Have I fried my power supply or GPU? Or both?

[Jill__]

I was installing an SSD the other day and I was trying to find ways to zip tie it and suspend it in the drive bay. So I zip tied the sata power cable to one of the PCIe connectors that go into my video card. Turn on the computer, and it flashes for a split second and nothing. Fans spin for a bit too.

After various troubleshooting I decide to take out the GPU and try starting it, and it starts right up. I thought I had solved my problem here..so I put the GPU back in and start it right up and its fine. Or so I thought. I wasn't getting a video signal so I touched the HDMI cable and it was hot af. I looked down and the power supply cable was literally melting all the way to my power strip.

I know I must have messed something up with the zip ties. My problem is I don't know what exactly is fried. I think it's either the power supply or the GPU itself. Can anything else cause that such as bad motherboard or something? I'd hate to buy a new video card just for it to fry again. I need some guidance here so i don't waste a ton of my hard earned money

 

[rujoesmith]

The insulation of the power cable is melting Cant say I have ever seen that happen before! What is the model of your psu? That is almost definitely the problem. Impossible to say if anything else has been damaged though. Only way to tell is to try it with a working powersupply. Unless there is visual damage to the components or something.

 

[lodders]

Based on your description, your zip tie has caused a short circuit in your power supply wiring.

If so, a new PSU should fix all your problems.....


but find a better way of attaching your SSD. (I took everything out of my old computer case, drilled a few of extra mounting holes for my new SSD, then put it all back together again)

 

[rujoesmith]

Even if you did cause a short. A powersupply should never short to the point of melting the power cable. When you get a new psu, I would suggest making sure its not a no-name mystery box. Here's a great list, plus you can find some great deals with cyber Monday coming up! http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

 

[Jill__]

Its a corsair 500w supply...very well known. I wanna try getting a new power supply (and cable) lol. But why did the HDMI cable get hot and smokey as well? Do you guys think my computer turned on without the GPU because the PCIe power connectors are the problem here?