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Failed PSU?

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Old Feb 2, 2011, 07:29 PM   #1
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Failed PSU?
A friend of mine has a 5-6 year old eMachines desktop. Not sure what processor it is, but it's AMD with a 6500GT in it.

He said there was a loud whirring noise whenever using the computer, and one day he heard a pop and smelled smoke -- computer died. He immediately unplugged it.

He tried plugging it back in, and nothing would happen -- it wouldn't power on.

I ended up coming it and switching it with a new Antec 380D (his old psu was a 300W). However, same exact issue -- upon being plugged in and pressing power, nothing would happen. No fans spin, the PSU fan doesn't start up, etc.

I have a psu tester on the way in the mail just to verify (I tested the old one in a test computer -- no go. Haven't tried with new, but I doubt doa). Any ideas of what else it could be? Is the computer fried?
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Old Feb 2, 2011, 09:59 PM   #2
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Re: Failed PSU?
Emachines...... PSU failure. Somewhat expected.

Sounds like the PSU failure took out something with it. I'd try the new PSU with the mobo (RAM/CPU) only and see if it posts. If not, try for beep codes with no RAM. If it posts, then re attach one piece at a time starting with HD...... see if you can find a failed part that way.
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Old Feb 2, 2011, 10:01 PM   #3
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Re: Failed PSU?
Yeah it's the PSU.
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Old Feb 2, 2011, 10:32 PM Threadstarter Thread Starter   #4
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Re: Failed PSU?
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Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood View Post
Emachines...... PSU failure. Somewhat expected.

Sounds like the PSU failure took out something with it. I'd try the new PSU with the mobo (RAM/CPU) only and see if it posts. If not, try for beep codes with no RAM. If it posts, then re attach one piece at a time starting with HD...... see if you can find a failed part that way.
Sorry for not making this clearer, but with the new psu in the machine still doesn't so much as turn on. Regardless of whether just the mobo (cpu/ram) and just cpu, or all together -- nothing happens upon pressing power.

He bought it for $200 six years ago -- it's probably not going to be worth his money to repair it.
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Old Feb 2, 2011, 10:45 PM   #5
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Re: Failed PSU?
I didn't know that you had tried it with stuff disconnected....
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Old Feb 2, 2011, 10:58 PM Threadstarter Thread Starter   #6
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Re: Failed PSU?
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Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood View Post
I didn't know that you had tried it with stuff disconnected....
Sorry if I phrased that in a harsh way Tyrs xD never mean to offend...

...regardless, though, I hadn't tried it minus the ram, but I'm getting no picture on the monitor, no spin up on the new PSU's fan, and essentially nothing turning on in the computer. Removing the ram reveals no beep codes... >.<

I think the entire rig is just dead at this point. I'll see if he wants to recover any data.
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Old Feb 2, 2011, 11:41 PM   #7
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Re: Failed PSU?
The Emachines Best-tec strikes again!
Actually, it was the 250W model that was notorious!
Death of a Gutless Wonder II: The Best of the Bestec Review
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Old Feb 3, 2011, 12:16 AM   #8
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Re: Failed PSU?
Have you tried the old PSU in any other PC?
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Old Feb 3, 2011, 12:43 AM Threadstarter Thread Starter   #9
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Re: Failed PSU?
I don't have any machines that can run off of a 300W psu -- 380W can power my mums, though.

I'm getting a psu monitor/tester in on Friday so I can verify then, but it looks like he's out his computer.

Time for data recovery...
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Old Feb 3, 2011, 12:50 AM   #10
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Re: Failed PSU?
Your mum's PC would work fine with a decent 300W PSU, even under heavy graphical load.
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Old Feb 3, 2011, 02:09 AM Threadstarter Thread Starter   #11
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Re: Failed PSU?
Quote:
Originally Posted by blibbax View Post
Your mum's PC would work fine with a decent 300W PSU, even under heavy graphical load.
I put the 8800GTX in there.

It also has 1HDD/2 optical, and an OC'd 3.2ghz E64somethingorother. I really don't want to risk it.

(I now have a spare 8600GT and 9500GT laying around...)
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Old Feb 3, 2011, 10:41 AM   #12
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Re: Failed PSU?
If I'm understanding this correctly, it appears that all of the attempts to start it up are being done at the same location with it being plugged into the same wall outlet. If so, make sure that the main breaker/fuse hasn't tripped/blown and that there's power to the main outlet.
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Old Feb 3, 2011, 01:13 PM   #13
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Re: Failed PSU?
Also look at the motherboard when the power is live... any LED's lit up?
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Old Feb 3, 2011, 03:46 PM   #14
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Re: Failed PSU?
check the motherboard over very carefully... it could have had some popped caps..

also check the main 24 pin and 4+4pin connectors..... quite often i've seen them actually get discolored and brown/black shit even melted when things have gone POP.... it may not have been the PSU....
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Old Feb 3, 2011, 06:33 PM Threadstarter Thread Starter   #15
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Re: Failed PSU?
There is no discernible difference between the computer unplugged from the wall and plugged into the wall and hitting start. (aka no LEDs light up, or anything for that matter).

It is not an issue with the outlet -- I have tried 3 separate outlets, all which function normally.
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Old Feb 4, 2011, 11:08 PM Threadstarter Thread Starter   #16
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Re: Failed PSU?
The new power supply is working wonderfully, and (should) be shipped back to amazon shortly (no need).

The dead PSU's 5V and 3.3V went way out of spec, in addition to not starting, according to the psu tester I got (Thank you Amazon, with your $12 miracles). The guy is going to trash the computer and save the optical/hard drives.

Thanks all.
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Old Feb 6, 2011, 05:51 PM   #17
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Re: Failed PSU?
It's pretty certain to have taken out the motherboard, the question is, what else?
The drives get 5V, so they could have taken a hit, might be worth powering them up on the new PSU with the PSU tester, to check that the HD spins up and the optical responds to the eject (and to front button CD play, if it has that feature).
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