Is my PSU damaged?

[Lemon12345]

When I turn the power on the lights inside my PC turn on, the main fan turns on but the heatsink does not.

Before this the PC wouldn't turn off properly, the fans and heatsink would keep spinning but there would just be no display.
Before and during this the PC would turn off with no warning, just like someone pulled the power cable out.

Around 1 month ago the sound card stopped working, I plugged my speakers into the motherboard instead but yesterday I swapped them back into the sound card and they worked fine. I don't know if this is relevant.

Ever since I've had the PSU it has always produced a quiet whining noise but it was never enough of a problem to concern me but now it makes a much louder noise.
And just so you know, it is around 1 year and 10 months old.


UPDATE:
I just attempted to turn my PC on again to check if the fans on the video card were working. The lights turned on for a brief moment before stopping. The only thing that was happening was a high pitched whine coming from the PSU.

 

[ekagori]

What is the make and model of your motherboard and psu? If you hear a whine from the psu there is a good chance it is going bad. But we need to make sure first.

 

[Spectre694]

I'd try a new power supply if you have access to one otherwise there is a possibility ts the motherboard

 

[Lemon12345]

Corsair CX500 PSU
asus p8h61-mle usb3 Motherboard

Hope this helps. I don't have access to a new PSU.

 

[ekagori]

Corsair CX500 PSU
asus p8h61-mle usb3 Motherboard

Hope this helps. I don't have access to a new PSU.

Ok... Corsair's CX line although reliable is not their best line of PSU's either, so it could be going bad.
First try to clear the c_mos in your motherboard to clear any bad settings.
Try booting your system with 1 stick of RAM and removing your video card (booting with your cpu's onboard video), his way we can isolate the problem.

If it boots, try adding the other stick of RAM and see if it still boots, if it does we know it's not RAM. Add the video card, if it boots then it's not the gpu either, if it doesn't it means your gpu is faulty.

If you try all of this and it doesn't boot, then it means it most likely is PSU or Motherboard. If you can get a friend's psu to test it would be great, otherwise, contact corsair and try an RMA if you are within warranty. If you still have problems, it's a bad mobo. Asus has 3 year warranties on their mobos, if you're still within range, RMA it.

 

[Lemon12345]

First try to clear the c_mos in your motherboard

What does this mean?

 

[Spectre694]

First try to clear the c_mos in your motherboard

What does this mean?

unplug the computer pull the little button cell battery out for a few minutes and then put it back in and turn the comp on. it clears all bios settings back to default.

 

[Lemon12345]

First try to clear the c_mos in your motherboard

What does this mean?

unplug the computer pull the little button cell battery out for a few minutes and then put it back in and turn the comp on. it clears all bios settings back to default.

You mean I can just pull it out?
With my fingers?
Just like that?

What do I do after that?

 

[Spectre694]

First try to clear the c_mos in your motherboard

What does this mean?

unplug the computer pull the little button cell battery out for a few minutes and then put it back in and turn the comp on. it clears all bios settings back to default.

You mean I can just pull it out?
With my fingers?
Just like that?

What do I do after that?

there is usually a little clip or such holding it in but yes make sere you ground yourself by touching something metal first though. when it is out just wait a few minutes and then put it back in before you plug the computer in and try to turn it on.

 

[Lemon12345]

First try to clear the c_mos in your motherboard

What does this mean?

unplug the computer pull the little button cell battery out for a few minutes and then put it back in and turn the comp on. it clears all bios settings back to default.

You mean I can just pull it out?
With my fingers?
Just like that?

What do I do after that?

there is usually a little clip or such holding it in but yes make sere you ground yourself by touching something metal first though. when it is out just wait a few minutes and then put it back in before you plug the computer in and try to turn it on.

I don't get it, when I can barely turn my PC on properly what help will resetting BIOS settings do?

 

[ekagori]

This is part of basic pc diagnosis, sometimes when a bios gets corrupted it will not allow the pc to POST, let alone enter its bios. What we're trying to do is help you go through some basic steps to try to isolate the problem.

Last thing we want to do is tell you "yes it's your psu, go buy a new one" or " it's the motherboard, go buy one" just to come home and realize you just waisted time and money. If we can confidently isolate the problem, then we can arrive at a proper and accurate conclusion.

 

[Lemon12345]

This is part of basic pc diagnosis, sometimes when a bios gets corrupted it will not allow the pc to POST, let alone enter its bios. What we're trying to do is help you go through some basic steps to try to isolate the problem.

Last thing we want to do is tell you "yes it's your psu, go buy a new one" or " it's the motherboard, go buy one" just to come home and realize you just waisted time and money. If we can confidently isolate the problem, then we can arrive at a proper and accurate conclusion.

Alright brilliant, I'll try to do it tomorrow.

 

[Lemon12345]

Okay guys, pretty big update.

I tried unplugging one stick of ram and booting my system, with 1 stick the heatsink fan was working but a noise came from the inside of my computer going "beep beep beeep beep beep beeep".

I put the other stick back in and tried again, this time only the fan worked like before.

What do you suggest?