SERIOUS computer hardware trouble. And a short story.

[OverVolt]

Alright AT, im not sure what to do with this. I came back today after (thankfully) i turned of my computer which probably would have caught fire had i left it on. At any rate, when i turned on my computer it tripped my battery backup.

This was odd, so i turned on my other computer which started fine. I remembered i was having memory problems so i planned on switcing the modules to the other set of memory banks. I opened it up and poped the DIMM's but i didnt have enough room to get them out and put them in the other banks. So i gave up.

A little while later i tried to turn on the computer again, only this time with the case open and everything so i could see the fans. This last week it has been making a loud noise like it had a dead fan. My thought was that it had a dead fan and was shorting out, so i thought maybe i could see if the fans spin up, and which one didn't so i could replace it.

Well i forgot to slip the DIMMS back into the motherboard, but they were poped out of the motherboard (but still in - not sure if the contacts touch if the module is sitting in the bank but the clips on the end were not pushed down at all), i don't think the memory contacts were touching (none were scorched) but this may have played a role in what happened.

I plugged in the power cord, with the case open, and then flipped the PSU switch, next thing i see about a 1 foot ball spark shoot out of the PSU and a little volt arc out and a very loud pop followed by burning electronics smell.

I immediately turn if off but dont remove the power cord and i let it sit grounded for a few minutes before i touch it. It was pretty darn scary.

At any rate, my question is, first of all the PSU is probably dead, but i don't want to test the thing again and maybe freaking die this time.

So:
-do you think my PSU is dead?
-RMA to antec?
-did accidentally having no DIMMS in the mobo play a role in this?
i have never tried booting a computer with no memory but i always know there is a beep code the motherboard has during the POST for no memory, so i could assume it wouldn't cause a PSU short, i could use an answer here
-What could cause this? Maybe the dead fan sound i heard was the PSU fan, could that be the cause?
- could it be a dead capacitor in the PSU? do they make a giant 1foot spark and arcs when they die?

I'm in no way a computer noob i've built quite a few, just a silly mistake on my part and this dead PSU, i've never had one die on me like this, usually they smoke and fizzle out but i was about to duck and cover since this thing sounded like a mini nuke here.

Is that the sypmtom of a dead psu? tripping the breaker/ups and then blowing up on the 2nd try?

edit:

Specs:
P4 3.0C
1Gb Hyper X 433mhz DDR
2x 32gb Raptor v1
1x 80gb WD cavier SE
R9800Pro
SB Aud2
7fans
the usual DVD/CDRW floppy ect.
PSU is Antec Trueblue 480w

 

[Ike0069]

With a name like OverVolt, what exactly did you expect to happen.

 

[OverVolt]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
With a name like OverVolt, what exactly did you expect to happen.

hehe - im now afraid to touch the computer.

Your vote: PSU dead yay, nay?

Im calling antec right now.

 

[Cawchy87]

I forgot to put ram in once, and my psu is still alive. Your doing the right thing by calling antec.

 

[OverVolt]

Meh hours are 8am-5pm western, so i am SOL for tonight. i have a paper due also and some of my internet research cites and links were on there .

 

[jackschmittusa]

I have powered up mbs without ram several times (on purpose) without a problem.

 

[Ike0069]

Sorry, forgot to answer your question.
Yea, your PSU is dead, and no it wasn't caused by not having memory installed. I would definitely call Antec for an RMA.
Another problem is that it's possible your MB (and maybe anything that was connected to it) may be fried also. Perhaps take the PSU out of your other computer and try to power up this one.

 

[DreamerSpawn]

Well, I've had a simular situation, but not as....explosive as yours:

A Bro wanted me to build him a system, but piece at a time. Well, after the first month, he had financial troubles, so we had to put it on the backburner for a while....at the end (before I had all parts needed for OS install), it was a year or so (since I bought some of the basics, like PS, Acrylic Tower, 2 pair of Cold Cathode lights, Floppy Drive, DVD Drive). Anyhow, the motherboard and processor my Bro had originally decided on was a bit out of date (WAS going to get an AMD Athlon XP 1800 to start, then upgrade from there)...so he changed his mind to an AMD Athlon 64. Well, I was stupid, and didn't think to check the 12 volt rail on the PSU, to make sure it could keep up with it. I don't recall the amps on the 12 volt rail, but they HAD to be VERY low, as it took out TWO motherboards and/or processors before I realized wth happened. I did test the PSU out on THREE AMD Athlon XP systems (lower end of the Athlon XP...but still) and it worked fine. HOWEVER, after it had blown the two systems, I checked it AGAIN (on a less important P3 500 system) and it would barly come on just to show me the lights on the L.E.D. fans and out it went. Ordered a new power supply (this time with almost 30a on the 12v rail), bought a new motherboard & processor and wala!

The moral of this lesson? PSU'S MEAN EVERYTHING! Also, NEVER buy POWMAX! LOL! Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna hear it about this one, just please (before the heckling..which is much earned on my end), I was still new to how important a PSU is...ESPECIALLY checking the 12v rail...which I do on a CONSTANT now. All I have left of that PSU is the RED L.E.D. fans I canabilized (only because they are AWESOMELY bright and fast!). Truthfully, that's the most valuable thing out of the whole power supply.

Okay, let's hear the cracks about the brand of PSU I originally purchased. C'mon...I KNOW I got it comin. Just thought others should know, so maybe the same mistake isn't made again.

Originally posted by: OverVolt
-do you think my PSU is dead?
-RMA to antec?
-did accidentally having no DIMMS in the mobo play a role in this?
i have never tried booting a computer with no memory but i always know there is a beep code the motherboard has during the POST for no memory, so i could assume it wouldn't cause a PSU short, i could use an answer here
-What could cause this? Maybe the dead fan sound i heard was the PSU fan, could that be the cause?
- could it be a dead capacitor in the PSU? do they make a giant 1foot spark and arcs when they die?

 

[Bozo Galora]

no ram doesnt hurt as was said

however the ram just "laying in slots unlocked" either arced from contact stips on RAM to slot contacts, or the ram was angled and ram tabs contacted 2 slot adjacent contacts shorting out mobo, or the ram didnt make contact will all the corresponding slot outputs/inputs

pretty sure your mobo is toast also

to be absolutely fair - it was your fault, not PSU

 

[nealh]

I had a Antec TruePower 480W do a similar thing...not sure if there was a big spark as the case was closed....but it happened after reattaching a floppy that was attached but not being seen i nwinxp..unplugged and replugged in and boom

Antec was very nice sent in PSU and shipped a new (ground and took like a week)..they actually received the bad PSU and had a new one shipped the next day

 

[Benmohr]

To cause an arc like that you must have had a major short circuit. My view is that possibly the memory modules slipped and shorted on the mobo somewhere but I can?t think of anywhere that is exposed enough carrying that kind of current.

I reckon it must be a PSU problem. I recall when I was studying electronic engineering we used to blow up electrolytic capacitors and they when off big time just like you described.

:|

 

[jkj]

Man your making me afraid to mess with my computer (also a trueblue 480)

 

[OverVolt]

Originally posted by: jkj
Man your making me afraid to mess with my computer (also a trueblue 480)

hah, well i was kind of a dope, and when it tripped my UPS the first time, i tried two more, and it tripped it twice more, and then opened the case to maybe see what was wrong, that was when i decided with all the memory problems ive been having to switch banks but never pushed them in. Then it was the loud bzztzaatztzttzz *POP* and some smoke comming out before it tripped the UPS again.

This might be interesting to the guy who said it was my fault with the memory - i had never hit the power button or tripped the power switch on the mother board to turn the computer on - i had only flicked on the PSU switch in the back when the PSU blew (my hand was RIGHT there and i was like sadkgasdgjasdg ***** curses curses ect but no shock)

lesson - when a dead PSU trips the first time dont try and start your computer three more times.

Also an update - i called antec and got a tech ### and printed an RMA form, they were pretty nice i was suprised, sounded like a guy from india, but he was very helpful, and spoke very good english.
Now i have to search the house for proof of purchase, would a box barcode count? i'm pretty sure i can find a recipt too.

edit: added poll - think my other hardware is dead too? i will report back!

 

[imported_Mitchell]

"So:
-do you think my PSU is dead?
-RMA to antec?
-did accidentally having no DIMMS in the mobo play a role in this?
i have never tried booting a computer with no memory but i always know there is a beep code the motherboard has during the POST for no memory, so i could assume it wouldn't cause a PSU short, i could use an answer here
-What could cause this? Maybe the dead fan sound i heard was the PSU fan, could that be the cause?
- could it be a dead capacitor in the PSU? do they make a giant 1foot spark and arcs when they die? "

It's dead, do not try and use it again.
Never liked them, would get a new PCPowerAndCooling first.
No.
The PS simply failed.