Dead PSU?

Discussion in 'Power Supplies and UPS's' started by archcommus, Aug 25, 2003.

  1. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Lately my computer has been sounding sort of loud, but I wasn't sure if it was my CPU fan, PSU fan, rear exhaust fan, or my video card fan. A few days ago the sound got really loud, sort of sounding like a loud motor, and so I turned off the computer and opened it up. I unplugged the rear exhaust fan and video card, and it was still loud, so I knew it either had to be the CPU fan or PSU fan. I wasn't sure which, but I was guessing it was the PSU because I don't think the CPU fan is capable of being as loud as this was. So, I gave up, turned it back on, and after five minutes it turned itself off. Now my computer won't go back on. My best guess is that the sound I heard was the PSU, and now it died. What do you think?
     
  2. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    Ive had 2 psus die on me.
    Both times they literally went 'pop'.

    Put it this way. If the cpu, graphics card or any other component died the psu would still start up and the fan start spinning. Even if the motherboard is dead.

    I reckon your right, its the psu.
    Try changing the fuse first though, before buying anything.
     
  3. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Yeah, when I press the power button NOTHING happens. No LED lights, no fans, nothing.

    I already ordered an Antec 400W PSU, but I'd still like to know what you mean exactly by changing a fuse. Thanks.
     
  4. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    Are you in america?
    maybe you dont have em?

    In the plug which fits into the socket in the wall we have a fuse.
    If the plug or electric device gets overloaded or shorts the fuse pops.
    Saves tripping the main house fuse then.
     
  5. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Umm.....isn't that what the grounding prong's for?
     
  6. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    No, ground is summit else. The fuse totally stops any current going through the plug.
     
  7. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    We don't have that over here...at least not on the PSU's I've run across.
     
  8. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    Here is a pic of what I meant.
    http://www.thediyworld.co.uk/wired plug with fuse.jpg

    Its the bit with 13a, 13 amp written on it.

    We have 3 types... 3a, 5a and 13a. 3a are for lamps and little things like that. 5a for computers, tvs, videos, cd players etc etc. And 13a for kettles, washing machines, pressure washers etc. 5a fuses break quite easily thats why I said to check :)
     
  9. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Oh okay. Well yeah, we don't have those over here. But thanks for the suggestion anyway. My new PSU should be arriving Saturday or Sunday so hopefully that's all it needs.
     
  10. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Also, are you POSITIVE that even with a dead motherboard the PSU and fans and such would still power up?
     
  11. harrack52

    harrack52 Supreme Geek

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    If the fans are plugged directly to the psu, yes they will. But they won't if they're plugged on the 3 pin connectors of the motherboard.

    The same applies to hdds since they're pluged in the psu.
     
  12. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Okay, I was just checking since, after all, the PSU IS plugged into the motherboard, so I wasn't sure if a dead motherboard would be able to tell the PSU to turn on or not.
     
  13. harrack52

    harrack52 Supreme Geek

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    Well actually what happens is the exact opposite.

    When you turn your system on, the power supply supplies the power to the board, hdd, etc.

    But if the mobo is dead, the power cannot move through the board. Therefore, everything that gets its power from the board itself will not power on.

    I haven't read this anywhere, but it just makes sense to me.

    Someone please shoot me if it doesn't :p

    I really do think a new psu will solve your problem.
    In any case, I certainly hope so.
     
  14. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    Depends on what's dead on the mobo. If it's affecting the power traces, yeah, you might not have the fans spin up.
     
  15. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Well, I thought that if your motherboard was dead, your PSU wouldn't turn on either, because the power button on your case is hooked up to your motherboard, not your PSU. So the signal to tell it to turn on has to go from the power button, through the motherbaord, and then to the PSU.
     
  16. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    Like Big B said, it depends on what part of your motherboard is dead.
    Unless you snap it in 2 a current will pretty well always be able to pass through the board.
    Every dead board ive had has still been able to turn the psu on.
     
  17. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Oh okay, that's good then, thanks. I just hope the PSU didn't take anything else out with it when it died.
     
  18. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    No, they are designed not to.
    This is also where a fuse on the plug can help, if the psu wasn't there you'd have a plug going straight to your board.... if something happened you'd have to hope your fuse box in your house popped. Otherwise it would start shing a nice blue electrical flame :)
     
  19. harrack52

    harrack52 Supreme Geek

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    My father had a psu fail on him. Apparently he heard a pop sound with some kind of blue light. I'm not sure where he got this idea from, but he decided to try it again just to make sure and it made pretty much the same thing.

    The thing is, absolutely everything else in his system was spared, the only thing that failed is the psu and nothing else.

    So don't worry, I'm pretty sure your other parts are fine.

    Unplugging a video card while the computer is running is a lot more dangerous than a psu that fails, trust me !
     
  20. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    Yeah the two which have gone on me sounded like someone had just clapped thier hands as loud as they could.
    Everything was fine.
     

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