Press power button, PC stops after 1/2 second, smell smoke!!!

[Muse]

I figure I'm going to need to upgrade both my midtower PCs. The one I just had the won't power on problem was due, but in the process I discovered that the other system, although even more underpowered and no SATA support at all, at least doesn't have a significant lip synch issue with the HDTV app. So, I'm going to be researching two replacement motherboards, CPUs, RAM at the very least. I might go AMD, that's what I've always done in the past with my DIY builds.

 

[Ken g6]

I might go AMD, that's what I've always done in the past with my DIY builds.

I can actually see AMD as a possibility, since you don't seem to upgrade often, and you might want H.265 video playback capability in an HTPC. I posted [post=37654015]an FM2+ build for that purpose[/post], among others, recently.

As for a new system, would you consider waiting a month? Skylake's full lineup is supposed to come out in early September. That would put you on DDR4 instead of the soon-to-be-obsolete DDR3.

On the other hand, if you go Intel, they're late, but the full Skylake lineup should be available by October 1. I hope. :\

How about you put together a full list of system requirements, budget, and parts you're keeping (basically [thread=80121]answering these questions[/thread]) and get back to us with all that?

 

[Muse]

I can actually see AMD as a possibility, since you don't seem to upgrade often, and you might want H.265 video playback capability in an HTPC. I posted [post=37654015]an FM2+ build for that purpose[/post], among others, recently.


On the other hand, if you go Intel, they're late, but the full Skylake lineup should be available by October 1. I hope. :\

How about you put together a full list of system requirements, budget, and parts you're keeping (basically [thread=80121]answering these questions[/thread]) and get back to us with all that?

I'll do that in the near future... should I post it in this thread? I suppose making a new thread makes sense.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I tested the suspect PSU some more. The fan goes on but it seems very weak. It seems to be putting out 7v and 12v, at least on a couple of connectors. A smell is there. I suspect that PSU.

I've got the new PSU in the case and am about to make the two connections and try to post (i.e. beep!).

Yeah, don't even bother with the smelly one. Once the magic smoke comes out, it's a paperweight.

 

[Muse]

Yeah, don't even bother with the smelly one. Once the magic smoke comes out, it's a paperweight.

Got the new Corsair 550HX PSU in there now (bought new in 2008, but never used), and the system is functioning OK AFAIK. Took me 3 hours! No keyboard support until I got my DVI cabling correct, a head scratcher! Complicated systems in this room:

3 PCs (2 midtowers, each with an HDTV card that has to be in separate systems, and they are accompanied by DVI daughterboards, which complicates the wiring), a laptop.

2 monitors (the 3 PCs use the 2 monitors)

1 digital projector, which can accept digital output from both midtowers

KVM switch so I can use single monitor and keyboard with the two midtowers

Switches galore, wires everywhere, most are labeled but the sharpie writing fades with time!

System upgrades are in order, a major reason is the main midtower has bad lip synch issues much of the time. I will get two new motherboards, CPUs, RAM, OSs. A major benefit will be that I will be able to buy and install large capacity USB 3.0 internal SATA HDs in the midtowers. Right now one of the midtowers has zero SATA support and the other one's SATA support is about as bad as it gets -- 500GB maximum capacity and the SATA controller is notoriously horrible. I have been depending on external large capacity USB HDs. It wouldn't be so bad but I've had several of them die on me.