Power supply went out

[Dude]

Okay, I was reading through the forums earlier, then left (computer still on) to make a store run. I get home about 45 minutes later, put my groceries away then head to my computer. It hit the mouse and keyboard it doesn't respond at first, then it pops up, literally. I suddenly see smoke look right to my tower and see a very light amount of smoke rolling out of the case. I instantly remove the power and take the computer apart. I thought oh #### did my motherboard fry? I check everything after a complete disassembly and see no visible damage or burns any where. I recheck the motherboard again, everything is normal.

I then carefully look at the power supply, and give it a sniff..yep there is the culprit, a light burnt smell, I don't have the best smell so I missed it at first.


I then unplug all the modular cables, the pci express 6 pin has a pin that came out when disconnecting, and looks slightly black. Did it take out my card too I wonder.

I took apart my spare computer, removed the psu and benched it on my rig. Powers right up, no issue. I didn't hook up the video card as the spare PSU isn't powerful enough.

I bought everything at fry's in Feb, can I take the PSU back there or would I have to go through corsair?

Do you think my vid card is gone? It has no visible damage, and doesn't smell burnt.

I just want to cry, please give me any advice on whether I might have lost the card too

 

[Dwarf]

I would contact Fry's in the first instance to see what they say. Can you phone the branch where you got it from? As regards the graphics card, it's hard to say. It does, however, seem as it could indirectly be the cause of the PSU failure, given that the 6-pin connector had a pin failure. More than likely, this was one of the yellow wires (12V), meaning all the load was placed on the other 12V wires and thus potentially exceeding the power capacity on that/those line(s).

 

[Dude]

Thanks, I'm on hold trying now. Just spoke to them, 30 day return policy, have to contact corsair now.

 

[paulpicks21]

Darn, sorry to hear that Doug.

Pretty bad to hear a quality branded PSU blowing.

I guess the only way to check the GPU is to try it when you are back up and running or take it somewhere and get them to test it.

I suppose on the positive side at least it didn't take the motherboard or anything else with it when it blew.

Paul.

 

[Dude]

Yeah this is a pia. I went to corsair to start a RMA and the site keeps erroring out.

 

[Britton30]

I have used Corsair RMA for RAM and PSUs and they are always cooperative and sometime return a step-up on a PSU.

Carefully examine the circuit board on on the GPU for swollen capacitors, the small chips for signs of burning, any conductors that are odd looking, etc. I recently had a similar experience and thought PSU too, but it tested fine. I removed the motherboard and saw that one of the embedded conductors had vaporised and burnt the board. There was also a tiny chip which had partly melted too.

 

[Dude]

I looked over the motherboard and GPU several times, I think I'm good (lucky). The MB is good as I already tried with another power supply, but it is to low of wattage to run the GPU so I didn't test it. It would be nice to get a bump up on the psu. I have never had part go out before, I usually swap out before they go bad so I guess odds were I would eventually have it happen. I really like corsair parts, so will still stick with them....@@$$ happens. Still it's only 4 months old so it sucks.

I will do like Paul said, when I get another psu will then verify the GPU, got my fingers crossed as I see no damage on it.

 

[Layback Bear]

I had a Antec power supply blow up and I mean blow up. Sounded like a bomb and fire shot out the back of the computer and lo and behold it didn't hurt anything else so far and this has been about 8 months. It took a couple of days just to get the stink out of the room and find the cat. So I wish you the same luck.
To me this is another good reason you don't leave computers on when they don't have to be on. It's a fire risk.

 

[Dude]

I had a Antec power supply blow up and I mean blow up. Sounded like a bomb and fire shot out the back of the computer and lo and behold it didn't hurt anything else so far and this has been about 8 months. It took a couple of days just to get the stink out of the room and find the cat. So I wish you the same luck.
To me this is another good reason you don't leave computers on when they don't have to be on. It's a fire risk.

Good point. I decided to slap the 660 gpu in the del xps 410 I have. Low and behold it still works. Looks like I only lost the psu so I do feel better.

Thanks everyone for your advice in my troubled time.

 

[Dude]

Didn't realize how bad my smelling sense was. the wife just came home and said what is burning? Darn allergies.

 

[Britton30]

Doug that has to be a serious allergy. Burning circuits are one of the most acrid and stinging of smells.

 

[Dude]

Must be, the wife opened all the windows and sprayed febreze around. She described it pretty much the way you just said it. And Layback is right, the cats are acting funny. And she just made me put the bad psu out in the garage.

 

[Solarstarshines]

Okay, I was reading through the forums earlier, then left (computer still on) to make a store run. I get home about 45 minutes later, put my groceries away then head to my computer. It hit the mouse and keyboard it doesn't respond at first, then it pops up, literally. I suddenly see smoke look right to my tower and see a very light amount of smoke rolling out of the case. I instantly remove the power and take the computer apart. I thought oh #### did my motherboard fry? I check everything after a complete disassembly and see no visible damage or burns any where. I recheck the motherboard again, everything is normal.

I then carefully look at the power supply, and give it a sniff..yep there is the culprit, a light burnt smell, I don't have the best smell so I missed it at first.


I then unplug all the modular cables, the pci express 6 pin has a pin that came out when disconnecting, and looks slightly black. Did it take out my card too I wonder.

I took apart my spare computer, removed the psu and benched it on my rig. Powers right up, no issue. I didn't hook up the video card as the spare PSU isn't powerful enough.

I bought everything at fry's in Feb, can I take the PSU back there or would I have to go through corsair?

Do you think my vid card is gone? It has no visible damage, and doesn't smell burnt.

I just want to cry, please give me any advice on whether I might have lost the card too

Fry's won't take it back they are jerks when it comes to this you are better off going to Corsair like I did they only give you 15 days

You Video card isn't gone you got it in time now if everything shut down out of nowhere and that happened cause to be worried most likely the capacitor was old and it just happened that at the time the Videocard was the most power hungry

 

[Dude]

Thanks Solar, the computer was idle, I came back from the store and tapped the keyboard and mouse to bring the monitor up, then came the smoke. The psu is only four months old

 

[Layback Bear]

Dude do you have your power supply connected directly into the wall outlet?

 

[Dude]

Dude do you have your power supply connected directly into the wall outlet?

No, it goes to a surge protector

 

[Phone Man]

See if Corsair will do cross ship. You give them a credit card and they ship the new one and you have 30 days to return the bad one and if not they charge your card. Saves a lot of time.

Jim

 

[Dude]

Thanks Phone Man

 

[Dude]

I did get the RMA in last night. I was confused on the lot number(google fu said number next to serial number) and it did not work. Googled and found a number. I received an email back stating my RMA was in and gave me a ticket number. It said I will be contacted, so I will then verify I have the right lot number.

 

[Solarstarshines]

I did get the RMA in last night. I was confused on the lot number(google fu said number next to serial number) and it did not work. Googled and found a number. I received an email back stating my RMA was in and gave me a ticket number. It said I will be contacted, so I will then verify I have the right lot number.

Should take no more then 2 weeks Corsair is pretty quick with it when it comes to RMA