Load-induced PSU Failure?

[hipbemovin]

I'm a relative rookie, so bear with me. I built a PC for a friend (Athlon 64 3000+, MSI K8N NEO Platinum, 450W PSU), loaded and burned it at my house for several days. Within two days at his house, the PSU and mobo failed. The following week, the same problem recurred with a 600W PSU and identical mobo. Both times the PSU was still warm several hours after he called me. Admittedly, I did not test every combination of USB usage and the like, so here's the question: can load on a PSU cause the PSU to fail, taking the mobo with it, or should I concentrate my efforts on the supply side of the PC at his house, although he is running another PC in the same room?

 

[Mr5oh]

Anything is possible, so load on the PSU could make it fail. However most PSU protect themselves from something like this. 450 watts should have been plenty of power for him, even if he went USB crazy. Sounds like you did the burn in at your house, which should be more stressful on the machine than the things most people do with there computer.

Now it could be possible you got two junk PSU, but not likely. Its also strange that it worked fine at your house, sounds like something at his house.

I assume the computers are on different outlets? Are both those outlets on the same breaker?

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>

 

[hipbemovin]

Thanks, nimble knuckle. You've pretty much confirmed what I thought. I've got a UPS I'll stick on the line to see what happens next.