[SOLVED] How much damage can a PSU do? (Low PG)

[ccc_mmm]

I've recently built my first PC and run into quite a few issues. First, there was a very loud noise coming from the IO panel/RAM area on my motherboard (at all times, e.g. right when booting up, on idle, under load, etc.). The motherboard was replaced, but then the noise came back after about a day. Then, the PC suddenly died (no longer booting at all, no fans spinning up, etc.). I took the motherboard out and tested it with a different PSU and a single stick of RAM and it wouldn't post (LED power button lights up, but then just turns off when pressed).

I ordered a PSU tester and it is telling me that everything is good on my original PSU except for the PG value, which is at ~120. It isn't clear to me if this is something that could have damaged both of my motherboards. Could this be the cause of all my system's problems?


Here are the parts I'm using:

• CPU: AMD Threadripper 3960X 3.8 GHz 24-Core Processor
• CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U14S TR4-SP3 82.52 CFM CPU Cooler
• Motherboard: Gigabyte TRX40 AORUS MASTER EATX sTRX4 Motherboard
• Memory: G.Skill Trident Z RGB 128 GB (4 x 32 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
• Storage: Samsung 970 Evo 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive
• Storage: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive
• Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24 GB Founders Edition Video Card
• Case: Fractal Design Define 7 XL ATX Full Tower Case
• Power Supply: be quiet! Dark Power Pro 12 1200 W 80+ Titanium Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

"How much damage can a PSU do?"

can kill anything\everything in the system connected to it depending on what type of malfunction occurred.

 

[Juular]

It is possible, loud noise from the VRM area may suggest that the PSU is outputting severe amounts of voltage ripple, i.e it's faulty, especially since you had two motherboards fail in the same way with the same PSU. Your best bet is to request a RMA and perhaps damages for both motherboards, i'm sure if you'll be insistent enough be quiet! will be able to offer some reimbursement after and if they'll confirm that this PSU is in fact faulty. You can't really check for ripple yourself with a PSU tester (it's going to be very inaccurate even if it claims to be able to measure ripple), you need a professional equipment for that, i.e an oscilloscope and load tester.

 

[geofelt]

PSU testers costing <$5000 are worthless.
They can only confirm a dead unit, but can not confirm proper operation.

Your psu is a quality unit that would not cause damage, even if it failed.
Since a different PSU did not fix the problem, I doubt that the psu was faulty.

As to potential damage, it is possible for a cheap psu to destroy anything it is connected to.

 

[jonnyguru]

Your psu is a quality unit that would not cause damage, even if it failed.

That's not necessarily true. Yes, the PSU is a quality unit, but ANY PSU can potentially damage components depending on the failure within the PSU.

 

[geofelt]

That's not necessarily true. Yes, the PSU is a quality unit, but ANY PSU can potentially damage components depending on the failure within the PSU.

True enough;
I should have said UNLIKELY to cause damage.

 

[Windows22]

"How much damage can a PSU do?"

can kill anything\everything in the system connected to it depending on what type of malfunction occurred.

I am in agreement there.

 

[ccc_mmm]

Thank you all for your responses. I appreciate it.

From what I've described, does it sound like the PSU is actually to blame? i.e. when my new motherboard arrives tomorrow should I not plug it into this PSU?

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

From what I've described, does it sound like the PSU is actually to blame? i.e. when my new motherboard arrives tomorrow should I not plug it into this PSU?

i think i would contact be quiet! support first and see if they will cover return shipping and review the PSU.
if it turns out to be faulty they may even offer to cover the cost of the burned out motherboard through their warranty guarantees.