Question Can a power surge reduce system performance while not outright killing the PC ?

[ethan.crabtree45648]

So my away and hometown is getting some wind and ive been told the power in my neighborhood has gone on and off a few times. My pc was still plugged in but through a surge protector. Is it likely to be ok and when i get back, how can i know for sure if it is?

When a pc gets electrical damage, either it works/doesn't work, or can performance be reduced even if it boots up and seems to work?

Sorry if this is dumb, i worry about this kind of thing a lot and can't find a clear answer online. I want to know that I'm getting the most out of my pc as i paid good money for it.

 

[DaleH]

So my away and hometown is getting some wind and ive been told the power in my neighborhood has gone on and off a few times. My pc was still plugged in but through a surge protector. Is it likely to be ok and when i get back how can i know for sure if it is?

When a pc gets electrical damage is it either it works/doesnt work or can performance be lowered even if it boots up and seems to work?

Sorry if this is dumb, i worry about this kind of thing a lot and cant find a clear answer online. I want to know im getting the most out of my pc as i paid good money for it

I would say that either case could happen. It would possible for either to happen, although I'd guess that catastrophic damage could be more likely. It will remain one of the great mysteries of life.

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

I would say that either case could happen. It would possible for either to happen, although I'd guess that catastrophic damage could be more likely. It will remain one of the great mysteries of life.

Ah damn, so nobody knows if a surge can lower performance while leaving the pc largely intact?

 

[Hellfire13]

Nothing is 100% failproof but a good quality surge protector has a better chance of protecting your equipment. Sensitive or costly equipment, such as computers, displays and audio/video equipment, warrants a surge protector joule rating of at least 1500, preferably 2000 and above.

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

Nothing is 100% failproof but a good quality surge protector has a better chance of protecting your equipment. Sensitive or costly equipment, such as computers, displays and audio/video equipment, warrants a surge protector joule rating of at least 1500.

What about when protection fails? Will my pc just not power on or should i look for lowered performance/fps?

 

[Hellfire13]

What about when protection fails? Will my pc just not power on or should i look for lowered performance/fps?

When protection fails, there might be component damage. Nobody can say for sure what kind of impact it makes until you check it physically, but performance loss could be one of the possibilities

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

When protection fails, there might be component damage. Nobody can say for sure what kind of impact it makes until you check it physically, but performance loss could be one of the possibilities

Damn, i waa hoping if it turned on and seemed to function is fine. Idk how to make sure it is ok, this is gonna make me anxious and paranoid im afraid.

 

[Ralston18]

Yes: performance can be lowered.

Power outages/losses can corrupt files.

Does not necessary mean that all comes to a stop. System still manages to work but just not as it should.

Run "dism" and "sfc /scannow". Either one or both tools may fix some issues with file corruption.

Easy to do and will help eliminate possible causes.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-image

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow-to-repair-windows-system-files-2626161

Side note:

When we have thunderstorms, power issues etc. my SOPs are to shut down and unplug computers and peripherals.

Especially at the first signs of "on", "off", "on", "off power conditions.

= = = =

And I must ask: do you have backups?

 

[Hellfire13]

Damn, i waa hoping if it turned on and seemed to function is fine. Idk how to make sure it is ok, this is gonna make me anxious and paranoid im afraid.

There is no point speculating. You have to figure out first whether something is wrong.
You cant fix something that aint broke.

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

There is no point speculating. You have to figure out first whether something is wrong.
You cant fix something that aint broke.

How can i tell ir something is wrong or if im just imaging things if the effects of a power surge can be anything?

 

[Hellfire13]

How can i tell ir something is wrong or if im just imaging things if the effects of a power surge can be anything?

You can tell by user experience. You will know once you use it.

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

You can tell by user experience. You will know once you use it.

What specific things do i look for? I have a habit of overthinking things and being paranoid about this kind of stuff. Im worried ill think my pc is slightly slower when, in reality, nothing has changed.

 

[Hellfire13]

What specific things do i look for? I have a habit of overthinking things and being paranoid about this kind of stuff. Im worried ill think my pc is slightly slower when, in reality, nothing has changed.

Latency, lag, freeze, crash, noise, overheating, increase in boot time, etc...etc. As mentioned above, you will know if you feel a difference, ofcourse without being paranoid. There is no solution to paranoia if you imagine tings as real that doesnt exist.

 

[Zerk2012]

How can i tell ir something is wrong or if im just imaging things if the effects of a power surge can be anything?

If your PC was not even turned on then stop stressing you should be fine.

 

[DaleH]

How can i tell ir something is wrong or if im just imaging things if the effects of a power surge can be anything?

If you run benchmark tests periodically, you should be able to detect a change in performance. However, there are many other variables that can affect perrormance - addition of software for example.

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

How do you know if your pc is damaged following a power surge. Obviously if it does not boot or turn on that is a sign but what about more minor damage?

I dont have an earlier benchmark score to compare my pc to and even then how can i be sure electrical damage is the cause of a different score and not newer drivers or something else. Should i be doing benchmarks every month or so to prepare for power outages? That sounds kind of insane and paranoid to me.

I have anxeity and i just want to know how to determine if my pc is weaker now as I paid good money for it. Is my pc actually likely to see any actual performance impact if it works following an outage?

I have anxiety and i dont want to spend the next 2ish weeks or so looking for signs of damage, i want to know how to tell conclusivlely if my pc is actually damaged or if it is perfectly fine.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

unless you have blown capacitors, etc there's nothing to look for.

make sure you have a higher tier power supply.
and make sure you're using a higher quality surge protector/UPS.

if you have bad enough anxiety that a local power outage or similar drives you nuts like you describe;
there's nothing you can do but take precautions to ensure your hardware is safe.
and talk to a doctor(s) about getting help with your issue.

 

[USAFRet]

How do you know if

No duplicates, please.
Any more will simply be deleted.

 

[ethan.crabtree45648]

unless you have blown capacitors, etc there's nothing to look for.

make sure you have a higher tier power supply.
and make sure you're using a higher quality surge protector/UPS.

if you have bad enough anxiety that a local power outage or similar drives you nuts like you describe;
there's nothing you can do but take precautions to ensure your hardware is safe.
and talk to a doctor(s) about getting help with your issue.

On the other thread some people said saurges can lower performance though, are they wrong?

 

[USAFRet]

On the other thread some people said saurges can lower performance though, are they wrong?

Anything is possible.
But cannot be known until you see some effects or indications.

 

[Zerk2012]

On the other thread some people said saurges can lower performance though, are they wrong?

Again if you PC was not turned on no big deal.
Anything can happen but some a very unlikely and even if it did their nothing you can do about it.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

...surges can lower performance though, are they wrong?

have you actually witnessed any noticeable decline in performance or is this just some OCD worry?

if nothing noticeable has occurred and you are still compulsively worrying;
like I stated earlier, talk to a doctor about helping you with these personal problems.