PSU went up in smoke ?
PSU went up in smoke ?
Hi,
Your PSU has overheated completely. All connections seem fine. Are you sure it's safe to install another PSU, or could the components have been involved?
Thanks,
Ed
When sharing a troubleshooting thread, it's important to provide detailed system specifications. List them clearly as follows:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
Include the age of the PSU along with its make and model. Also, note the current BIOS version for your motherboard.
You may also want to send images to illustrate the damage you're describing. It could be helpful to examine each component closely for signs of burn or disassembly.
You are secure as long as you keep a safe distance when switching on the computer with a new power source, just in case unexpected issues arise. Or perhaps you were asking if the computer is safe? That’s another story altogether.
I recently experienced a failure in an old PSU within a used computer. It tripped a 13A fuse in the mains plug. After replacing it with a new one, the Xeon server board and GPU started up normally in Windows. I was fortunate.
PSU parts can fail dramatically, yes. Problems from components on the motherboard or GPU likely wouldn’t cause such an incident. ATX power supplies include various safeguards—overcurrent, overvoltage, overheating protection, etc.—to prevent damage. If a GPU or motherboard fails and causes a short circuit, the PSU’s Over Current Protection should activate, causing it to shut down without smoke escaping from inside.
However, if the PSU itself malfunctions—often due to age—the protection circuits might not function properly. Components like electrolytic capacitors exploding or parts such as MOSFETs, varistors, MOVs, resistors, transformers, inductors, and relays could ignite. There’s no straightforward way to confirm the computer’s condition without replacing the PSU.
As @Lutfij advises, thoroughly check your motherboard, GPU, and hard drives for any signs of burn marks before moving forward. Avoid using any cables from the previous PSU. Stay cautious.