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Is my PSU going to explode?

Last response: in Components
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I just put a GTS 250 in a system with a 300w generic PSU. I used the 6-pin to 2-molex adaptor to supply the card. It seems to be working fine - I benched it with 3D Mark Vantage and it didn't stumble or reboot or anything.

I know the PSU can just barely supply enough power for the rig, what I want to know is what happens if the PSU fails.

Does it explode? Catch on fire? Simply cease operating? Burn out the motherboard? What's the worst case/most likely scenario?

Here are some more details on the system:

E5200 @ 3.4 ghz cooled by 80mm Thermaltake Thunderblade CPU Fan
ASUS MicroATX G33 MB
DVD R/W
7200 RPM 500 GB Seagate HD
2x1 GB 1.8v DDR2/667
GTS 250
Modem
92mm Artic Cooling Case fan (from MB header)
Optical USB Mouse

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Power supply Master

Best case scenario, if it overloads, the protection circuitry will electronically shut the PSU down, preventing system damage.

Worst case, it will explode and/or burst into flames taking your motherboard with it.

Or anything between the two. But because it is a generic, I'm guessing that the manufacturer didn't spend that much on protection and something closer to the latter will happen.

well the system probs is fast for the price u payed for it though it wont last long with that PSU.

Dont try and save on a PSU. its important in the long term it will cost more getting a crap one.

If i were u i would by a 500W good brand PSU for say £60 and a Freezer 7pro heat sink around £17 cause ur CPU has been made to overclock like anything
Power supply Expert

Yup, best case it will just shut down.
As it is a generic POS, it will likely surge power into your system taking a few other components with it.
While I doubt it will stay burning, it is entirely possible that it will give you a good fireworks show when it fails.

I would recommend looking into a QUALITY 450w+ PSU from Corsair, PCP&C, Seasonic, Enermax or the Antec Earthwatts line.
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Power supply Master

Somehow, I just never get tired of reading about cheap PSUs blowing up and taking out other parts with them.
Hopefully this one won't though, it will just shut down if overloaded. That's a gamble I wouldn't care to take though. The brands outlw6669 listed would be a good place to start looking for a new one.

It has a non stock cooler on it already that was taken from a Q6600 with 95w TDP, so it's handing this E5200 at 65w no prob - it's stress tested max t-core 65c after 8 hours with Prime95 - at stock volts too!

I get the impression that while this PSU works now, it will eventually degrade and fail and nuke my system. The only problem is that here in Thailand there are only two kinds of power supplies - featherweight trash (I saw a PSU claiming to be 1000w. It weighed less than a magazine and cost 10 dollars) and expensive imported models. I guess I'll have to go for the import. Too bad they don't have Rosewill here...

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