Author Topic: My PC is broken :( (Read 1881 times)

Eel O'Brian · « **on:** November 29, 2013, 10:27:42 PM »

Won't power on. There's a blinking light on the motherboard (I think it’s the BIOS reset), and the LED info bar is flashing weakly. Power supply light isn't on, either. Is my power supply trashed, or could the motherboard have burned out?

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2013, 10:42:08 PM »

It's easiest to assume it's the power supply and then work from there.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2013, 10:46:34 PM »

The little blue LED light inside the PSU should still come on when plugged in even if nothing else is connected to it, right? I'm thinking that's the culprit (it is three years old, and do I leave it running all the time), but the blinking mobo light is kinda throwing me. Frag suggested a test on Facebook, too late to go digging around in there tonight but I'll do it tomorrow. It shut down while I was out of the room, one minute on, walked back in and it was dead.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2013, 10:47:33 PM »

Do you have an old PSU around the house? Maybe put it in the computer and see if it starts tomorrow.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2013, 10:48:46 PM »

Plus it was a cheapass 750w Rosewill. Probably a miracle it lasted 3 years.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2013, 10:51:48 PM »

Nah, no spare, gotta suck it up and spend some $ no matter what. If I end up having to replace both I'll go with a cheaper mobo without the extra PCIE slot this time, not like I was ever gonna SLI anyway.

Rufus · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:05:33 PM »

Yeah, replace that first. My PSU died a couple months ago as well and I stupidly thought that it might have been something else when I could get its fan spinning by jump-starting it with a bent paperclip, but obviously that doesn't mean it actually delivers enough power for the system.

If you have a multimeter (a cheapo is enough) you can test the voltages:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDFAQs&op=FAQ_Question&ndfaq_id=28
and
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDArticles&op=Story&ndar_id=25

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #7 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:07:04 PM »

I build my computer around 2007 or 2008, can't remember, and it's still going well. So far all I've upgraded is the GPU (got a 5770 a couple years ago). Sooner or later the PSU is going to go, I just know it.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #8 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:09:42 PM »

Probably PSU if it can't even turn on

Modern mobos are pretty heavy duty. Even if it's not functioning properly, it can usually power up to the point that fans are moving.

Rufus · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:09:59 PM »

The hotter they get the sooner they die.

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:18:38 PM »

FUUUUUUUUUUUCK. That sucks, man. I built my pc around the same time, hope it's gonna last me for another 9 months or so.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:20:08 PM »

Just ordered another PSU off newegg, they had a BF thing going so I got a 750w modular for $65 with a $25 rebate. Won't get here for five days, though. Looks like I'll be using the Dell V8P for the next week.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:25:09 PM »

What brand?

Modular PSUs are so much better. I used to think it was just a gimmick but detachable cables make everything quicker and tidier.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #13 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:28:31 PM »

Another Rosewill. I figured with as much abuse as I put the last one through, what with it running 24/7 on top of hundreds of gaming hours, 3 years was a pretty good lifespan after all.

Rufus · « **Reply #14 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:36:17 PM »

How long did you have it?
Rosewill can be hit and miss I've heard. They have all sorts of different manufacturers produce their units, so quality can vary widely.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #15 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:38:00 PM »

Did you check out the Corsairs? There are several around the same price and specs as yours.

I haven't used Rosewill but Corsair is more popular among enthusiasts. My previous PSU was a 1000W Corsair and it lasted me for years.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #16 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:53:30 PM »

I'm just trying to stretch this thing out on the cheap until next Fall when I do the big upgrade/rebuild.

Rufus · « **Reply #17 on:** November 29, 2013, 11:53:39 PM »

The Corsair CX series is supposedly crap now. They used to be made by Seasonic I believe, so they were a good buy then.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #18 on:** November 30, 2013, 12:10:27 AM »

Just don't buy OCZ

They just went bankrupt so warranties most likely won't be honored

tehjaybo · « **Reply #19 on:** November 30, 2013, 12:21:14 AM »

You should order one of those little cheap PSU testers just to have in case something like this happens again. It's always nice to have a bag of little tools like that sitting around in case you need something niche like this. Then you could either rule out PSU issue, or know exactly what not to replace etc etc.

Rufus · « **Reply #20 on:** November 30, 2013, 12:40:35 AM »

Or just a cheap multimeter, a more general tool.

headwalk · « **Reply #21 on:** November 30, 2013, 07:18:38 AM »

the random lock ups you were having a while back sounded real fucked PSU-y.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 30, 2013, 07:24:47 AM »

Quote from: Rufus on November 29, 2013, 11:53:39 PM

The Corsair CX series is supposedly crap now. They used to be made by Seasonic I believe, so they were a good buy then.

I got a TX 650 in my current build. Had this chirping noise when the fan started/stopped spinning which was apparently from a bad batch. They sent me a 750 to replace it which has been great.

Could never buy a non modular PSU again though.

archnemesis · « **Reply #23 on:** November 30, 2013, 07:27:25 AM »

Never cheap out on the PSU. The entire system depends on it and you'll just risk damaging your other components.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #24 on:** November 30, 2013, 10:14:00 AM »

Well, like I said, I put a lot of gaming hours into it, and left it on all the time, so it probably held up longer than it should have, considering. The one I ordered was normally $119, down to $65 with the sale, and with the $25 rebate if I get another 3 years out of the new one that's not so bad.

Quote from: headwalk on November 30, 2013, 07:18:38 AM

the random lock ups you were having a while back sounded real fucked PSU-y.

Could have been a combo of both the PSU and the failing HDD, but when I replaced the HDD the lockups stopped.

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #25 on:** November 30, 2013, 01:42:30 PM »

Quote from: Ruzbeh on November 30, 2013, 01:33:37 PM

Quote from: archnemesis on November 30, 2013, 07:27:25 AM
Never cheap out on the PSU. The entire system depends on it and you'll just risk damaging your other components.

This.

I built my PC. It's a beauty. Even the fans I got inside are sexy as fuck. But PC gaming is dead now so I stopped giving a shit.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #26 on:** November 30, 2013, 02:06:59 PM »

Quote from: Creepy Old Guy on November 30, 2013, 01:42:30 PM

Quote from: Ruzbeh on November 30, 2013, 01:33:37 PM
Quote from: archnemesis on November 30, 2013, 07:27:25 AM
Never cheap out on the PSU. The entire system depends on it and you'll just risk damaging your other components.

This.

I built my PC. It's a beauty. Even the fans I got inside are sexy as fuck. But PC gaming is dead now so I stopped giving a shit.

god dammit sir, don't fall for his bait

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #27 on:** December 07, 2013, 08:31:42 PM »

Got my PSU in today, hooked it up, everything's fine now. Gave the insides a thorough cleaning, as well.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #28 on:** December 07, 2013, 09:38:48 PM »

Quote from: Eel O'Brian on December 07, 2013, 08:31:42 PM

Got my PSU in today, hooked it up, everything's fine now. Gave the insides a thorough cleaning, as well.

EB Tech advice

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #29 on:** December 07, 2013, 10:53:14 PM »

Glad I could help.

benjipwns · « **Reply #30 on:** December 08, 2013, 02:39:03 AM »

Always thinking it's time to get inside and clean things but then I gotta turn it off and take off the side and move it to where I can use the vacuum easier and then I get upset over the poor ass cabling job and then I put the side back on and plug it all in and I hear some faint "off" noise because a sata cable or something is resting near a fan after I slid the bays back in and ugh I'm just tired and frustrated talking about it.

So I just wait for something to go wrong or to get a new part.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #31 on:** December 08, 2013, 01:41:21 PM »

It was kind of a pain in the ass. I took the fans off and brushed them, took off the processor fan and brushed out the fins on the heat spreader, took out the video card and did the same. There was a lot more dust in there than had been visible from the outside.

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #32 on:** December 08, 2013, 01:45:12 PM »

I need to do that as well, but I'm planning on building a new PC within a year, so fuck it

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #33 on:** December 08, 2013, 01:49:39 PM »

I need to air mine out soon. The heat sink doesn't really get dusty, but the other three fans tend to quite often around this time of the year.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #34 on:** December 08, 2013, 09:34:42 PM »

Easiest way to get rid of dust is to take your PC outside and blow it out with a can of compressed air. Wipe off the little bits of dust remaining and you should be good for at least a year.

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Author Topic: My PC is broken :( (Read 1881 times)