[SOLVED] My PSU just blew up. Wanting to confirm what the issue was likely to be and make sure my parts don't get fried.

[LiamIV]

Hey all,

I just purchased a few new parts for my 4-year old build, which was:

GPU: 1050 ti
CPU: Ryzen 3 1200
PSU: Gamemax GM-ECO500
Motherboard: AB350M-HD3

I then upgraded the following parts as follows:

GPU: 3060 ti
CPU: Ryzen 5 3600

I was reading around on forums and some people were saying that a 500W power supply would suffice to power the new components. It was running fine with the new CPU, however after I plugged in the new GPU, I played a little bit of The Division 2 on Ultra settings and after 1 minute there was a flash, smoke and the PSU went bust. I opened it up and there was a little glass tube that had exploded.

A few questions:

1. Have I potentially busted any other components? There doesn't seem to be any visible damage.
2. I just want to confirm - was the most likely reason that the PSU blew up because it was 4 years old, of lower wattage than the official recommended specs, and it was from a lesser-known supplier? Also the fact that it is bronze-rated?
3. I purchased a Cooler Master MWE 750W 80+ Gold V2 - do you think that now if I plug in this PSU that I shouldn't have any further power issues?

Thanks for any help on this.

Liam

 

[Zerk2012]

Hey all,

I just purchased a few new parts for my 4-year old build, which was:

GPU: 1050 ti
CPU: Ryzen 3 1200
PSU: Gamemax GM-ECO500
Motherboard: AB350M-HD3

I then upgraded the following parts as follows:

GPU: 3060 ti
CPU: Ryzen 5 3600

I was reading around on forums and some people were saying that a 500W power supply would suffice to power the new components. It was running fine with the new CPU, however after I plugged in the new GPU, I played a little bit of The Division 2 on Ultra settings and after 1 minute there was a flash, smoke and the PSU went bust. I opened it up and there was a little glass tube that had exploded.

A few questions:

1. Have I potentially busted any other components? There doesn't seem to be any visible damage.
2. I just want to confirm - was the most likely reason that the PSU blew up because it was 4 years old, of lower wattage than the official recommended specs, and it was from a lesser-known supplier? Also the fact that it is bronze-rated?
3. I purchased a Cooler Master MWE 750W 80+ Gold V2 - do you think that now if I plug in this PSU that I shouldn't have any further power issues?

Thanks for any help on this.

Liam

1. You will find out when the new one arrives.

2. That power supply is just garbage less than 400 watts on the 12 volt rail. Power supplies are so poorly regulated you can rate them at about anything you wish. You can build a PSU rate it at 500 watts all the time knowing it will go up in smoke if you pull 300 watts from it.

3. I would never buy a Cooler Master power supply. Just not the quality I would be looking for but it's much better than what you had.

 

[sizzling]

Quality of the psu was the problem. Get a replacement of 500w or greater that is tier A or B on this list.

Article - [psucultists] PSU tier list rev. 14.8 (Final Update Jul '21)

PSU Tier List 4.0 rev. 14.8 (outdated) Last Update: 12-07-2021 Legend : Gray - EoL/obsolete and/or otherwise not recommended for purchase. Green - small form-factor (gold and blue colors are disregarded due to scarcity of SFX PSUs) Gold - best units in the tier (includes requirements for blue...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[Archaic59]

Hey all,

I just purchased a few new parts for my 4-year old build, which was:

GPU: 1050 ti
CPU: Ryzen 3 1200
PSU: Gamemax GM-ECO500
Motherboard: AB350M-HD3

I then upgraded the following parts as follows:

GPU: 3060 ti
CPU: Ryzen 5 3600

I was reading around on forums and some people were saying that a 500W power supply would suffice to power the new components. It was running fine with the new CPU, however after I plugged in the new GPU, I played a little bit of The Division 2 on Ultra settings and after 1 minute there was a flash, smoke and the PSU went bust. I opened it up and there was a little glass tube that had exploded.

A few questions:

1. Have I potentially busted any other components? There doesn't seem to be any visible damage.
2. I just want to confirm - was the most likely reason that the PSU blew up because it was 4 years old, of lower wattage than the official recommended specs, and it was from a lesser-known supplier? Also the fact that it is bronze-rated?
3. I purchased a Cooler Master MWE 750W 80+ Gold V2 - do you think that now if I plug in this PSU that I shouldn't have any further power issues?

Thanks for any help on this.

Liam

I just want to confirm - was the most likely reason that the PSU blew up because it was 4 years old, of lower wattage than the official recommended specs, and it was from a lesser-known supplier?

Longevity of a power supply, in relation to its' age, is somwewhat proportional to the quality and design of the unit. Gamemax does not make high quality power supplies.

Also the fact that it is bronze-rated?

The rating tells how efficient the unit is at converting wall current to 12 volt for the system. It is not a good measure of the quality. There's plenty of bronze rated units of better design than some gold models.

The Cooler master is a step up from Gamemax but there are much better choices. Too bad you didn't come here and ask before buying a new unit. You won't know if anything got damaged until you connect the new power supply. Be sure to use all new cabling. Do not re-use any old cables from the Gamemax (if it was even modular).

 

[jayjr1105]

Hopefully you get lucky and no other components are fried. Good choice on the new PSU. It reviewed very well by Aris https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cooler-master-v750-gold-v2-power-supply-review

EDIT: Why is everyone crapping on the Cooler Master 750w V2. It was a damn near perfect review other than some loose 12v regulation but it was still very good. It's on the A tier as well. SMH

 

[Archaic59]

EDIT: Why is everyone crapping on the Cooler Master 750w V2. It was a damn near perfect review other than some loose 12v regulation but it was still very good. It's on the A tier as well. SMH

Even the best manufacturers make a dud or two, but CM has made so many crap models I simply won't give them a nod unless there's no other choice. One or two good models today does not erase many years of junk hidden in CM's history. Just my opinion.

 

[LiamIV]

Even the best manufacturers make a dud or two, but CM has made so may crap models I simply won't give them a nod unless there's no other choice. Just my opinion.

What would you have gone with instead?

 

[Archaic59]

What would you have gone with instead?

Probably a Corsair RMx or Superflower Leadex III.

 

[jayjr1105]

Even the best manufacturers make a dud or two, but CM has made so many crap models I simply won't give them a nod unless there's no other choice. One or two good models today does not erase many years of junk hidden in CM's history. Just my opinion.

Guess what, Cooler Master doesn't make power supply's. They are not an OEM. EVGA, Corsair, etc. are just as guilty for producing crap models. OP you did fine. You got an A tier PSU. Don't listen to other people's anecdotal biases.

 

[LiamIV]

Probably a Corsair RMx or Superflower Leadex III.

Noted for in case this one goes bust. I’ll be sure to ask on these forums before making my next hasty purchase 😂

 

[LiamIV]

Guess what, Cooler Master doesn't make power supply's. They are not an OEM. EVGA, Corsair, etc. are just as guilty for producing crap models. OP you did fine. You got an A tier PSU.

Sweet, that’s good to know! Guess I got lucky as I didn’t check the reviews and went based off price.

 

[Zerk2012]

Hopefully you get lucky and no other components are fried. Good choice on the new PSU. It reviewed very well by Aris https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cooler-master-v750-gold-v2-power-supply-review

EDIT: Why is everyone crapping on the Cooler Master 750w V2. It was a damn near perfect review other than some loose 12v regulation but it was still very good. It's on the A tier as well. SMH

Thats not even the same power supply. 5 year warranty on the one he bought and not the quality I would buy.

https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Efficiency-Connectors-Semi-fanless/dp/B08M9LDLXH

 

[jayjr1105]

MWE version still in the B tier on the Tier List and he has plenty of overhead with 750w. 3600/3060ti will use 350-400w absolute worst case. He is still fine.

Here is a full review on the MWE 750w V2 and it does absolutely fine
https://www.eteknix.com/cooler-master-mwe-gold-750-v2-power-supply-review

 

[--SID--]

MWE version still in the B tier on the Tier List

B minor because of the internal design and a lack of good reviews.

Here is a full review on the MWE 750w V2 and it does absolutely fine
https://www.eteknix.com/cooler-master-mwe-gold-750-v2-power-supply-review

That's not a good review. Only the basic tests are done. No parts analizing, no protection tests etc.

 

[Zerk2012]

Sweet, that’s good to know! Guess I got lucky as I didn’t check the reviews and went based off price.

The PSU he linked is not even the one you bought!

 

[jayjr1105]

The PSU he linked is not even the one you bought!

Read on, I posted again correcting myself and linking the proper B tier supply with a positive review.

 

[jayjr1105]

https://www.overclockers.com/cooler-master-mwe-gold-750-power-supply-review/

That is a V1 not a V2

 

[LiamIV]

That is a V1 not a V2

That is a V1 not a V2

Yeah from what I can tell, given I only wanted to spend around $100 - $130, I couldn’t go wrong with what I purchased. It seems to do well in reviews, and is even in that list of passable cheap PSUs in your signature.

Considering my price range, I seem to have bought one of the most passable PSUs, so I’m happy.

 

[Zerk2012]

Yeah from what I can tell, given I only wanted to spend around $100 - $130, I couldn’t go wrong with what I purchased. It seems to do well in reviews, and is even in that list of passable cheap PSUs in your signature.

Considering my price range, I seem to have bought one of the most passable PSUs, so I’m happy.

It's much better than what you had. Hopefully nothing got fried.

 

[DSzymborski]

Yeah, the MWE is not what I would have bought on this budget at all, but it's way better than the scary original PSU. That's the big risk here; if that that junk PSU caused any damage to components.

 

[jayjr1105]

Agreed, I like to research and sit on a few models and wait for them to go on sale but in this case, you don't have that luxury since you're dead in the water without a functioning PSU so you had to buy now. Usually there's at least one deal on an A tier 750w, whether it's your favorite brand /OEM or not. I picked up the SuperFlower Leadex III 750w 3 weeks ago for $90 with a $10 newegg gift card on top of it.

Power supply shopping is a slippery slope because Amazon reviews and brand recognition can be deceiving where it has a 4.5/5 rating with 1000 reviews but it can be an actual turd that's group regulated or just no name and lies about 80+ and wattage rating. It's always best to just reference the Tier list on LTT forums or PSUCultists and stick to an A or B tier unit, C tier if you don't play on using a GPU other than integrated.

7-10 year warranty is usually a pretty good chance it's going to be either A or B tier but that's not always true, just double check the lists.