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[SonofdonCD]

Okay, so my computer shut down earlier tonight. Only thing I was doing was watching a YouTube video. This has happened maybe three times before within this summer. I didn't know what caused it, but I could always restart it and go on about my business.

Before tonight.

I could not get the computer to start. At all. At most I would see a quick spark. I just tried using another cable for my power supply, and then I saw a noticeable spark and a small puff of smoke. I'm not sure if it came from the power supply or the CPU, it happened so fast.

So now, I tried using another power supply, and it still doesn't seem to work. That makes it seem like the problem isn't the power supply but either the motherboard or CPU. But which is it? Or is it both? Can I tell which is the problem, or do I just bite the bullet and buy a new mobo & CPU?

 

[Sethos]

You let out the blue smoke.

When a power-supply fails, especially with sparks and smokes it's more than likely to take down other components with it, so changing it out rarely does anything - Ends up toasting the entire machine or at least crucial parts.

Also the reason why people always rave on about quality power supplies.

 

[BadAss2961]

Sounds like it's 2007 and you tried to run Crysis.

 

[njean777]

That is why I tell people to always buy quality power supplies. It may have taken your whole computer with it.

 

[DonMigs85]

See any blown or leaking capacitors on the mobo?

 

[Razek]

Unfortunately, I think it's time to get a new computer. You most likely fried your MB, possibly other components as well. You can try to get a replacement MB and PSU but unless you can do it through RMA warranty it might end up being a waste of money compared to just starting over.

 

[SonofdonCD]

Hmm. It looks like that other power supply wasn't connecter correctly, or I should say the connection was loose. The mobo got power and the CPU fan turned on. So it looks like my computer isn't totally fried. I guess my power supply is dead, though. This other one won't be sufficient, so I need another one. Please give suggestions. I don't have a ton of money to spend on one, so no top of the line suggestions, please.

 

[Razek]

Hmm. It looks like that other power supply wasn't connecter correctly, or I should say the connection was loose. The mobo got power and the CPU fan turned on. So it looks like my computer isn't totally fried. I guess my power supply is dead, though. This other one won't be sufficient, so I need another one. Please give suggestions. I don't have a ton of money to spend on one, so no top of the line suggestions, please.

Specs?

Edit: Does the computer boot to post with the temp power supply?

 

[DonMigs85]

Hmm. It looks like that other power supply wasn't connecter correctly, or I should say the connection was loose. The mobo got power and the CPU fan turned on. So it looks like my computer isn't totally fried. I guess my power supply is dead, though. This other one won't be sufficient, so I need another one. Please give suggestions. I don't have a ton of money to spend on one, so no top of the line suggestions, please.

This seems pretty good
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000626

 

[Arment]

Hmm. It looks like that other power supply wasn't connecter correctly, or I should say the connection was loose. The mobo got power and the CPU fan turned on. So it looks like my computer isn't totally fried. I guess my power supply is dead, though. This other one won't be sufficient, so I need another one. Please give suggestions. I don't have a ton of money to spend on one, so no top of the line suggestions, please.

What kind of hardware in your PC? We need some kind of info to figure out how large of a PSU you require.

 

[SonofdonCD]

MSI 880GMA-E45 AMD Motherboard
AMD Athlon X4 2.9GHz 95W Quad-Core CPU
1GB Radeon HD 6850
6 GB DDR3 SDRAM
DVD-ROM
I also have an 80GB internal used drive, an 1TB external hard drive and a 120GB SSD.

I think that is all the relevant components of my PC.

 

[speculawyer]

The computer requires magic smoke to operate and you let out the magic smoke. It dead.

Well, you can always get stuff off the hard disk.

 

[DonMigs85]

The one I suggested should be sufficient. Don't go below 500 watts though if you opt to go cheaper.

 

[The_Inquisitor]

The one I suggested should be sufficient. Don't go below 500 watts though if you opt to go cheaper.

I agree. 550W or greater is about stock these days. That's what my rig is using. If I were to buy a newer card I may need to go to 750W

 

[SonofdonCD]

Okay. So the new power supply works great. Everything was okay, but now I believe that my motherboard really is on the way out. Randomly the boot times have become long, and there are boot errors where the system can't find either OS I have installed. The last time I got the computer to work, it just randomly shut down, and now it won't start again. I already tried using the power supply in another computer, and it works. So now it is time to truly update my system.

So, because it is so short notice, I don't have too much money to devote to this. No more than $200-250 for a CPU/motherboard combo. While the past few builds have been AMD (mostly for budget reasons) I don't have that much loyalty. Please give me some suggestions for what I should buy.

 

[GavinGT]

Okay. So the new power supply works great. Everything was okay, but now I believe that my motherboard really is on the way out. Randomly the boot times have become long, and there are boot errors where the system can't find either OS I have installed. The last time I got the computer to work, it just randomly shut down, and now it won't start again. I already tried using the power supply in another computer, and it works. So now it is time to truly update my system.

So, because it is so short notice, I don't have too much money to devote to this. No more than $200-250 for a CPU/motherboard combo. While the past few builds have been AMD (mostly for budget reasons) I don't have that much loyalty. Please give me some suggestions for what I should buy.

Are you still using an old-ass 80 GB internal HDD? That shit's probably your problem.

 

[The_Inquisitor]

Okay. So the new power supply works great. Everything was okay, but now I believe that my motherboard really is on the way out. Randomly the boot times have become long, and there are boot errors where the system can't find either OS I have installed. The last time I got the computer to work, it just randomly shut down, and now it won't start again. I already tried using the power supply in another computer, and it works. So now it is time to truly update my system.

So, because it is so short notice, I don't have too much money to devote to this. No more than $200-250 for a CPU/motherboard combo. While the past few builds have been AMD (mostly for budget reasons) I don't have that much loyalty. Please give me some suggestions for what I should buy.

Go with an i5/Asus combo. Your RAM may no longer work either. But thankfully RAM is cheap these days.

 

[GavinGT]

Go with an i5/Asus combo. Your RAM may no longer work either. But thankfully RAM is cheap these days.

For $200-250? That's gonna run him $300.

I would definitely recommend that if he could swing it, though.

Here are a bunch of options, mostly AMD though.

 

[The_Inquisitor]

For $200-250? That's gonna run him $300.

I would definitely recommend that if he could swing it, though.

Does OP have a Fry's or Microcenter nearby? He may be able to get a combo on sale.

 

[Mudkips]

Are you still using an old-ass 80 GB internal HDD? That shit's probably your problem.

Ring a ding ding dong we have a winner.

 

[SonofdonCD]

Are you still using an old-ass 80 GB internal HDD? That shit's probably your problem.

Yes. Reason being it's running Windows 7 (my SSD is running Windows 8 RP) and has a few programs that are important to me, which won't run in Windows 8 RP and I misplaced the installation files. So in a sense I was stuck with it. I didn't see anything to make me think that HDD was going bad. It has worked the same since I got it, to my recollection.

Either way, whatever the cause, the computer won't start, period. I'll have to find the installation files in order to go from here. So thanks for the suggestions. Keep 'em coming

 

[GavinGT]

Yes. Reason being it's running Windows 7 (my SSD is running Windows 8 RP) and has a few programs that are important to me, which won't run in Windows 8 RP and I misplaced the installation files. So in a sense I was stuck with it. I didn't see anything to make me think that HDD was going bad. It has worked the same since I got it, to my recollection.

Either way, whatever the cause, the computer won't start, period. I'll have to find the installation files in order to go from here. So thanks for the suggestions. Keep 'em coming

Have you tried removing the graphics card? A short in the graphics card will cause the computer to power on for a split-second and then turn back off.