PC Dead. Help please?

Kenny_D

About 10 mins ago I was playing a game and the whole pc just died. The little light on the motherboard is not coming on so its either the PSU (Thermaltake Purepower 480W TWV) or the motherboard (Abit AV8 Third Eye).
The fans were set at a lower speed than usual because I record guitars in the same room and the fans are usually turned down a bit to avoid the mics picking up the sound but I forgot to turn them back up when playing my game. When I opened the case it was very hot inside which makes me think the PSU is dead.
Is there a way to test a PSU or motherboard just so I can check? Also does anybody else know whether my PSU has a warranty because I googled and couldnt find any info.

Thanks in advance. Any help at all is greatly appreciated. Just finished my exams today and have a collection of games to work through

Third_Echelon

It may be ok.... Let it cool down for a while.. If you have a desk fan or something like that, open the case and blow cold air around the case for a while.

Reset your fans to the original setting and try booting up in about 30 mins or so...

If that doesn't work... you are screwed...

Good luck...

Kenny_D

I'll try it thanks. Is there any chance it could have damaged my other components? I dont think it was a power surge because I have a surge protector. Just praying it hasnt done any damage I'm not aware of yet

Third_Echelon

GStormcrow wrote:

I'll try it thanks. Is there any chance it could have damaged my other components? I dont think it was a power surge because I have a surge protector. Just praying it hasnt done any damage I'm not aware of yet

Quite possibly, you'll just have to wait and see and then assess the damage...

JackKelly

AFAIK usually your PC will shut itself off if too high temps are reached-to stop it from Overheating, so hopefully you are ok. It the MB light isn't ligthing it sounds like it could be the PSU. You could check the CPU yourself by taking off the heatsink and fan. Just make sure it has cooled down before.

Kenny_D

Thats true timAy but afaik there is a warning beep for when that happens. Think I seen it somewhere in the bios. No luck yet but I'll give it another while. Really hope its not gone. It'll kill me to buy a new one coz I'm broke. lol

The General

hope this helps:
http://www.google.ie/url?sa=U&start=2&q=http://www.paralumun.com/survivalmouthtomouth.htm&e=10053

Kenny_D

JackKelly

if anything had burned out, it would have been the CPU, and AFAIK (i'd imagine), the motherboard would still at least light up. So sounds like a PSU prob.

Kenny_D

Yeah I dont seem to be having any luck. I might be able to get the hardware guy in my dads work to have a look at it. He fixed my Ac adapter when that blew. Hopefully it was something small and easy to fix. Thanks anyway

Lump

PSU may have just burnt out... if the other solutions don't work.... try an other psu.

John

JackKelly

tbh you would know about it if the CPU was gone. Youd smell the burning. It sounds like its ok. New PSU is all.

Kenny_D

Only other PSU I have on hand at the moment is welded into my old pc. Parents are away, no car and 50euro to last me until friday. Lol looks like I'll have to do without my pc for a few days (Half Life 2, Doom 3 and WOW are screaming to be played from their unopened cases)

Lump

Aren't you on a computer now....


John

Webmonkey

You can at least try testing the PSU by connecting the green wire to any black. Use a paper clip or something but shock yourself, though small voltages are in them anyways i think, i hope. (i take no responsibilty) This will start the PSU. Then at least then you know wheather its your board/cpu or PSU

* Disconnected all hard drives, cd roms, etc from psu before doing it.

Kenny_D

I'm on my laptop. Use the desktop for gaming and recording. And I think I'll pass on the whole shocking myself thing. lol. I'll get someone to look at it then buy a new one if it cant be fixed

Webmonkey

aw man you won't get shocked, but then again i don't want to be responsible either INCASE

Talk to you later m8, good luck on it

Kenny_D

Cheers. I'm leavin a note sayin it was you who suggested it before I go and shock myself. Just in case. lol

Lump

Don't stick anything into the PSU, the capacitor, the thing that stores the charge while reducing the voltage. Will give you a hell of a belt.

It will store the charge for ages.

John

Sgtshaft

Did you check your power cable?

gamer

check power plug,change 13amp fuse,main plug to pc.reboot,sounds like ur going to have to buy a new power supply,make sure u get 1 that has identical motherbord connectors.get 300 watt at least.

Kenny_D

First thing I did was change the power lead. The PSU is toast. I wont be sticking anything into the psu. Theres one for sale in the FS forum and if its still there on sunday I'll get it hopefully. Its a 480W and I wouldnt be looking for much less as the pc requires a bit of juice with all the stuff in it and connected to it. Thanks anyway lads. Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and fork out for another one

JackKelly

could have been worse. Needing a new mobo and Cpu would have sucked

Wez

Yeh, true that.. Especially if you can run them kinda games on it. You'd need something half decent for them.. I would have suggested everything anyone here said, apart from the shocking one.. :S

Kenny_D

I got the new psu (Antec Truepower 480W) but when I installed it the pc goes into a continuous boot. Checked google and there is a known compatability issue with antec truepower psu's and my abit av8 mobo. What are the odds. lol. So will have to get yet another psu. Still dont know if there was any other damage done. Don't suppose anyone would be willing to help me out? Check out this thread. I'm in bad need of a PSU and I'm sure I can work a cash/trade deal

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=2811709#post2811709

Thanks

gamer

my advice bring it back to shop,ask for standard power supply 350 watt,with connector for your motherboard.get receipt,hold on 2 it for 6months.shud cost u nothing.

Kenny_D

I custom built the pc. Dont know what the warranty situation is with my Thermaltake 480W(got it from jes.de so wont be returning as they are german and it will prob just be hassle) also I dont think a 350W supply would be enough. I'd be lookin at a minimum of 400W