My power supply made sparks and pc turned off-- gave it to a tech guy and he says psu is okay but the motherboard is dead??

Dachan

Reputable
May 26, 2015
3
0
4,510
Hello.
Okay so my friends and I built my PC, and it has worked fine for more than 4 months. I did gaming, editing, and all that and it has been working fine-- but yesterday I was gaming and then suddenly the PC turned off. I guessed it heated too much and I had a lot of things plugged into the power extender that was plugged on to the wall, so I moved them and directly plugged my pc to the wall. I tried turning it on again and then the fan made a weird noise, then there was sparks and smell coming from where the power supply is located. I was like s*** and moved the PC away.

So I went to this tech guy that my mom told me to go (I was bewildered so I just went wherever without caring-- all I had in mind was about my PC and the harddrive) and I started getting suspicious when I saw his office-- there was nothing, only a desk and a PC and 3 boxes in the room. We gave him 25 bucks to check up what the problem was and we had to leave our pc there and he would contact us the next day. When I came home I was getting worried more and more and doubted him, and regrets that I should've went to Fry's or something.

SO that is the story. Today I got a call from him that the power supply is fine, just the motherboard was dead. I was like what the heck? I knew the motherboard could die, but I didn't know the psu would be fine. And I asked him if my harddrive is fine, and he tells me it is fine. And then I ask him if my cpu or gpu is fine, and he tells me that he won't know until the motherboard is changed.
I am not a pro in computer things, so I ask you guys-- does this guy seem like he knows what he is doing? We paid him 25 bucks, and I don't understand how he can check the hard drive but not cpu or gpu if it's alive or not?
Also, is it likely that cpu and gpu can be alive when the motherboard is dead?
Lastly, I meet him again on Saturday to pick my PC up. Say that he does know what he is doing, what questions should I ask him about my pc? Like what I should get, what to do?!
I am really worried-- I need to do so much with the PC and I probably can't afford one any time soon. THANK YOU GUYS PLEASE ANSWER!!
 
If it helps, PSUs have built inn fuses which can protect them from a surge but the motherboard has not so although the PSU may be fine because it wasn't overloaded, the same cannot be said for the board. I've had to tell customers the same quite a few times.

If you have doubts about the tech, collect your property and pay him without saying you're going for a second opinion then go anyway.
 
I'd look at the motherboards VRM area, if there are any burned up spots, blown caps or that electronic burning smell, then the motherboard failed which is possible, I see it happen far to many times. Even smell the vents of the PSU if it smells burnt then its most likely the PSU. That smell dosn't go away vary easily.