Computer randomly shut off and won't turn back on

[TheDL]

Last night my pc randomly shut off and now it won't turn back on. Right before it shut off there was a loud noise, almost like a pop. I opened it up to see if everything was ok, and all the components seemed relatively hot but not burning, nor were there any burning smell. I doubt it's the RAM or VGU, but I suspect it might have been my PSU or mobo, which would suck since I recently upgraded those components a month ago since my previous ones also had burnt out on me. Nothing turns on at all when I hit the power button, no fans, no LEDS, nothing. Is there anyway of finding out which is the specific problem part without using another PC or spare part? I really don't have the means to do either of those, and I'd rather not go to a dumb pc shop just so they can diagnosis my problem for $80. If the only way to diagnosis the problem is to use other parts/another PC, would it be possible for me to just buy some cheap psu from a place like bestbuy, test it out and then return it?

 

[Swampster]

The quick and dirty way to check is:

Unplus the power supply and open up the case.

Unplug the main 20 or 24 pin power plus plus the 4 pin aux. power plug.

Take a paperclip or whatever and jump between the green and one of the black wires.

Reattach the power cord and if it is basically all right you should hear the fan spin up. If not, then the sound you heard was one of the caps in the power supply itself.

If it does spin up, then borrow a used one from a friend and just hook it to the motherboard and your boot drive and see it it will try to boot. If not, then it is likely the motherboard.

Yes, it something went POP, then it could very conceivably have blown both.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

I would guess power supply based on the info you provided, what name brand was it.

 

[TheDL]

Originally posted by: Swampster
The quick and dirty way to check is:

Unplus the power supply and open up the case.

Unplug the main 20 or 24 pin power plus plus the 4 pin aux. power plug.

Take a paperclip or whatever and jump between the green and one of the black wires.

Reattach the power cord and if it is basically all right you should hear the fan spin up. If not, then the sound you heard was one of the caps in the power supply itself.

If it does spin up, then borrow a used one from a friend and just hook it to the motherboard and your boot drive and see it it will try to boot. If not, then it is likely the motherboard.

Yes, it something went POP, then it could very conceivably have blown both.

What do you mean by jumping between the green and black wires? Like just jiggle the paper clip around?

It was a Antec 500W EarthWatt, which was a replacement I got from my past Antec 450W that was also blown out.

I'm also having a really difficult time in removing the 24 pin connector from my mobo..

 

[Swampster]

With both motherboard power plugs removed from the motherboard, re-bend a paper clip and push it into the back side of the 20pin (or 24pin) between the connector case and the terminal that is on the end of the green and black wires.

When you plug the AC power cord back into the power supply, if it is a viable unit it will activate. You will know it has activated because the fan will run.

At this point, if you had a multi-meter then you could probe the various wires on the plugs to see if it is putting out the correct voltage.

As a professional, of course I have a nice little digital tester especially made for this purpose, but that costs as much as a new power supply, and thus would not be areasonable recommendation to a home user.

 

[L00PY]

On a side note, what sort of surge protection / UPS are you using? Replacing components due to dirty power can get expensive. . .

 

[CheerUpEmoKid]

my guess would be the power supply, from what you described. hopefully it didnt take any other components out with it =(

 

[ZombieJesus]

I have had an antec neo HE and an antec phantom die on me after only a few months of use.. antec powersupplies seem very flakey, I have never had power supplies fail on me before and never since I switched to other companies. Try a highend enermax or corsair next time. (provided it is the powersupply and I wouldn't be surprised)