My PSU died dramatically! Will my computer survive?

[Oren]

Yesterday night I was playing Far Cry while all of a sudden, just when several helicopters were shooting me, I heard a strange sound from the computer case, like something falling down inside it, and the computer shut itself down. It was the PSU. It's only 3 months old, but only 300W and I guess I connected too many things to it (6 Enermax 80mm case fans, CD-RW, DVD-RW, 2 HDs at RAID, 1.44 drive...) and it was just too much for it. It's funny: a transistor seems to have fallen from the top of the PSU case down. I can see it inside with the glue residues on it. Really weird.

I guess I had a premonition about my power supply, as I've already ordered a new one last week from Sidewinder, and should get it on Monday I believe.

I'm just afraid now that something was damaged. I don't have a way to start my computer, as I don't currently have another PSU. What are the chances some components were damaged? I didn't smell anything strange or see any physical marks on any component.

[rogerdugans]

I have no real answer on this one-
I have had two psus die suddenly:
one DC Farm rig when the fan failed and I didn't know it- system died and when I checked things out the psu refused to run.
One water cooled briefcase- when first starting the whole thing up I had gotten some water in the case and although I thought I had gotten it all cleaned up....I was wrong.

Both systems survived without other issues but I have no clue as to whether that is typical or not.

Good luck!

[germanjulian]

well they are build so that if they break all hell breaks loose in them so that nothing the psu is connected to inside the PC breaks.

I think its safe to assume that everything will work

[penquissciguy]

I lost a hard drive, ZIP drive and processor when a PSU blew up on me. The surge was enough to blow a corner off one of the control ICs on the hard drive. You might come out of this ok, but there is a chance something broke.

Ken

[Oren]

Originally posted by penquissciguy
I lost a hard drive, ZIP drive and processor when a PSU blew up on me. The surge was enough to blow a corner off one of the control ICs on the hard drive. You might come out of this ok, but there is a chance something broke.

Ken

Bad luck... I didn't notice such a big surge. Just a big THUD when that transistor got broken and fell from its place. I guess it was too hot inside the PSU case?

[Oren]

I'm happy to report that my computer and all its component have survived :) I'm running now using a temporary PSU I got from work (350W this time), and will be getting the new 470W Enermax Noisetaker in a couple of days.

Thanks for the support guys!