[zer0nix]

^topic

personal story involving 2 failed power supplies, one dead as a rock p3 mobo and one suspect L&C technology psu (the third to be paired with this mobo before it died) coming soon...

[Know Nuttin]

yes.

[infinitevalence]

Yes i have taken out a mobo, and cpu with a failing psu, guess the fan mod i did could not cool it well enough.

[Hirlix]

And even HDDs.

[zer0nix]

Originally Posted by Know Nuttin

yes.

details please? i want to know what to expect if i go with a(nother) cheap psu -i need some convincing leverage to pull me toward the better, more expensive brands... at the least, i'd like to know how a failing psu can permanently damage computer parts...

Originally Posted by infinitevalence

guess the fan mod i did could not cool it well enough.

modding psus... innnnteresting <rubbing chin>

[Sjaak]

Originally Posted by zer0nix

details please? i want to know what to expect if i go with a(nother) cheap psu -i need some convincing leverage to pull me toward the better, more expensive brands... at the least, i'd like to know why providing not enough(?) or downward fluctuating power can permanently damage computer parts...

If a PSU dies it will cause fluctuations in the voltages...that's what killing the other hardware.

Originally Posted by zer0nix

modding psus... innnnteresting <rubbing chin>

It can be done and it's fun I replaced the fan on my generic 450W PSU two years ago.

[infinitevalence]

Yeah the fan i had in my PSU was very very loud becaus it was failing, so i replaced it and did a 7v mod to it. Not the best idea, i was sad to because it was my first AMD rig that i killed my old SlotA 750 that thing hit almost 830mhz before i got hd coruption.

[Mr.Guvernment]

why go cheap? go with a wlel known brand you can trust - Antec/ fortron (you can buy cheap fortrons)

and since u have 2 dead ones why buy another cheap one..

[zer0nix]

Originally Posted by Mr.Guvernment

why go cheap? go with a wlel known brand you can trust - Antec/ fortron (you can buy cheap fortrons)

and since u have 2 dead ones why buy another cheap one..

actually i'm wondering if i should keep my current 500w L&C technology LC-B500e or go all out and buy a brand new psu... to be honest, i don't know exactly what eventually killed my old p3 (one day, while in windows, with all the fans spinning, the screen went black and that was that; no more post or anything, just spinning fans) or if this psu is stable at all (bought it with a case from an ebay wholesaler selling about 50)... so far i've only found L&C technology on one guy's 'recommended' list and haven't seen the name here...

-since you bring it up, what's a good, cheap but solid 450-500w fortron?

[SunRedRX7]

Consider the PSU to be similar to the foundation of a home.

It may not standout, but its VERY important and if its bad can cause many problems.

[Radical]

Originally Posted by zer0nix

-since you bring it up, what's a good, cheap but solid 450-500w fortron?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104934

Cheap and good.

[d94]

Originally Posted by Radical

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104934

Cheap and good.

i got mine for $72 shipped

[MassiveOverkill]

At first I thought the title said "Can a falling........" lol

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Originally Posted by zer0nix

actually i'm wondering if i should keep my current 500w L&C technology LC-B500e or go all out and buy a brand new psu...

L&C is Deer (as is Eagle, Foxconn, Mercury, Allied, Austin, US-Can, Duro, Tsunami, some Turbolinks, and Okia among many others) - the sooner you replace it, the better. I have yet to see anything worse out there, and they can easily take out various components when they blow. Very poor designs, very high failure rates.

I second Radical's suggestion. If you can't afford that much, give these a look:

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-FS40TNB
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-FS35TNB

I have little doubt they will outpower the L&C 500w. I have no doubt they will last longer

[Dukeman]

My experience with a PowMax 500W PSU was this.

The first Mobo I put in was an old Compaq (I was changing cases to match my kitchen until I could afford better). The instant I tried to turn it on it was dead, brief fan activity but no boot. After that I ordered my current system and it worked...for about 6 months. Then it began to have really wierd problems like the integrated NIC disappeared, then the sound disappeared. I eventually got them back but finally the system wouldn't boot and kept giving me post codes like the CPU was missing. I sent the Mobo for replacement (since I thought it was the Mobo) and SOYO confirmed it was damaged and replaced it. Then after 2 more months the system again started having boot issues until it finally locked up when accessing settings in the BIOS. I've never even heard of such issues. After a day of fighting it it finally just quit trying to boot, just fan activity. I tried an old 250W PSU that still worked and viola, the system booted into windows and ran like a champ.

My volts were all within spec but I suspect that the PSU was slowly dying since day one and was either injecting noise or difficult to detect surges or dropouts.

I needed a PSU quick so I bought a Mad Dog Multimedia SurePower 400W with modular plugs. Its a Superflower/TTGI unit and since I've had real good luck with these at work and I know they are quite on their low fan setting, I went with one. The system has been rock solid eversince.

Buy a PSU you can trust. Use the forums and reviews for a good recommendation. You will sleep better at night if you do.

[Hughhefner]

A good PSU is the place to start.
I had a client last year have their PS in a HP "BLOW up", sparks and then the dreaded smell. They had added a CD burner and a zip drive to the HP system about a month earlier. Looks like it was too much to handle. When I changed the PS it fired right up but the Hard drive was corrupted, thank god they save all their data elsewhere. It also fried the some of the onboard mobo things so I had to get them a new system.

[rebelwarlock]

my 9800 pro has taken a couple hits because of a crappy generic power supply (a bad one just tonight, you can still find the thread on the first page). luckily that thing is tough. real tough. it's still alive and kicking right now, but i've learned my lesson. from now on, fortron all the way

[zer0nix]

wow, many thanks to all for your help! sounds like i need to do a little more research and replace this thing for my next build...

Originally Posted by Hughhefner

I had a client last year have their PS in a HP "BLOW up", sparks and then the dreaded smell. They had added a CD burner and a zip drive to the HP system about a month earlier. Looks like it was too much to handle. When I changed the PS it fired right up but the Hard drive was corrupted, thank god they save all their data elsewhere. It also fried the some of the onboard mobo things so I had to get them a new system.

that sounds familiar :/ the last time my p3 failed (on the L&C), it was after i hooked up my printer <shakes head> and shortly before the second psu failed (not the L&C but some other crappy thing) for it's last time, it gave off a small amount of white smoke and an oddly sweet smell... i'm not sure if there were sparks but -something- tipped me off to look at the psu :/

[damarble]

Definatly get a good one. Why trust hundreds of $$ of components to a cheap PSU that could destroy them all?