OK What exactly caused my computer to blow up?

[KayKay]

OK, so I had my E4300, ASUS P5N-E SLI build running nicely for a day.
The next day i come home and turn it on and i smell burning. I think the burning part was the cpu but i cant be sure

I turn the thing off, rip the whole thing apart and looks like my board and cpu are both dead. I verified this by taking it to a repair shop.

OK so who do i blame first (i've got replacement parts on the way so no issues there)

I talked to some people who claimed a bad board could take out a CPU which somewhat makes sense.
The other obvious answer could be power supply.
I have a Silverstone Zeus 650W PSU which i bought a month ago
Had it running an older system for about a week and a half no problems.

Basically I have replacement parts on the way, but if it is the power supply i really dont want to screw up again by plugging it in and turning on with the new parts and blowing everything up....again.

Any suggestions?

 

[imported_AndyT]

I haven't had a CPU or motherboard burn out on me unless I was modifiying it and hooked something up wrong. Habve you tested your PSU or tried an old PSU to see if the computer will boot?

 

[KayKay]

I tried booting my computer with my Enermax 535W, it does not boot.
I took the computer to a repair center and tested the cpu seperately, and the motherboard seperately, it looks like both are dead, according to the technician

 

[imported_AndyT]

Wow, sorry to hear that. Did they test the PSU as well?

 

[KayKay]

Originally posted by: AndyT
Wow, sorry to hear that. Did they test the PSU as well?

No... I'll go back and have them test it, i really hope it's not my PSU

 

[imported_AndyT]

Usually it take a pretty big event to blow a Mobo and CPU. You might have him test your PSU and graphics card as well just to be sure.

 

[KayKay]

Originally posted by: AndyT
Usually it take a pretty big event to blow a Mobo and CPU. You might have him test your PSU and graphics card as well just to be sure.

could it be the video card?? how does that happen

 

[imported_AndyT]

When a power supply fails, it should not affect other components. Most often a nPSU will fail and affect nothing. Since your video card has a PCI-e connector and is supplied much of it's power directly from the PSU, there is a chance that the PSU has affected it (if th e PSU is bad). The same applies to any component directly powered from th PSU (drives and motherboard, CPU)

It is somewhat doubtful that the card is bad, but as long as you are having components tested, it will eliminate that possibilty. Hopefully it's something easily replaced that is causing your problem.

 

[KayKay]

I appreciate your help on this matter, Andy.

I will get the PSU tested the next chance I get, because I would really hope that it is not the source of the problem. I can get a replacement but my faith in that particular brand would be hurt quite a bit, especially after how good i've heard them to be.

 

[imported_Imp]

Not enough info...

Been doing some mad overclocking? Poor thermal paste application? Even if you run it for a day, even a week, doesn't mean much. Could just be a bad board, not uncommon for it to only take 1 thing out.

 

[KayKay]

Originally posted by: Imp
Not enough info...

Been doing some mad overclocking? Poor thermal paste application? Even if you run it for a day, even a week, doesn't mean much. Could just be a bad board, not uncommon for it to only take 1 thing out.

I wish I was at the part where i could do some mad overclocking, I had it up and running for about 4 hours and that was just installing windows and some applications.

the next day I just turn it on and it goes poof. I know I applied a reasonable amount of thermal paste to the processor, and I havent heard of bad boards taking out processors too often, but it definitely is a possibility

 

[AMCRambler]

Mobo could have shorted against the case? If it's not the power supply that is. Could also have burst caps on the mobo.

 

[zephyrprime]

Could be anything. Most likely, it was a short circuit caused by user error.

 

[KayKay]

Originally posted by: zephyrprime
Could be anything. Most likely, it was a short circuit caused by user error.

what are some examples of this?

 

[imported_AndyT]

Originally posted by: KayKay

Originally posted by: zephyrprime
Could be anything. Most likely, it was a short circuit caused by user error.

what are some examples of this?

Your new system was working fine for a day, then quit. I would find no reason to believe you created a "short circuit". Having your components tested is the best solution for you.

 

[KayKay]

K well i got my power supply tested out, works fine and dandy. Rebuilt the computer using some replacement parts. Everything is fine now (for 2 days, fingers crossed)

I have really no explanation for what happened. I guess human error, although this is probably the 30th or 40th computer i've built :S
Thanks for all the input everyone!

 

[imported_AndyT]

Good to hear KayKay,

Good luck!

 

[StopSign]

Because you touch yourself at night.

...I kid!

It could be a variety of things. How did it look after it died? Were there burn marks on the mobo? (I assume there aren't because you tested it anyway) Was there any physical damage to either the processor or the mobo?

 

[KayKay]

I looked at the bottom of the processor, and i could not detect anything out of the ordinary. no burns or anything. Same with the board, there was nothing physically detectable that was wrong.
The only physical evidence was the burning smell... oh well.

I strongly doubt that its the 'touching myself at night ' issue, as im sure everyone else on this forum's computer would probably be in burning ruins by now

 

[imported_AndyT]

Originally posted by: KayKay
I strongly doubt that its the 'touching myself at night ' issue, as im sure everyone else on this forum's computer would probably be in burning ruins by now

HAHAHAHA!