Computer died, trying to figure where the problem is

Dracil

So earlier today my computer just died while I was watching something on Youtube.

Hit the power button and heard a bzzt (actually normal) then didn't do anything after that. Further pushes yielded no responses.

Thoughts are 1) PSU, 2) MB 3) RAM

I don't think it's the other stuff. Shouldn't have been over heating (though my computer was pretty dusty) based on temp readings (might reach a high of 60 on a hot day when gaming). It's an Intel C2D dual-core 3.0 with stock heatsink if you do think it might've been overheating. Never got temperature warnings either though.

Anyway, PSU seems likely just because if it dies, nothing else will run. The reason I'm suspecting the MB or RAM though is that my system only has 4GB of RAM, yet for a while now, both the BIOS and Windows claim that I had 5GB of RAM, which is, well, impossible. I know there's some weird memory sharing with my video card and 32-bit Vista that I never quite understood (this is a 320MB Geforce 8800 GTS though) but that would not account for that extra 1GB of RAM. Haven't actually tried unplugging my memory to see if that's the case yet though.

Any ideas?

tsmvengy

So when you press the power button, you don't get any POST beeps or anything?

PSU would be my first thought - if you have another one or you can borrow one try that first with just the CPU, Mobo, and a stick of RAM.

imperial6

Almost has to be a power issue but before you buy a new psu, I would try another outlet and power strip/surge protector. Once in a while that's all it is. If you do need a new psu, go with corsair/antec/seasonic. Also if your psu died there's a chance it took a couple other components with it, though if you didn't smell anything burning that's a good sign. : )

Dracil

The sad thing is, this WAS a brand name PSU too (OCZ). But yeah, no reaction at all. No beeps, no lights, no fans. Don't usually leave my computer off, but I'm pretty sure even while off, some of the lights on the case would still glow and that's not happening.

I tried different cable, different UPS slot (everything else is still powered that's connected to it), so yeah, looks like it's dead.

Don't have a spare PSU though, so I actually decided to just get the parts for a new system. Was gonna do it when Win7 came out, but I'm doing it a few months early and will just load the RC on it and reinstall later. Will stick that PSU in this system first though to see if that boots it up. If that works, I may just use this system as a server or something. If not, I'll just cannibalize this one for parts.