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Got an RMA on new system and the same thing happens....

E

engiskhan

Junior Member
I ordered these parts a month ago and had to RMA because of fried components...

Enermax PSU noisetaker 370 watts
AMD athlon 64 3000+
Corsair DDR400 two 512 mb (1 gig)
WD raptor 37 gig drive (SATA)(10,000 rpm)
Chaintech 6600GT NVIDIA
Chaintech nvidia mobo socket 939

The first time I put the system together, it was running for 3 hours or so when it suddenly shut down. I started the system up and smoke was coming from the raptor HD. I thought it was the fan and started it up again. The next time, I could see and hear sparks coming from beneath the drive. I used the SATA power connector on the HD but NOT the legacy. The PSU was dead and so was the mobo and HD CPU.

Two weeks later I receive the same PSU, Mobo, Processor and HD. Now, about two hours into installing games, updates and whatever, I get the system shutting down again. My DVD drive is hot even on the front panel, my CPU heatsink is really hot too. Am I doing something wrong or overlooking something? Should I try a different power supply or using the legacy power supply on the HD? This time the HD is not hot to the touch, just the DVD drive and CPU.

I really, really appreciate any input. A friend has the exact same system except he doesn't use a raptor drive, just two SATA drives raided.
 
There's something Seriously Messed Up? there from an electrical standpoint. Did you make sure to mount the motherboard on standoffs? Should be jacked up off the metal like this photo here, notice the air gap under the mobo.
 
Thanks for replying Mechbgon. Yes, I have mounted it on standoffs. I've built many computers and have never had problems like this.
 
Originally posted by: engiskhan
Thanks for replying Mechbgon. Yes, I have mounted it on standoffs. I've built many computers and have never had problems like this.
Click to expand...
From the symptoms, it sounds like a definite case of something shorting out or plugged in upside-down. Check the orientations of all your power plugs, make sure no wires have gotten pinched and their insulation cut, and check the I/O shield to make sure the contacts haven't slipped into your USB ports. If you have front ports wired up from the case to the mobo, unplug them for now.
 
I just built a system and before powering up I checked everything and found a grounding type of spring located on the rear panel thats included with the mainboard, found it stuck in the 1394 socket. That would have hurt dearly I am sure! Take a real close look around like mechbgon suggested.

I would think that the power supply would have protection built in and should shut down the system upon a short.

On another note did you check the output of the power supply? Another important fact is that power supply manufacturers claim that the power supply will do such and such and dont even come close under real world conditions.
Go in your bios and check those voltages.
My current voltages Vcore: 1.40
3.3v = 3.335
+5v = 5.19
+12v = 11.90

I am a little off on the 12v rail but it stays solid and has never changed even after adding 2 hard drives.
 
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