Question Custom built Desktop PC *Zap* Fried Video Card & PSU

[spiderxx]

So I have a older pc build that was built around 2009 or so. I dont recall every aspect of detail of all the components any more and have been looking for all my paperwork that I saved but so far havent found eveything for it. So off the top of my head this is what I remember on what I used for the build.

CPU: AMD Atholon II
CPU cooler: AMD (came with CPU)
Motherboard:ASUS M4A78
Ram: Cruical 4 GB (2 GB sticks totalling 4GB)
SSD/HDD: Western Digitial 500GB
GPU: GTS Ge250 Graphics card
PSU: Sigma 700B Age: 2009
Chassis: Unknown
OS: Windows 8.1
Monitor: Viewsonic
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model.


Some years ago the graphics card went out on me (2015?). I figured the card just gave out. Lately I came across a working ATI Radeon PCIe 2 graphics card and figured I'd try it out in the computer and see if I can gain access to the data on my HDD. Turns out I installed the card and turned on the PC and heard a zap and got a whiff of burnt electronics. I also found out that it now fried my PSU as well.

The slot on the mobo is PCIe 2 and has me wondering what could have gone wrong with the pc?
Is there any way to tell what the problem is? I looked over the graphics card board and there are no signs of anything popped or burnt out. I havent taken the mobo out to look that over but from what I see all looks okay as well.
Could it possibly be the PCIe 2 slot that is malfunctioning causing a short? Im stumped and I'd eventually like to get the data off that I have saved to desktop on this HDD.

 

[Lutfij]

I have a older pc build that has a ASUS M4A78 Motherboard, GTS Ge250 Graphics card, AMD CPU Atholon 2, and 4gb ram.
When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model.

Is there any way to tell what the problem is?
Source a reliably built PSU and then try powering up the system but with burn marks on your motherboard, I'd avoid hooking anything up to it.

if the data on your HDD's are valuable, remove them from the system and take them over to your local data recovery specialist. Experimenting could lead you to lose more than just a discrete GPU.

 

[logainofhades]

You could try getting an external docking station that will allow you to connect your HDD to another PC via usb. I would not try anything with that system itself.

 

[spiderxx]

Hi fellas, Thanks for the reply. I edited the post. Sorry long time reader but hardly post. I have edited the post to your reference.

I was searching for a usb to sata adapter for the hdd. Much thanks for the recommendation of the docking station. I wasnt aware of those. I'll definitely check them out.

Is there any thing I can do to find out what happened to the system? I am thinking its the motherboard possibly? Im just curious as to what went wrong with it as I was under the assumption that the graphics card went kaput. Boy was I wrong there. Thanks to a donor video card but it cost me another $145 for a PSU that I really didn't need to buy as mine was working just fine. I suppose that's what you get when you gamble?

 

[USAFRet]

I was searching for a usb to sata adapter for the hdd. Much thanks for the recommendation of the docking station. I wasnt aware of those. I'll definitely check them out.

I've had one similar to this for years:
https://www.amazon.com/SABRENT-Docking-Swappable-Supports-DS-UC1B/dp/B0CRCW4ST9