Trying to determine if my PSU is fried.

Dream Operator

Senior member
Jan 31, 2005
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I was working on my pc today, nothing taxing, internet and things. It suddenly turned off. Now when I push the power button, the fans turn about a 1/2 turn. The green light is lit on the mobo. I have disconnected all external devices and tried a different power cable and outlet.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks in advance.
 

mauiblue

Senior member
Aug 8, 2004
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See if you can get another PSU to try on your system. That would be a start. Good luck.
 

Dream Operator

Senior member
Jan 31, 2005
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Yep, I was just getting to that. I have a 350w sitting around. I disconnected my HD's and removed my video card so I'm not drawing too much on it.

I'll report my findings.
 

Dream Operator

Senior member
Jan 31, 2005
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I connected this PSU using the 24pin connector and the 4pin, nothing more. Motherboards green light comes on. No response when pressing the power button. I reconnected the PSU that I had been using and got just a blink of power to the fans, not even a turn, just a slight rock.

What would you do next?
 

vanvock

Senior member
Jan 1, 2005
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I've got an out of the box Enermax that does the same thing. That 380 seems low for a system like that. If you have a meter you can jump the green lead to a black one on the 20 pin connector with it unpluged & check volts from black to orange, yellow & red.
 
Feb 9, 2005
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also you can pick up a PSU tester for pretty cheap. i actualy found one at Circuit City for $13 bucks. Plug the PSU into an AC outlet and the tester into it and there you go. You can even check the indiviual rails pretty easy with a multi-meter.
 

Dream Operator

Senior member
Jan 31, 2005
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Thank you all for your soft and consoling manner. LOLOLOLOLOL

I will get a PSU tester/Multimeter tomorrow and check out the status of that.

Any thoughts about the cause? PSU too small? I had consulted this forum before I put the dual core in it. It was suggested that I would be OK, but not to OC or add more. Not that I am putting any responsibility on that, just stating that I thought I would be OK.
 

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
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Originally posted by: Dream Operator
Thank you all for your soft and consoling manner. LOLOLOLOLOL

I will get a PSU tester/Multimeter tomorrow and check out the status of that.

Any thoughts about the cause? PSU too small? I had consulted this forum before I put the dual core in it. It was suggested that I would be OK, but not to OC or add more. Not that I am putting any responsibility on that, just stating that I thought I would be OK.

How would to small; of a PSU fry a mobo?
hmmm
 

Dream Operator

Senior member
Jan 31, 2005
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I am not sure if too small a PSU, or a PSU failing for that matter could kill a mobo (again, I will test the PSU tomorrow), thats why I am asking. Anything is possible. Fortunately I have my HD's in another PC right now so I can get some important work done.
 

Bobthelost

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2005
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A PSU failing can fry a motherboard, but ime PSUs failing that way are rather noticable (big sodding bang). A small PSU just won't supply enough power to run the machine, which means that it doesn't have the power to run it at all, let alone fry it ;)

A 350W PSU should be able to run your basic system without overclocking alright. Do you have any debugging LEDs or beep codes for that motherboard?
 

TSCrv

Senior member
Jul 11, 2005
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i have had this problem all to often, i work as a pc repair tech and i dont think the mobo has been fried after i see these symptoms.... allthough i cannot provide a definate solution.... what works for me is either leaving the mobo unpowered for about an hour, resetting the bios, etc... basic troubleshooting...

whats happening is the ps-on circuit isnot latching, weather it because bios is detecting an error, could be under or over voltage, or the psu not sending the pwr-good signal...

hope it helps
 

Dream Operator

Senior member
Jan 31, 2005
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Not aware of debugging LEDs. No mobo beebs. It doesn't have power long enough to get a beeb.

Let the computer sit over night. Reset the cmos, reconnected the orignal PSU, the green mobo light is again lit, the case power LED turns on for 1/2 a second, nothing else happens.

I also picked up Antecs Power Supply Tester. PSU is good.

Off with the mobo's head I say!