PSA: Protect your surge!

SamIAm · #1 03-28-2007, 10:21 PM

I'm no dummy; my computer is plugged into a fancy UPS strip. However, at some point I must have needed to extend the range of that mess of cables under my desk, and I used a cheap powerstrip as extension. A couple weeks ago, my foot tapped that red button and turned-off every device on the strip. Then my computer wouldn't turn back on. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Turns out I killed my fancy silent powersupply. I bought a new one, and the computer still won't turn on. More precisely, the power supply has two connections (pictured below). When I plug both connections into the mobo, the machine's dead to the world. When I plug that long one in but not the short one, all the fans spin up and and the lights turn on. This probably means that the mother board is fried, right?

Is this definitely the mobo, and not the processor? Is it both? I can but a new motherboard, but it'd be silly to buy a board that worked with my old processor, only to find that the old processor is dead. On the other hand, it'd be silly to just assume that the processor is busted. Whatcha think? If a motherboard goes, what are my chances of saving the other components, like RAM and Harddrives and stuff?
-Sam

Bremen · #2 03-28-2007, 11:56 PM

the "short one" is additional 12V for the proc (I think) weird that it would spin up with just the regular ATX connected but not the ATX12V. Mobo is definitly shot... proc: who knows?

Redd · #3 03-29-2007, 11:52 AM

SamIAm,

1) Are you using the same brand and model of power supply in the replacement? If not, it's possible that your new one is underpowered.

2) Are you using a video card that requires an external 6-pin 12V connection? If so, it's also possible that the video card is bogus and is pulling down the 4-pin 12V rail for your mobo. I'd try running it with a different video card or use onboard video if possible before taking everything apart.

Freakin · #4 03-29-2007, 01:31 PM

Sam,

Unplug everything from the motherboard except ram and CPU. Plug in your Main connector, if needed, the supplemental connecter that plugs in directly next to it, and the CPU 4-pin plug.

Plug in the PC Speaker.

Try booting it up. If you get beeps of any kind, you're in business. Start by pluggin in video card and trying to POST again.

If you don't, remove the RAM and try again and hope for some memory beeps.

SamIAm · #5 03-31-2007, 02:06 AM

Redd, I'm using the exact same powersupply linked above. They changed the colors of the cables in the last couple years, but otherwise it's exactly the same. Make, model, certainly power-level. wrt the video card, I don't think it's anything so fancy (although I did replace the heatsink with a silent job.) I'll try replacing the video with a friend's.

Freakin, that sounds like a good test. Definitely the kind of thing I'm looking for. I'll run your test when I get back home. Sorry I didn't respond earlier; I'm not sure if you heard, but my computer died. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
-Sam

Bremen · #6 03-31-2007, 11:23 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Sam,

Unplug everything from the motherboard except ram and CPU. Plug in your Main connector, if needed, the supplemental connecter that plugs in directly next to it, and the CPU 4-pin plug.

Plug in the PC Speaker.

Try booting it up. If you get beeps of any kind, you're in business. Start by pluggin in video card and trying to POST again.

If you don't, remove the RAM and try again and hope for some memory beeps.

[/ QUOTE ]
I would also clear the CMOS... I should have written that in my first reply :0(