Loud pop from computer wont start.

[computerwiz2531]

I really need your help guys. I purchased a EVGA 430W and a GIGABYTE GTX 1060 a couple of months back. Everything went fine until about a month ago during GRand Theft Auto V and Rainbow Six Siege (very resource hungry games I might add) that my computer would restart as if someone where to press the reset button on my case. I checked the Windows Event Viewer to discover that the problem was titled under "Kernal-Power" and by my research I linked it to my PSU. The problem stopped after about two days. Two days ago this problem happened again in Rainbow Six Siege. Twenty minutes later I could smell burning, I just thought that someone downstairs was burning something on the stove until I looked down to see one of my case fans wasn't running. I quickly unplugged the computer. I'm not sure how many fans weren't running because my first thought was to unplug it. My first culprit was the PSU, although the paperclip test was a success I was too scared to put it back into the system. The next day I was bored and decided to grab my PSU from my server a diablotek 500W. It was working for a couple of hours and then it happened... a loud pop. I did the paperclip test and the server PSU was no longer with us. How could both PSUs mess up like this? I think another component is to blame, but I already have to purchase a new PSU and I really don't want to risk anything else.

CPU: FX-8320
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-USB3
GPU: GIGABYTE GTX 1060 3GB
RAM: 16 GB BALLISTIX DDR3
PSU: Normal one was EVGA 430W (passes the paperclip test) then used Diablotek 500W (failed test)

 

[rgd1101]

What is your full system spec?

 

[Rogue Leader]

Well the EVGA 430W is not a good unit, but Diablotek is even worse. So 2 junk PSUs failed on you.

That said you're right sounds like an external cause. I would get my hands on a new PSU thats not junk (Seasonic), and review everything in your system to make sure that nothing is shorting out on something.

 

[computerwiz2531]

What is your full system spec?

I updated the post with the specs, sorry I forgot about that.

 

[computerwiz2531]

Well the EVGA 430W is not a good unit, but Diablotek is even worse. So 2 junk PSUs failed on you.

That said you're right sounds like an external cause. I would get my hands on a new PSU thats not junk (Seasonic), and review everything in your system to make sure that nothing is shorting out on something.

Yeah, I've heard a lot of bad things about both PSUs although having them both break day after day isn't strange? The server computer had been on almost 24/7 for about a year now (I've owned it for about three) and no problems at all. The burning smell coming from the computer and the next day a pop? I'm not too sure. I might put the EVGA back in just to see if it works, although I'm not sure if it is worth the risk.

 

[evan1715]

it'll be hard to pinpoint the issue. you may just have to troubleshoot the hardware one by one by substituting until it works.

-change out the psu.
--do not use same cables if using modular psu.
-leave the fan that stopped unplugged, possibly replace it
--you may leave case open to better ventilate during your troubleshooting since you'll have one less fan unless you have adequate fans
-leave what you can or don't use often unplugged, ex: dvd drive.
-look for what was smelling by looking for any burn or melting marks or if any components still have the smell when you get really close.
-you could take out the GPU and use the integrated graphics for now but it seems this only happens during heavy gpu loads so this might not be an option

your power supplies should be under warranty still so try an pursue that route to save money.

other than the psu, i believe the chipset/mobo control nearly all the power and where it should go. if you can find a spare motherboard or if it is under warranty, i'd say go ahead and try that out.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Well the EVGA 430W is not a good unit, but Diablotek is even worse. So 2 junk PSUs failed on you.

That said you're right sounds like an external cause. I would get my hands on a new PSU thats not junk (Seasonic), and review everything in your system to make sure that nothing is shorting out on something.

Yeah, I've heard a lot of bad things about both PSUs although having them both break day after day isn't strange? The server computer had been on almost 24/7 for about a year now (I've owned it for about three) and no problems at all. The burning smell coming from the computer and the next day a pop? I'm not too sure. I might put the EVGA back in just to see if it works, although I'm not sure if it is worth the risk.

I do think its very strange. I have a feeling something is shorting out somewhere. Heck it could even be a bad power cable to the wall. I would take the time to inspect everything closely within the system. Could be a burnt capacitor or something on your GPU or motherboard. look for small scorch marks or a capacitor thats bulging outward.

 

[computerwiz2531]

it'll be hard to pinpoint the issue. you may just have to troubleshoot the hardware one by one by substituting until it works.

-change out the psu.
--do not use same cables if using modular psu.
-leave the fan that stopped unplugged, possibly replace it
--you may leave case open to better ventilate during your troubleshooting since you'll have one less fan unless you have adequate fans
-leave what you can or don't use often unplugged, ex: dvd drive.
-look for what was smelling by looking for any burn or melting marks or if any components still have the smell when you get really close.
-you could take out the GPU and use the integrated graphics for now but it seems this only happens during heavy gpu loads so this might not be an option

your power supplies should be under warranty still so try an pursue that route to save money.

other than the psu, i believe the chipset/mobo control nearly all the power and where it should go. if you can find a spare motherboard or if it is under warranty, i'd say go ahead and try that out.

Thanks for the list, I'll start going though it right now.

 

[computerwiz2531]

Well the EVGA 430W is not a good unit, but Diablotek is even worse. So 2 junk PSUs failed on you.

That said you're right sounds like an external cause. I would get my hands on a new PSU thats not junk (Seasonic), and review everything in your system to make sure that nothing is shorting out on something.

Yeah, I've heard a lot of bad things about both PSUs although having them both break day after day isn't strange? The server computer had been on almost 24/7 for about a year now (I've owned it for about three) and no problems at all. The burning smell coming from the computer and the next day a pop? I'm not too sure. I might put the EVGA back in just to see if it works, although I'm not sure if it is worth the risk.

I do think its very strange. I have a feeling something is shorting out somewhere. Heck it could even be a bad power cable to the wall. I would take the time to inspect everything closely within the system. Could be a burnt capacitor or something on your GPU or motherboard. look for small scorch marks or a capacitor thats bulging outward.

Funny that you mention that, the first thing I thought was that my GPU had probably blown a capacitor. I'll try some different cables and use a different power strip.

 

[computerwiz2531]

The motherboard is dead, I'm about to test the GPU to make sure that is working fine. How should I go about doing that, I can put the working EVGA 430W into the server computer with the GTX 1060 to see if the GPU is working. Any idea how the motherboard could fry the diablotek, and then with the EVGA which still works but had that terrible smell that I still can't find where it came from? Could some protection system in the EVGA PSU be better than the Diablotek and survive that way?

 

[Rogue Leader]

While both low end, the EVGA is far less low end than Diablotek. Its likely the EVGAs protections kicked in, where the Diablotek had none. That said, the smell coming from it is likely from a blown capacitor that is leaking, so I suggest against using that PSU, that odor is toxic as well.

I would get a new PSU first (you need it anyway) and test out the GPU in another system, then go from there.