How hosed am I?

[kolky]

I think really screwed up last night. I was putting together my new computer, and just when I got Windows and all my other software installed, and everything was running great, I decided to mess with the speakers. I unplugged them and went to plug them back in (this is while the computer was on, the motherboard is a SOYO Dragon w/ on-board sound) and heard a pop. The computer shut down and smoke started coming out of it. Now it won't start up because the CPU fan connector won't work. It's not the fan, its the motherboard because I tested the fan out on another machine.

All other fans (chipset, video card and case fans) seem to work.

I have come to the realization that my motherboard is toast. My question is what are the chances of my memory, processor, video card, and hard drive being toast as well

 

[ceh4702]

One good question is where did the smoke come from?

Center of motherboard where the CPU is?

Just the Power Supply?

Sound port area?

I ask this because I have heard of Power Supplies blowing with a pop. A power supply is suppose to shut down by itself and is not suppose to pop or smoke much. If you had another motherboard/computer you could test your other components to see if they work. Power Supplies are harder to test because they will not start if there is something wrong and they will also not start if they do not have a Switch Circuit attached to close the power switch and start the power supply.

You could try a new power supply. Buy one recommended like a Antec or Enermax. Not FoxxConn or Deer. If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[JimInKS]

Was MB installed in case? It sounds like MB shorted to ground somewhere and fried it.
If you thought MB was installed correctly, then better check this out very carefully. MB standoffs are always a good canidate for a short.

Inspect area where smoke was comming from.
Since CPU fan won't run you may have fried CPU or memory or both, or it could just be associated MB circuitry and both are fine.

Disconnect / remove as much of system components as possible while trouble shooting. You should only need CPU, minimal memory, and a video card. Remove everything else. If you have an old video card I would use that.

I would check PS to make sure you didn't blow an internal fuse or somehow damage it. If you have a Voltmeter you can check the PS output voltages are correct.

Odds are the HD and video card are OK.

 

[kolky]

I didn't see where the smoke came from since I was standing behind the computer. I looked as though it came from somewhere near the capacitors on the board, which are between the I/O's and processor. The speaker input actually sparked when I put it in. I don't believe it is the power supply because it starts up the computer and all fans spin with the exception of the CPU.

The computer gives me two beeps which according to SOYO's trouble shooting guide usually means the CPU fan is not connected. I tried to connect another fan to it to see if I burned out the fan, but it would not work either. Even if the CPU was fried, shouldn't the fan work? Like I said, even the MB chipset fan is functioning.

 

[JimInKS]

I'm not sure about all MB's but on later ASUS if cpu cannot run, either bad cpu or memory, the cpu fan will not run. In my case what I have seen is the cpu fan will start for a sec and then just stop.

If you saw smoke it is probably a blown capacitor. You may be able to smell and/or see the damage or sooty residue nearby.

The fans will run off 12v output of ps. The logic will run off 5V. Most PS's have internal fuses, so it is possible the the 5V output is not working, but 12V is. Btw, I doubt this is the case, but it is a possiblity.