Dead Power Supply

[Gumby16]

I have an old Athlon system. Came in, pushed the power button, and the system was dead. I took the PSU out, jumpered the power to ground, and got no life. So, I replaced the power supply (since it's an old system, I used a cheap $30 Allied supply). System fired right up, with no problems. After an hour, and while I wasn't looking, the system shut itself down. The PSU smelled kinda funny, not acrid, but not clean. Now, the same thing is happening. No power when you hit the switch and no life in the PSU.

Does anyone have any ideas on anything that could kill a PSU, like a short somewhere? Or is it more likely I just got stuck with a bum PSU since it was cheap? Is it possible there is a short somewhere on the m/b? I know it's not much to go on. I'm just looking for anything that might explain this before I do a complete tear down. Thanks for anything you've got.

 

[boatillo]

bum psu since it was cheap


I've killed countless myself bwahahahah I especially like it when they make fireballs


(PS Antec psu's = no smoke and die)

 

[Gumby16]

Thanks...I figured as much. I put an Antec SL450 in my good one. This one is old and slow and only used for email checking and word processing. So I was hoping to get away with something cheap. Thanks!

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

Sounds like the old saying you get what you pay for. IMO the most overlooked part of a system is a PSU and it is one of the most important parts.

 

[Childs]

Sounds like you may be putting too much strain on the PS, so the cheap ones can't handle it. My uncle tried to hook up a P4 .28E, 16xDVDR, a 9800 Pro, and 8 Drives on a cheap $20 450W PS. I told him it wouldn't work, and when he turned it on the PS literally went *poof*. Funny sheit.