PSU - Deep Fried!

Robbox · 01-27-2009, 11:12 AM

Well as per the usual deal, I was busy monkeying with my computer trying to get my new SATA drives up and running. Unfortunately, I quickly found out that Windows XP needs a floppy disk with the motherboard's SATA driver to install. So I decided to hook up my floppy drive for the first time in a year or more. Sadly due to the tangle of IDE cables I couldn't see that I was off by a pin on the power hookup. Shortly after I turned it on, I wasn't paying much attention until I smelt smoke which was pouring out as the wire insulation melted. Stupid little mistake that I've made a hundred times over the past decade but this is the one time it bits me on the *** I suppose.

Naturally the PSU is complete toast but my drives (with the exception of said floppy drive) are all ok and work fine when plugged into an older computer. However I'm having trouble with the motherboard not helped by only having a weak and pretty old PSU to power it. This old PSU only has a max output of 160w compared to my cheapo fried PSU's 210w. When I hook up only the absolute necessary parts it gives me a beep code and refuses to boot. Unfortunately I know that both of the possible beep codes are a power error or a RAM error, but with nothing to compare it to I don't know exactly which is which.

My question is this, the PSU I'm testing with is old and if it's output is drastically lower then necessary to run the motherboard would that be causing this problem? Or is it highly likely that I fried my motherboard beyond repair?

I'm using a Gigabyte GA 7N400 Pro with an AMD 1500+ and the PSU is a Newton Power Ltd 160W. When I turn it on the CPU fan runs fine but the fan over the AGP 8X chip starts to spin but only moves alittle bit before stopping. Frankly I'm hoping the PSU is just too weak to run it, as it's easier and cheaper to replace then the motherboard, esp if my RAM is fried too.

**magnethead** · 01-27-2009, 03:27 PM

what PSU did you have in it? Whatever it was, it massively failed. a "real" PSU would have detected a high current short and shut iftself off for safety.

.your test unit it too small i think.

Robbox · 01-27-2009, 08:13 PM

To be exact it was a Kingwin KWI-420WS. It was a seriously cheap PSU from a super cheap case, so it's not surprising that it failed so spectacularly.

I'm kinda torn, I don't have much of anything in terms of spare cash so I'm worried about getting a decent PSU then finding out the motherboard got toasted.

**speedster123** · 01-28-2009, 02:30 PM

a Newton Power Ltd 160W

do not use this supply.

Power Supply Information and Selection

**magnethead** · 01-28-2009, 02:42 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ir%20650TX

Robbox · 01-28-2009, 09:09 PM

Ha ya I know it's pretty bad. I only have older then hell spare parts and a very tiny amount of money to be spent so I'm forced into trying to make do sadly.

From the sounds of it that PSU doesn't have a prayer of providing enough juice to make sure the motherboard is or isn't toast. And frankly I'd rather have a working PSU and a bad motherboard then a good motherboard with no PSU at all.

Thanks for the help, hopefully it's just a matter of the PSU and I can have my computer back up and running. However when the time comes I do have the cash to build a nice computer I assure you all it will be with a decent PSU. And no floppy drives!

01-27-2009, 11:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
Robbox Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: WinXP	PSU - Deep Fried! Well as per the usual deal, I was busy monkeying with my computer trying to get my new SATA drives up and running. Unfortunately, I quickly found out that Windows XP needs a floppy disk with the motherboard's SATA driver to install. So I decided to hook up my floppy drive for the first time in a year or more. Sadly due to the tangle of IDE cables I couldn't see that I was off by a pin on the power hookup. Shortly after I turned it on, I wasn't paying much attention until I smelt smoke which was pouring out as the wire insulation melted. Stupid little mistake that I've made a hundred times over the past decade but this is the one time it bits me on the *** I suppose. Naturally the PSU is complete toast but my drives (with the exception of said floppy drive) are all ok and work fine when plugged into an older computer. However I'm having trouble with the motherboard not helped by only having a weak and pretty old PSU to power it. This old PSU only has a max output of 160w compared to my cheapo fried PSU's 210w. When I hook up only the absolute necessary parts it gives me a beep code and refuses to boot. Unfortunately I know that both of the possible beep codes are a power error or a RAM error, but with nothing to compare it to I don't know exactly which is which. My question is this, the PSU I'm testing with is old and if it's output is drastically lower then necessary to run the motherboard would that be causing this problem? Or is it highly likely that I fried my motherboard beyond repair? I'm using a Gigabyte GA 7N400 Pro with an AMD 1500+ and the PSU is a Newton Power Ltd 160W. When I turn it on the CPU fan runs fine but the fan over the AGP 8X chip starts to spin but only moves alittle bit before stopping. Frankly I'm hoping the PSU is just too weak to run it, as it's easier and cheaper to replace then the motherboard, esp if my RAM is fried too.

01-27-2009, 03:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,570 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: PSU - Deep Fried! what PSU did you have in it? Whatever it was, it massively failed. a "real" PSU would have detected a high current short and shut iftself off for safety. .your test unit it too small i think. __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

01-27-2009, 08:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Robbox Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: WinXP	Re: PSU - Deep Fried! To be exact it was a Kingwin KWI-420WS. It was a seriously cheap PSU from a super cheap case, so it's not surprising that it failed so spectacularly. I'm kinda torn, I don't have much of anything in terms of spare cash so I'm worried about getting a decent PSU then finding out the motherboard got toasted.

01-28-2009, 02:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,206 OS: xp pro SP3 My System	Re: PSU - Deep Fried! a Newton Power Ltd 160W do not use this supply. Power Supply Information and Selection __________________

01-28-2009, 02:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,570 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: PSU - Deep Fried! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ir%20650TX __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

01-28-2009, 09:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Robbox Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: WinXP	Re: PSU - Deep Fried! Ha ya I know it's pretty bad. I only have older then hell spare parts and a very tiny amount of money to be spent so I'm forced into trying to make do sadly. From the sounds of it that PSU doesn't have a prayer of providing enough juice to make sure the motherboard is or isn't toast. And frankly I'd rather have a working PSU and a bad motherboard then a good motherboard with no PSU at all. Thanks for the help, hopefully it's just a matter of the PSU and I can have my computer back up and running. However when the time comes I do have the cash to build a nice computer I assure you all it will be with a decent PSU. And no floppy drives!