why your PSU has blown.
 
OLDPHART said:
Have alook at the link showing the HX520>HX620, LOOK AT SECOUND SET OF PICTURES >

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article692-page2.html

NOTE>>> top 5 connectors ARE FOR SATA AND ATA, FANS>>>NOT FOR GFX CARDS

Note>>> botton 2 connectors this is where the supplied 6pin pci-e cables 12v fit your GFX card FOR POWER.

NOTE>>>You can not connect a GFX card anyother way TO THE POWER SUPPLY AS THE MOLEX CONNECTORS DO NOT SUPPLY ENOUGH VOLTS ETC FOR A GFX CARD..

Again this is why your PSU has blown.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I can indeed confirm that I didn't connect it to any of the bottom two connectors. So, you're right, thank you. I apologize for not understanding this earlier on.

May I ask why the power supply didn't go when I had my first graphics card? It was wired up in the same way. I guess as the 7900 GS uses considerably less power, it was okay with it.

Also, as the PSU didn't die after it popped, would it be okay to connect the graphics card in the correct way, and then try booting up? :confused: Please excuse my ignorance.
 
No probs m8, but you can test your psu this way -

Watch video- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5955042298042569466##

DISSCONNECT EVERY THING FROM THE PSU 1ST, AND MAKE SURE ITS SWITCHED OFF, UNPLUG IT FROM YOUR MAINS SOCKET WHILE YOU PUT THE PAPER CLIP IN THE RIGHT PINS.

Attach a 120mm fam to a molex on PSU if it spins, also your psu fans should spin, if psu is ok try your 7900gs 1st. But connect it up via the PROPER 6 PIN PCI-E CONNECTOR ON PSU ONE OF THE BOTTOM TWO PCI-E CONNECTORS, IF OK TRY YOUR 5770 BUT REMEMBER TO CONNECT IT THE RIGHT WAY..
 
Looking at the specs of the corsair, each 12V power rail can supply 18A, so it wouldn't matter that the gfx was powered from the 'wrong' rail.
If any of the cables had been wired wrong, the 12V would've been shorted to 0V causing the PSU to shutdown right away (you'd never get it to boot).
 
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