Capacitor Blowout in Desktop: Is it more than just the PSU


  1. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #1

    Capacitor Blowout in Desktop: Is it more than just the PSU


    Hey all, it's a sad day when your PC suddenly doesn't turn on.
    This morning, I went to turn on my desktop to do an AP comp paper, and nothing happened. Soon after I discovered a mysterious smell coming from the PSU. For months, my PSU (Epower E-series 500w) had been making an odd squealing noise, especially when under stress. Last night actually, the hard drive hiccupped twice; once while idle and again during Black Ops II. Now it's officially given up on me. Upon removing it from my desktop, I noticed chunks of something falling out of the fan grille. Looking inside the PSU I noticed that one of the ceramic-disk capacitors had literally split in half (see picture).

    Now the question is, how much damage did it cause? Did this blowout cause unrestricted voltage to go to my mobo and GPU, or did nothing happen to them at all? Should I try to send it in for RMA (this is my second one--first one's fan broke), should I try and fix it, or dump it and get a new one?

    Thanks in advance!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Capacitor Blowout in Desktop: Is it more than just the PSU-picture045.jpg  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #2

    Hello Sporkalypse mate in a nutshell just replace the PSU they are really not that expensive - one of the Corsairs would be what I would get - it depends on what you use the machine for?

    To try and fix that is just too much grief and way too dangerous to boot.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for the fast reply! And I'm contemplating a new PSU or trying an RMA. Epower hasn't been too good to me so far, so it might be time for a non-cheap PSU, like a Corsair or NZXT.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #4

    Well for my money I would go the Corsair HX 650 ( I have this one in my Sandy bridge build) and for $140 (out here) and being semi modular too it will supply not only more than the Epower one but is a far better quality product.

    Professional Series

    NZXT I haven't had much to do with but I guess once this thread gets around you will have a tsunami of advice as PSU's are near to everyone's heart LOL!!
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks for the advice! Looks like my gaming/work rig is going to be down until the summer when I can make some money (I'm a Junior in highschool) to do a full upgrade. Until then, looks like I'm going to get my monies worth out of my Surface RT!

    Thanks again!
      My Computer


 

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