So my PSU Blew...

MontyCov

MontyCov

MontyCov

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Joined
13 Feb 2013
Posts
3
Long story short, I recently got a second hand AMD FX 4100 from a friend which I purchased a new MSI P23FX mobo for.

I have been using a pretty cheap 500watt psu that I got free with my case due to the fact that the better one I bought would not fit in my case.
This cheap PSU was working fine for nine months with my old mobo and CPU (Intel Celeron Dual Core LGA775), but hours after I installed my new CPU and mobo it blew out on me.

Now I know what you are thinking, "this guy needs more than 500watts" but I'm not so sure...
The friend I got the CPU from was running the same setup as me on 450watts with no problems...

CPU: AMD FX 4100
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX550ti
RAM: 4GB DDR3
HDD: x2 5200rpm (One is a 2.5mm one is a 3.5mm, crappy I know..)
CD/DVD Drive: Cheap Samsung

I haven't OC'd anything..Yet.
I also used a psu calculator online, entered all my specs and apparently I only need around 380watts?..

So I'm currently running on the better psu I mentioned earlier that originally wouldn't fit in my case and everything seems to be alright so far (after a few hours), I haven't tried any demanding games such as IV or BF3 in fear of it breaking again.

Anyway, here are the things I narrowed it down to...
- I don't have an anti-surge adapter, my current adapter is about 7 years old
- When cleaning my case out with canned air, I stupidly directed the air inside the old psu which blew dust off of the fans into the internals of the psu.
- Worst-case scenario (as I don't have money atm) 500watt is not enough.

Could anyone tell me what the problem is/was?
Whether it was a power surge, or a crappy psu/overheated psu..
 
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Yes, that's the one I used yesterday, said I only need around 370watts.
But the psu I'm using right now isn't exactly great and I'm fearful it might blow like the last one.. Here it is..

eep9f.jpg


500Watt ACE Black ATX PSU with 12cm Red Fan and PFC - Retail Box

Power Factor Control (PFC)
Cooling: 12cm Red Fan
New Version 1.3 / 2.03
Silent with better ventilation
ATX 12V compliant for most CPUs and mainboards
Input Range : 230Vac, 10A, 50-60Hz

I would really like to purchase a corsair psu, for the reliability, but I'm pretty much completely out of pocket right now, so would you say that this is safe for my set up right now?
 
Thanks for the advice, I have around £30 laying around right now on my desk and if I sell my old cpu and mobo I should have a bit more.

Just gotta pray that this one doesn't blow anytime soon, need it for my sixth form studies..
 
Could be something inthe air! my corsair 620 blew this morning as soon as it got to windows. Big blue flash!. Thankfully no other components were hurt. Tagan 550w holding the system up for now, taken from my older pc.

3-4 years old, and dont fancy messing with rma delivery charges so am going to try a nzxt 750 80+ gold. I do plan on upgrading rest of the system later. waiting to se what haswel does to cpu prices. So hopefully this psu will future proof me abit as well if i decide to try xfire.
 
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