Strange Problem: Multible Failing PSU's.

Appoximately nine months ago I upgraded my GPU from an Nvidia 4600 to an ATI X1600. When I made this upgrade, I installed an A-power 450 watt PSU. The PC functioned flawlessly for about three months until the PSU blew out one might while I was playing a game on the PC.

I went back to the retailer who sold me the PSU, and they gave me a free 600 watt A-power PSU. That PSU lasted for about five months. It blew out last Wednesday. I returned the 600 watt PSU back to the retailer yesterday, and they were kind enough to give me a better built 650 watt A-power PSU. I hooked it up and my PC functioned well for three hours or so. I left the PC on, and went to bed.

When I woke up, the computer would not turn on. I believe the problem to be another PSU failure, but my room did not smell of smoke (which accompinied the other PSU failures) How can I sure it is a PSU related problem -- the comp worked fine for over three hours.

What could cause these PSU's to burn out in such a rapid succession? Could something else be wrong with my PC?

UPDATE: WHEW, LOL! Well, there is DEFIANATELY something wrong with that PSU that just blew out. After I got done posting, I went back into my room and tried to turn the PSU on for the fifth time today (I had tried earlier today to no success). When I hit the power button, about six inches worth of sparks, a huge EXPLOSION almost, ERRUPTED out of the back fan of the PSU. My arm almost got shocked!

Maybe check the wall socket for voltage just to be sure and then change to another brand PSU?

BTW, your P3 2.4Ghz must be a P4 2.4Ghz Northwood but even then...

On this site they sell a 400Watt A-Power PSU:

geeks.com


It has a 20+4 ATX connector. It's rated high on 3.3 and 5 Volt which means it an ATX 1.1 PSU that has been 'upgraded' as they claim it to be both ATX1.1 and ATX2.03 compliant. It's on sale for US$10.

If you look at the specifications it says as one of the last things:

"This power supply does not have any regulatory approvals"

To me this means I wouldn't touch that brand with a stick.

That you have blown 3 of them within a year and all of them are more then plenty for the system you use it in tells everything.

That system you post should be able to run troublefree on a Codegen (very cheap brand here in Denmark, Europe) 400Watt model and I wouldn't touch that PSU with a stick either.

Do a last check that nothing is shorted inside the case including on the back of the mainboard and then get a new PSU of some other brand.