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Lost two computers to dead PSUs now..

FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
edited August 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
Earlier this week, the computer I was using had it's PSU go "POP" and the computer no longer turns on.

Then, when one of my dad's friends brought his computer over for me to upgrade it... it's PSU also popped.

And now my roommate's computer, bought in around March, had it's PSUpop again.. and now it's also dead. (It's done it before, a month ago, but it still kept going).

I live in an apartment. These things are on surge protectors. And this old P3 I'm using with it's old 200w power supply seems to be just fine.

Is there anything I can do?

FyreWulff on

Posts

  • DeShadowCDeShadowC Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    You might want to try a UPS, uninterrupted power source, with a line conditioner. Sounds like you might have some spikes in your line which a surge protector won't always prevent.

    DeShadowC on
  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2008
    Another interesting symptom is before the computers popped, they'd be on but no putting out video.

    Except for the one I was updating. I turned it on, it went into memtest, I hit escape to make it boot into Ubuntu and the PSU popped when it rebooted.

    I'm going to have to get two of those things, though. These are two completely seperate outlets. :(

    FyreWulff on
  • DeShadowCDeShadowC Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I use three. Computer with monitor on one each, and then modem and router on the third. also just so I can keep online while there's a power outage.

    DeShadowC on
  • OremLKOremLK Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    It could be coincidental, they could just be bad PSUs... what brands were these?

    OremLK on
    My zombie survival life simulator They Don't Sleep is out now on Steam if you want to check it out.
  • AurinAurin Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Go to Home Depot or some such, and get a little thing that looks like a plug for the outlets that you can use to test the specific outlets. I have two outlets in my house that were doing the same thing, popping power supplies, and turns out they aren't grounded right. Or, it could just be a wonderful coincidence that all the power supplies decided to go near the same time, it happens. But best to check.

    Aurin on
  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2008
    While I get ready to open up the computers and get the PSU brands, does anyone have any recommendations for UPS brands?

    FyreWulff on
  • TransparentTransparent Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Monster.
    (if you're a sap)

    If your power is that bad, I'd suggest a Double-conversion UPS (also called "true" or "online"), they provide better protection.

    Transparent on
    PAXtrain '10, let's do this!
  • DeShadowCDeShadowC Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    The big thing is making sure they have a line conditioner in them for long term protection.

    DeShadowC on
  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2008
    friend's computer (mobo appears to be okay)
    http://www.oranjive.com/images/fyrewulff/fnd_edit.jpg

    the psu
    http://www.oranjive.com/images/fyrewulff/fnd_psu.jpg

    roommate's computer (once again, everything else seems to be okay)
    http://www.oranjive.com/images/fyrewulff/hp_edit.jpg

    psu
    http://www.oranjive.com/images/fyrewulff/hp_psu_edit.jpg

    FyreWulff on
  • OremLKOremLK Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I assume those are just the ones that shipped with the computers--Bestec appears to be a brand HP and others use in their computers. Anyway, not having heard of either of those brands until now, I don't feel confident in saying whether they could be at fault. Possibly a contributing factor, especially if you've done anything like upgrading the video card. More likely what everyone else is saying though, iffy power going into them.

    OremLK on
    My zombie survival life simulator They Don't Sleep is out now on Steam if you want to check it out.
  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2008
    The video card was upgraded at the point of sale by HP, so I'd assume they would know which PSU to put in. Fortunately, that computer is under warranty and it should be replacable.

    The other one.. not so sure, I'm pretty sure it's built from scratch.

    FyreWulff on
  • dlpwillywonkadlpwillywonka Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Transparent wrote: »
    Monster.
    (if you're a sap)

    Monster is a terrible recommendation even if it is given sardonically.

    APC is a good UPS brand.

    dlpwillywonka on
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