Power Supply/Motherboard Problems!!!

[Fishguy]

Recently I purchased a new Enermax Power Supply Model Number EG365P-VE. After installing the new power supply, i turned on my computer and everything went as it should...until the power supply started billowing smoke!!! I immediately turned off the power supply and unplugged it, I then returned to the store where I had purchased it and they were more than happy to replace it for me. I then returned home and again, installed the new power supply. I turn on the power and...NOTHING....my motherboard won't even P.O.S.T. I have a hunch that the faulty power supply I purchased is to blame; somehow, I think that it may have killed my mobo. Can anyone confirm this claim because I know that the motherboard worked before without flaw and when I called up the place where I had bought the power supply, they told me that it is "Impossible for a power supply to damage a motherboard". I have not been able to find any articles or anything online that confirms my suspicions, unfortunately, so I figured that I would post a few threads online and see what I get. I would really appreciate any help that you may be able to give.

FYI: the motherboard I was using was an ECS K7S5A V1.0 and it was working fine with the 300W El Cheapo P/S I got with the system until the P/S died due to faulty capacitors.

 

[edfair]

Oh, yes. You get some voltages out of whack and the M/B or CPU can go away. And the new P/S is now possible junk.

Ed Fair
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[Fishguy]

Is there anyway that I myself can check or would you recommend taking it into the place where I bought the P/S?

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Fishguy

 

[bcastner]

Take the whole thing with you, and go back to the store.

Be very, very nice. They do not have a responsibility to replace your components. The PS manufacturer may have a responsibility, but I think it would be hard to enforce.

Again, be very, very nice.

 

[KIDA1973]

I had an el-cheapo 300W PS fry a brand new mobo last year. I would look for burnt components on the MB to support your claim of a power surge -

Also, just to be the devils advocate - you may have inadvertantly fried the mobo installing the PS the first time. I have done this one as well over the course of many PC repair jobs.



Matthew Janes

Everything in its right place...

 

[Fishguy]

I may have been able to shed some light on the situation. I just called up the store where I purchased the P/S from and I spoke with a service representative who was much more friendly than the first one I spoke to previously. He told me that more than likely, when the original 300W P/S died, it may have taken the Motherboard with it, then when I installed the first new P/S, the motherboard more than likely destroyed that. It makes sense and fits the facts.
Anyway, thank you all for your help, I really appreciate it.

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Fishguy

 

[G0AOZ]

Depending upon the nature of the PSU failure, bear in mind that it could have taken out not just the mobo, but the drives and any add-in cards, video etc.

I had one recently. Machine brought in as running intermittently. Checked for 115v/230v switch in wrong position, checked inside for loose wires, screws etc. All looked secure so plugged in and switched on in front of customer. Smoke immediately poured out of PSU! Despite instant switch off, all that remained usable was floppy drive, CPU and memory - everything else was unfortunately destroyed.


ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[paparazi]

Fishguy, unfortunately as a retailer I would have to agree that the likely cause was your original power supply poping and taking out various other hardware.
Infact I would go as far as to say that there was probably nothing wrong with the new Enermax (we have been selling Enermax PSU's for two years now and have never had one return) so if they have excepted it back as faulty you have done well.
Problem is where to go now with the system and how to determine which of the hardware components is bad and more importantly which components are dead shorting.
Because who is going to risk testing these components knowing they can damage there own in the process. Martin

Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[edfair]

Motherboard may have been the cause, but also think it likely that the power fail circuitry on the first enermax was probably faulty.

You can do some incredibly stupid things with power supplies and they mostly will crowbar rather than gut themselves. And if the M/B was at fault I would suspect that the second enermax acted as it should.

Ed Fair
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.