*** [Start: Final Edit] ***
This problem has been resolved, although not in the way many who read the thread title would expect (ie: my own stupidity).
!3thmonkey gives some good feedback on the upgrade path so that's good but essentially 90% of my comments are based on a false premise (in hindsight). So take that into consideration when reading this thread.
*** [End: Final Edit] ***
Ok, so here is the situation. I have an own build that has been running fine for the last couple of years. The spec is as follows...
M5A78L-M/USB3 Asus Motherboard
FX8320 AMD CPU
GTX 960 GPU
16Gb (2x8Gb) of unbranded memory
2TB Seagate (Sata) HD
700W AeroCool PSU (a replacement for the now dead 500W CIT PSU)
I will include a TL;DR section at the bottom, until then here is a long winded explanation and I apologise for the length (*giggle*) but better to have more info than less, right? I will also include source links at the bottom of the post.
[-- verbosity be my guide --]
I have the side off the box open purely down to heat, it's something I've always done. This is not overly relevant other than it allowed me to see what happened. While playing Unturned (a game that does not require a lot of processing or graphics and so - imo - wasn't the cause of this) I hear a pop coming from the computer. You know that pop, and if you don't you can be happy never to hear it. I looked over and not only heard a second pop but a flash of light, in the location of the power supply (although it could have been the MB). The machine decided not to wait for me to turn it off and immediately bailed. I disconnected the power supply cable although it should be said the system was completely dead - no BSoD, no fans running, no lights on the graphics card, etc.
So working logically I start with the power supply. It was a CIT Model (500W). I had planned on replacing it anyway, so with more hope than faith I grab a new 700W by Aero Cool. I cannot comment on the quality of this power supply as I had no way of checking and was buying blind. Upon putting it into the machine I got no response when turning the PC on. I did notice that the graphics card (the GTX960) had a LED light on it which was illuminated. What wasn't happening was the switch on the box (presumably via the MB) wasn't kicking off the boot process (no fan on the PSU, no fan on the CPU in fact no response at all).
Now in my logical mind this suggests that the MB has blown and whatever method it turns the click of the button on the case to turning on the PC is foobarred somewhere along the line. I can sort of rule out the PSU as not only is it brand new it is visibly powering the GPU card - of course this is an assumption but a pretty strong one.
The next step would be to replace the MB. While I am not entirely sure it's that, the fact of the power surge, the sparks and it not kicking back into life with a new PSU certainly points to that.
** main question, ignoring the hyperbole **
This has now led me to replacing the MB. I could just replace like for like. The M5A78L clearly works, and it fairly cheap. The 970 Pro Aura is more expensive but has all the improvements you would expect from newer boards plus is supports SATA at 6Gb, USB 3.1, etc (you can see from the specs I've linked to at the very bottom of this post). The question is whether I am making a stupid move to replace it with the 970 Aura or am I going to lock myself into old tech by just replacing like for like (ie: the M5A78L).
I should point out that at the start I had no "backup" pc to check online and buy stuff with. I have now bought an old HP sh*tbox for about £70 which can access the Internet (hence this post) but not test any of the components of the better machine so in a way I am still operating semi-blind as it were.
There is also the nightmare scenario that not only the PSU and probably the MB, but also the CPU, the memory and the HD could also have been effected. It's a long shot that it'd be a 'full house', but there is still that possibility. As it is all I can do is step by step. Crossing whatever relevant bridges that arise.
[-- can't be arsed reading all that, try this --]
TL;DR? Ok, the skinny is that something blew, certainly the power supply but possibly also the MB and even more worryingly the CPU (maybe?). At this stage I am just working from the edges inward, so a power supply was replaced but it doesn't even turn on (although there was evidence that power was reaching the GPU), which suggests a motherboard issue. As I already had a working ASUS motherboard it makes sense to replace it with another ASUS. Considering my setup is there going to be any issues arising and/or am I going to paint myself into a corner in terms of upgrades or power usage?
The board I had was a M5A78L-M/USB3 the one I am tempted with is a 970 Pro Aura, is this a sensible move or should I just replace it with the same board (£50 cheaper)?
Source Links:
https://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/M5A78LMUSB3/overview
http://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/970-PRO-GAMING-AURA
There is an option to compare boards (a little tick box just under on the first page labelled 'add to comparison) which might help people. You will need to kill any tracking cookie blocker (ghostery, etc) to get it to work though.
This problem has been resolved, although not in the way many who read the thread title would expect (ie: my own stupidity).
!3thmonkey gives some good feedback on the upgrade path so that's good but essentially 90% of my comments are based on a false premise (in hindsight). So take that into consideration when reading this thread.
*** [End: Final Edit] ***
Ok, so here is the situation. I have an own build that has been running fine for the last couple of years. The spec is as follows...
M5A78L-M/USB3 Asus Motherboard
FX8320 AMD CPU
GTX 960 GPU
16Gb (2x8Gb) of unbranded memory
2TB Seagate (Sata) HD
700W AeroCool PSU (a replacement for the now dead 500W CIT PSU)
I will include a TL;DR section at the bottom, until then here is a long winded explanation and I apologise for the length (*giggle*) but better to have more info than less, right? I will also include source links at the bottom of the post.
[-- verbosity be my guide --]
I have the side off the box open purely down to heat, it's something I've always done. This is not overly relevant other than it allowed me to see what happened. While playing Unturned (a game that does not require a lot of processing or graphics and so - imo - wasn't the cause of this) I hear a pop coming from the computer. You know that pop, and if you don't you can be happy never to hear it. I looked over and not only heard a second pop but a flash of light, in the location of the power supply (although it could have been the MB). The machine decided not to wait for me to turn it off and immediately bailed. I disconnected the power supply cable although it should be said the system was completely dead - no BSoD, no fans running, no lights on the graphics card, etc.
So working logically I start with the power supply. It was a CIT Model (500W). I had planned on replacing it anyway, so with more hope than faith I grab a new 700W by Aero Cool. I cannot comment on the quality of this power supply as I had no way of checking and was buying blind. Upon putting it into the machine I got no response when turning the PC on. I did notice that the graphics card (the GTX960) had a LED light on it which was illuminated. What wasn't happening was the switch on the box (presumably via the MB) wasn't kicking off the boot process (no fan on the PSU, no fan on the CPU in fact no response at all).
Now in my logical mind this suggests that the MB has blown and whatever method it turns the click of the button on the case to turning on the PC is foobarred somewhere along the line. I can sort of rule out the PSU as not only is it brand new it is visibly powering the GPU card - of course this is an assumption but a pretty strong one.
The next step would be to replace the MB. While I am not entirely sure it's that, the fact of the power surge, the sparks and it not kicking back into life with a new PSU certainly points to that.
** main question, ignoring the hyperbole **
This has now led me to replacing the MB. I could just replace like for like. The M5A78L clearly works, and it fairly cheap. The 970 Pro Aura is more expensive but has all the improvements you would expect from newer boards plus is supports SATA at 6Gb, USB 3.1, etc (you can see from the specs I've linked to at the very bottom of this post). The question is whether I am making a stupid move to replace it with the 970 Aura or am I going to lock myself into old tech by just replacing like for like (ie: the M5A78L).
I should point out that at the start I had no "backup" pc to check online and buy stuff with. I have now bought an old HP sh*tbox for about £70 which can access the Internet (hence this post) but not test any of the components of the better machine so in a way I am still operating semi-blind as it were.
There is also the nightmare scenario that not only the PSU and probably the MB, but also the CPU, the memory and the HD could also have been effected. It's a long shot that it'd be a 'full house', but there is still that possibility. As it is all I can do is step by step. Crossing whatever relevant bridges that arise.
[-- can't be arsed reading all that, try this --]
TL;DR? Ok, the skinny is that something blew, certainly the power supply but possibly also the MB and even more worryingly the CPU (maybe?). At this stage I am just working from the edges inward, so a power supply was replaced but it doesn't even turn on (although there was evidence that power was reaching the GPU), which suggests a motherboard issue. As I already had a working ASUS motherboard it makes sense to replace it with another ASUS. Considering my setup is there going to be any issues arising and/or am I going to paint myself into a corner in terms of upgrades or power usage?
The board I had was a M5A78L-M/USB3 the one I am tempted with is a 970 Pro Aura, is this a sensible move or should I just replace it with the same board (£50 cheaper)?
Source Links:
https://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/M5A78LMUSB3/overview
http://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/970-PRO-GAMING-AURA
There is an option to compare boards (a little tick box just under on the first page labelled 'add to comparison) which might help people. You will need to kill any tracking cookie blocker (ghostery, etc) to get it to work though.
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