can a sudden blackout damage hardware?

[Konstantinos Koutse]

hello guys I wanted to ask if a sudden black out can damage your hardware like cpu or gpu or even the mobo

 

[nukemaster]

It should not, you can loose or corrupt files that are being edited, but that is generally about it.

Power surges/spikes are another matter, a protector should help and most power supplies have some surge protection built in as well.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Voltage Surges/Spikes can... turning off your Power switch is like a 'Black out"... I never see damage from that... if you have your hardrive in "cache enable" mode... files can be lost/corrupt if they were in the hardrive Cache memory at the Time.

 

[mudpuppet]

Loss of power? probably not. Fluctuation in voltage and current on the other hand can. Flickering lights is a noticeable example, but doesn't mean that your PC is fried if the lights flicker, just that there was some fluctuation.

 

[jsmithepa]

How do you know is SUDDEN? Just because your lightbulbs go dark doesn't mean the line is not sitting on 40 volts.

If this happens often at your locale, plan on an UPS for peace of mind.

 

[Konstantinos Koutse]

Could you please explain me what is a power surge? or spike? eah I'm planning to buy a 400-500 watt ups but ill buy it in Christmas and just wanted to know if that happens before Christmas again is there a real danger t ofry my hardware I don't really care about file loss or corruption

 

[Konstantinos Koutse]

also I just bought my psu and at the back of the box it says it has Fully protection OCP/OVP/SCP/OPP ) with build-in Over Temperature Protection ( OTP

 

[nukemaster]

A surge or spike is a higher than standard voltage. This higher voltage can push parts past the limits. Protectors send these events to ground(to avoid it getting to your hardware.). You can also get a full house surge protector to protect everything(better).

You also can have brown outs. that are lower than standard voltage. I had 90volts on out 120 volt service once. I am sure it could be lower.

When getting a UPS make sure you check the runtime to make sure it gives you the needed time. Also make sure your hardware does not take more than 400-500 watts from the plug or else the UPS will not work it will just shut off.

If it is straight blackouts, they should not hurt the hardware.
EDIT
You made another post.

The protection you are listing is the power supplies built in protection. It protects the hardware in case of a power supply defect or other issue.

So lets say the power supply gets messed up and starts trying to feed 20 volts on the 12 volt rail, the power supply shuts it off.
If you overload the power supply(try to draw more than it can make), the power supply shuts down.
The fan fails and the temps get too hot, the power supply shuts off.
You short it out, it shuts off.

 

[Konstantinos Koutse]

oh so I think I understood it so u mean if lets say there is a storm in an area hits a house then the pc cant handle so much voltage and it will fry the entire pc or specific parts anyways my psu has some protections but I dotn have any idea whaat that means it has OCP/OVP/SCP/OPP ) with build-in Over Temperature Protection ( OTP ) does it have any surge protection?

 

[nukemaster]

I edited above.

Those protections are to protect the system from power supply faults or excessive current draw by your computer. Without this the rails could go all out of whack or you could try to pull lets say 700 watts from a 500 watt power supply.

They are not part of an input protection. They are output protection.

 

[Konstantinos Koutse]

ohh I got it I got it thank you just oen last question I'm a bit confused I mentioned storms are an example in my country storm are very rare like 1 in 100 so I don't really have storms and if I do I will unplug everything completely I just afraid if a black out happens or the power surge/spike happens the pc wont be able to shut down

 

[Konstantinos Koutse]

automatically? I mean the psu ?

 

[Konstantinos Koutse]

or does the psu protect against spikes and power surge? or should I hurry to buy a ups?

 

[nukemaster]

The power supply may or may not have some form of input protection. Cheaper models get rid of it. Surge protectors can help.

I have had systems for years without any issues from power outs or even the few brown outs(I disconnect them in that case.).

I do have a UPS on 2 of my systems, but that is more for saving files in a power out and the auto shut down if it happens when I am gone.