Suspect Corsair HX520w PSU is dead or dangerous

[Muse]

I bought this PSU about 10 months ago because I wanted a safe and reliable PSU. It replaced an Antec True 430, which I still have.

5 days ago I turned on my computer in the morning and got no video and no post beep. On advice, I disconnected all my HD's, the floppy, the DVD burner and removed all the cards except the video card, and also one of the two sticks of DDR. I also disconnected the keyboard and mouse. Still the same.

I swapped the video card for another video card I had (BFG 4600 AGP), and got video saying that there was no keyboard. I figured I'd determined my problem and contacted BFG to RMA my BFG geforce 6600 GT OC AGP card. I then hooked everything back up including the BFG 4600 AGP and expected the system to work again. Instead I got no response when pressing the power button! 😕

I figure it unlikely that the MB has suddenly died. I was gentle when pulling and reinserting cards. I also figure it unlikely that the power button has suddenly stopped functioning. Of course, these two possibilities do exist. But I think it much more likely that the PSU has died, and that it's also likely that the PSU before outright dieing, killed my original video card.

I still have my Antec True 430 PSU, and can swap it in the system for the Corsair, and figure that may be the next step I should take. However, I'm wondering if there's some way to test the Corsair PSU without endangering any of my components. I'm just hoping that the other components in my system are OK. For all I know, some of them may have suffered damage.

Can I just assume at this point that if the system works with the Antec True 430, that the Corsair is dead? I have multimeters. Can I test the Corsair outside of a system (i.e. not plugged into a motherboard)?

 

[BassBomb]

RMA the corsair

 

[Muse]

So, seeing no other advice, I remove my Corsair PSU and attach my old Antec True 430.

I apply the power cord to the PSU (haven't touched the power on button) and I see the fan at the back of the PSU spin for a second or two and then stop. I press the power on button and nothing happens. I smell an electronics burning smell! :Q

WTH is going on?

 

[Quiksilver]

See if the Corsair will power on using paper clip trick

Do same with Antec, if they bother turn on without any burning smells or anything, I'd have to say your mobo is fried.

 

[Puffnstuff]

It's time to unplug all power and inspect your mb for damage. I had a ps let go last week and it took out the mb and dvd-rw and I got the burning electronics smell with it. It's possible that the other ps damaged your mb and when you applied power that damage manifested itself. I would look for obvious damage on the mb, bubbles on the pcb and swollen or popped capacitors.

 

[Yellowbeard]

The paper clip trick is a good idea. However, you need to have some sort of load on the PSU. Attach a fan or some device that will draw power.