PSU Issues - Damaged motherboard?

[urizen123]

Hi everyone!

Last night my PSU died horribly - luckily, I had a replacement close to hand, which I installed earlier today.

After switching on my machine, all seemed well - until after a few minutes, I noticed a rather nasty burning smell and heat buildup coming from the new PSU.

Could the initial PSU failure have damaged my motherboard? I fail to see how this could occur with a new PSU unless there's an underlying issue.

System specs are available on request, but I'd like to get a cursory evaluation from anyone with experience of similar scenarios first.

Thanks guys.

 

[13thmonkey]

could be, or your second psu could be underpowered? loose system specs would help, old psu watts, new psu watts and brand for both of them, cpu number of hdd and GPU type is all thats really needed, we don't need to know how many webcams you've got plugged in etc. just the basics.

 

[urizen123]

Hi there 13th,

The new PSU is identical to the one that was stock installed (which worked for about a year with no issues)

SPECS;

Windows XP Home Edition (SP2)
*
DualCore Intel Pentium 805 D (2 x 2.66 Ghz)
Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTS
3024 MB DDR3 SDRAM
Realtek ALC880 (D)

Old PSU;

B3677 FSP FSP250-60GEN 250W 20/24 Pin PSU

New PSU (Text taken from PSU label);

"FSP250-60GEN 100-240V (+3.3v & +5=115W Max), total continuous output shall not exceed 250watts." - keep in mind this PSU worked perfectly for a year before I replaced it.


I've been observing the issues for a while now, and I've noticed it takes about 5 - 10 minutes for the smell and heat buildup to become apparent.

I've also noticed the symptoms are accompanied by a distinct "crackling" sound. The machine still works normally otherwise at this tine.

 

[mildiner86]

hmmm im pretty sure a stock 250W PSU is not up to the job of a 8800 GTS i work in comet and a HP with a 8800 GT came with a 350 stock and i thought that was bad.

only my opionion though

 

[Devastator_uk]

I'm a bit suprisesd that a 250W worked at all, but the reason the original one failed is probably due to the immense strain it was under.

 

[pr2thej]

+1, if that 250w was solely a 12v supply it would come out at 21A when the card needs more like 24a (and as 3 and 5 are 115 its more like 11 ). You need to look at good brand names around the 450w mark.

 

[urizen123]

Thanks 13th, much appreciated. I'm looking at some replacements now.

(My old PSU did say its maximum output is 550w, by the way.)

My biggest concern now is ruling out motherboard damage - are you certain the failure is limited to the PSU and no other components?

Cheers.

 

[mi1ez]

If a PSU dies, you can't guarantee any components to be 100% damage free, You'll just need to test them all I'm afraid.

 

[mike99]

FSP are very good PSUs, but 250W is NOT enough for that build. That is why it is running hot. Do NOT use!

Mike

 

[rangersig]

+1 psu not even close to what you should use for any 8800.

 

[13thmonkey]

Thanks 13th, much appreciated. I'm looking at some replacements now.

(My old PSU did say its maximum output is 550w, by the way.)

My biggest concern now is ruling out motherboard damage - are you certain the failure is limited to the PSU and no other components?

Cheers.

errm, i didn't say anything, but I would have said what they said, 250W is too small.

Good luck, hope it hasn't taken anything with it.

 

[urizen123]

Yep, I know. Whoops.

(Just a spot of confusion, probably brought on by breathing in all the toxic fumes by PSU was giving off earlier.)

Again, thanks a lot guys, much appreciated.

 

[urizen123]

Just a quick update;

Here's the PSU I'm currently looking at -

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...u=290020&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null

Does this seem satisfactory?

 

[13thmonkey]

this would be better:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/600W-Seasonic-M12-600W-PSU-bundle-with-Free-Icy-Box-IB-351U-BL-Exclosure

I've got the non modular one on an E660 and an 8800GTX very quiet, doubt its even ticking over.

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?page=2&store=2&cat=149&subcat=2590&sort=pricelow&limit=10

anything except the kingwin on that page, you could easily drop down to a good 450/500W but for future proofing i'd stick at 600W

I've used scan and ebuyer a lot both are very good I was surrised at scan lack of range this time round though.

 

[13thmonkey]

however, make sure that its a std ATX psu you have got and not a microATX any other daftness, being a packard its possible that it will have custome connections...