ARGH - computer just blew up!!

Fanny Cradock

Built a computer about a month ago and its bee running like a dream up untill about 30 mins ago when it blew up.
the motherboard is a asus k8v-x and it blew in the area beside the pci slot closest to the outside -see attachment below.

i was wondering what the most likely cause of this is and what my options are - both in terms of replacing it (or is is the whole computer ****ed???) and in terms of my rights for compensation/replacement ect.

hostyle

Fanny Cradock wrote:

i was wondering what the most likely cause of this is

When you say "blew up" - what has happened? Is it burned? Cracked? Broken? Bits missing and blue smoke everywhere? Or is it hard to tell cause you had to throw it out in the back yard and its still on fire?

uberpixie

Fanny Cradock wrote:

Built a computer about a month ago and its bee running like a dream up untill about 30 mins ago when it blew up.
the motherboard is a asus k8v-x and it blew in the area beside the pci slot closest to the outside -see attachment below.

i was wondering what the most likely cause of this is and what my options are - both in terms of replacing it (or is is the whole computer ****ed???) and in terms of my rights for compensation/replacement ect.

should note: motherboard bought of komplett and case/psu off peats.

What psu did you buy. What wattage was it? Was it a qtech?

What spec do you have?

Chances are all your parts are ok. Or at least most of em. You will have to test em to be sure.

Fanny Cradock

probably worse then qtech

http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/shop/db.cgi?view=1&id=8158&type=6&path=14x122x539

it was more of a pop followed by a little bit of blue smoke - disappointing really.

astec123

Probably sent the wrong wattage to the wrong bit, may have a dead PCI slot, whatever was in it and maybe the PSU.

Fanny Cradock

thanks for the responses to date
the slot was empty, as are all the pci slots. agp slot has a graphics card in it.
i know the board is ****ed and at theis stage i dont trust the case/psu - what is the likelyhood that the other components have gone the way of the board, and can i get komplette, peats, etc. to give me my money back???

fanny so angry.....urge to destroy rising .....

astec123

Well depends. Legally you can as the PSU was not fit for purpose. It wasnt like you ran 1000s of Ws through it or that it was very old. Take it back to the place and tell them that x wont replace this part as its not their fault, tell them that you will persue it through the small claims court if nothing is done, its not your fault the PSU was ****e so make sure the place that sold the case gets the blame.

Fanny Cradock

how sure can i be that it was the case and not a powerspike from the mains or just the board itself?

Raiser

Really looks like being a defective board - return to retailer, they're obliged to refund/replace - you DO not have to entertain them regarding PSUs or the ambient temps in your bedroom. They may say its blah blah blah - tell them to prove it. Say PSU or whatever else was alway fine in your old PC etc. etc.

Motherboards are vastly complex, amazing they don't eject those little puffs of smoke more often.

Good luck & remember your damn consumée rights

Fanny Cradock

ok, the shop that i bought it from just told me to bring in the case/psu. apparently, they will run tests to determine if it was the psu - not sure how they can say with any certanty, but assuming they admit it was the case, which i doubt, do they have to replace all parts damaged or just the case itself?

Fanny Cradock

any advice on how to go about getting money/parts back without resorting to violence?

astec123

Threaten legal action but do it out loud so people in the shop can hear you. Most often its the PSU in these cases that goes kaput but always with a fight. No matter what they say they cant prove it was the PSU as the line "those burn marks are typical of a bad PSU" doesnt prove the PSU did it merely that the PSU has burn marks. No matter what they say do not at all allow them to open any hardware in the machine ie the PSU cover, as it voids the warranty and plus its not theirs to mess with.

lomb

return mobo to komplett and order a real psu from them

Occidental

Fanny Cradock wrote:

ok, the shop that i bought it from just told me to bring in the case/psu. apparently, they will run tests to determine if it was the psu - not sure how they can say with any certanty, but assuming they admit it was the case, which i doubt, do they have to replace all parts damaged or just the case itself?

At most they'll be able to test individual components to see what's working and what's blown. If the PSU is blown they'll probably try to blame everything on the PSU, but it's as easy for a faulty component to take out a PSU as it is for a faulty PSU to take out components.

Fanny Cradock

just checked and its not the psu. it's down to the mobo or the mobo.

lets see if komplett's return policy and customer service is any good

thanks everyone!

unkel

Fanny Cradock wrote:

just checked and its not the psu. it's down to the mobo or the mobo

Well the PSU might still be working, but the odds are that it caused the mobo damage. €32 ex VAT for a case+psu including large profit for Peats? You get what you pay for tbh. Throw it in the bin!

In the meantime I'd change my arm and RMA the mobo. Most of the time they will just verify it's broken and replace it without quibble