Need help!!!! smoke coming from PC and won't post !!!!

[jared426]

Yesterday I went out and bought a new Intel 730 series SSD, got home, installed the SSD and also decided to clean my AIO cooler, so I cleaned both fans and the rad, applied some MX-4, re-seated the water block on my CPU (didn't even remove the CPU), checked all the power connections to make sure they were snug and connected correctly. The install went smoothly.

Went to go power on my PC and the fans lit up for a split second and shut off again. Tried to hit the power button again, and nothing. So I turned the PSU off from the back end, and tried again. Same thing, the lights and fans went on for a split second. I noticed while the system was on for a second, the CPU light on the motherboard was lit red. This is my second corsair PSU I've had, everything besides the red CPU light pointed to the PSU. I had an older PSU laying around so I hooked it up, turned it on and my PC stayed on instead of shutting off right away like with the corsair PSU (this older PSU is not certified), everything was on, fans, lights, HDD spinning. Then after about 20 seconds white smoke started coming out of my computer. So I shut it off and immediately, hooked the corsair back up and now the PC stays on instead of turning off, like it did initially but will not POST. Everything turns on, I can hear the HDD Spin, fans and lights turn on, except the CPU fan and the CPU light is still lit up solid on the motherboard. It's like I'm not getting power to the entire upper part of my motherboard.

Also tried the corsair PSU on an older PC and the fans started spinning on the CPU, then tried the old PSU on the old PC and I started to smell something burning. So I hooked up the corsair to the old PC and it clicked and refused to turn on. Put the corsair back in my main computer and we're back to the original problem. Also removed the CPU after troubleshooting with coolers and PSU's and there were no bent pins or anything.

I think my north bridge is fried, but I'm not sure if it was bad luck or if my power supply caused it. I want to get another motherboard and CPU tomorrow because I've just decided to upgrade, but I'm scared my PSU will blow up my new motherboard. I think the corsair PSU is fine, but it still doesn't explain why my PC wouldn't turn on in the first place. So I'm not sure what to think. Is it safe to get just a mobo and CPU or should I be worried about my PSU as well. Any help would be highly appreciated!!!!!


Computer Specifications
Case: Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition
Power Supply: Corsair AX750
OS: Windows 8.1 Pro
Motherboard: Asus 990X EVO R2.0
CPU: AMD FX-8350
Memory: 8 GB 1866 G.Skill Ripjaws
Hard Drive: 128 GB Vertex 4/SSD 1TB HDD
Video Card: Sapphire HD5850 Toxic
Sound Card: Onboard
Headphones: Roccat Kave XTD
Monitor: Asus VG248QE

 

[i7Baby]

" I cleaned both fans and the rad, applied some MX-4, re-seated the water block on my CPU (didn't even remove the CPU), checked all the power connections to make sure they were snug and connected correctly." - while the power was off?

Check BOTH power supply connectors are plugged into the motherboard.

 

[jared426]

" I cleaned both fans and the rad, applied some MX-4, re-seated the water block on my CPU (didn't even remove the CPU), checked all the power connections to make sure they were snug and connected correctly." - while the power was off?

Check BOTH power supply connectors are plugged into the motherboard.

The power was off while I was working on the inside of the PC. Both connections are snug and in place!

 

[i7Baby]

Try Tom's checklist - http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems

 

[MuchResearch]

"Also tried the corsair PSU on an older PC and the fans started spinning on the CPU, then tried the old PSU on the old PC and I started to smell something burning. So I hooked up the corsair to the old PC and it clicked and refused to turn on"

So when you initially hooked up the corsair psu did the PC boot fine? Or did you switch it before it loaded anything like the OS?

 

[jared426]

"Also tried the corsair PSU on an older PC and the fans started spinning on the CPU, then tried the old PSU on the old PC and I started to smell something burning. So I hooked up the corsair to the old PC and it clicked and refused to turn on"

So when you initially hooked up the corsair psu did the PC boot fine? Or did you switch it before it loaded anything like the OS?

I had it plugged in with hdmi, but wasn't able to get anything on screen. My friend had told me to hook up the corsair psu to the old pc to see if the cpu fan spun so we could determine if it was a rail on psu gone bad or the north bridge on my main PC that wasn't working. It was spinning so I didn't really pay attention to the fact that there was nothing on screen, the old pc hadn't been on in ages, I assumed it wasn't working because of the hdmi and that it needed to be plugged in with vga. So I wasn't able to see. I put that old psu back in the old pc and it smelt like burning electrical. Put the corsair back in and it made a clicking sound and wouldn't power up. I'm under the impression my old psu fried both my motherboards. But I'm still a bit worried because my main pc wouldn't post initially with the corsair.

I guess I'm asking if I went and got a new motherboard and cpu would it be safe to use my corsair psu with it? Does it sound like my north bridge is fried, or could the issue be the psu ?

 

[MuchResearch]

"Also tried the corsair PSU on an older PC and the fans started spinning on the CPU, then tried the old PSU on the old PC and I started to smell something burning. So I hooked up the corsair to the old PC and it clicked and refused to turn on"

So when you initially hooked up the corsair psu did the PC boot fine? Or did you switch it before it loaded anything like the OS?

I had it plugged in with hdmi, but wasn't able to get anything on screen. My friend had told me to hook up the corsair psu to the old pc to see if the cpu fan spun so we could determine if it was a rail on psu gone bad or the north bridge on my main PC that wasn't working. It was spinning so I didn't really pay attention to the fact that there was nothing on screen, the old pc hadn't been on in ages, I assumed it wasn't working because of the hdmi and that it needed to be plugged in with vga. So I wasn't able to see. I put that old psu back in the old pc and it smelt like burning electrical. Put the corsair back in and it made a clicking sound and wouldn't power up. I'm under the impression my old psu fried both my motherboards. But I'm still a bit worried because my main pc wouldn't post initially with the corsair.

I guess I'm asking if I went and got a new motherboard and cpu would it be safe to use my corsair psu with it? Does it sound like my north bridge is fried, or could the issue be the psu ?

it sounds like that old psu is frying everything like you said, and if you replace the mobo and cpu you wouldn't have to worry about the corsair psu frying it since the old psu is the real culprit. If the corsair psu doesn't work you can just replace that as well, but it wont damage any of your components from what it sounds like. Don't test with that old PSU anymore!! XD

If your okay with your current CPU you can get another AMD mobo and save some money. Chances are the CPU is fine, and only the mobo died

 

[jared426]

"Also tried the corsair PSU on an older PC and the fans started spinning on the CPU, then tried the old PSU on the old PC and I started to smell something burning. So I hooked up the corsair to the old PC and it clicked and refused to turn on"

So when you initially hooked up the corsair psu did the PC boot fine? Or did you switch it before it loaded anything like the OS?

I had it plugged in with hdmi, but wasn't able to get anything on screen. My friend had told me to hook up the corsair psu to the old pc to see if the cpu fan spun so we could determine if it was a rail on psu gone bad or the north bridge on my main PC that wasn't working. It was spinning so I didn't really pay attention to the fact that there was nothing on screen, the old pc hadn't been on in ages, I assumed it wasn't working because of the hdmi and that it needed to be plugged in with vga. So I wasn't able to see. I put that old psu back in the old pc and it smelt like burning electrical. Put the corsair back in and it made a clicking sound and wouldn't power up. I'm under the impression my old psu fried both my motherboards. But I'm still a bit worried because my main pc wouldn't post initially with the corsair.

I guess I'm asking if I went and got a new motherboard and cpu would it be safe to use my corsair psu with it? Does it sound like my north bridge is fried, or could the issue be the psu ?

it sounds like that old psu is frying everything like you said, and if you replace the mobo and cpu you wouldn't have to worry about the corsair psu frying it since the old psu is the real culprit. If the corsair psu doesn't work you can just replace that as well, but it wont damage any of your components from what it sounds like. Don't test with that old PSU anymore!! XD

If your okay with your current CPU you can get another AMD mobo and save some money. Chances are the CPU is fine, and only the mobo died

Well there's some pretty nice sales on right now, so I'm thinking about picking up a 4790k, I'm just a little shook about blowing up a new motherboard, I'm not 100% sure if the corsair psu is fine. But it is a newer psu though, so it should have safeties in place to prevent any significant damage right lol?

 

[MuchResearch]

The corsair AX series is a great PSU, I doubt it would fry anything. If you can test it in a friends system or any other working system you should. If it doesn't work and its still under warranty you can RMA it for a replacement

 

[jared426]

The corsair AX series is a great PSU, I doubt it would fry anything. If you can test it in a friends system or any other working system you should. If it doesn't work and its still under warranty you can RMA it for a replacement

Thanks for your help! I'll post back and let you guys know!

 

[jared426]

So yeah, I figured out what happened. I vacuumed out my computer and fried the motherboard. That's one very expensive lesson learned!

 

[MuchResearch]

So yeah, I figured out what happened. I vacuumed out my computer and fried the motherboard. That's one very expensive lesson learned!

so corsair PSU is fine? Just that old geezer of a psu frying everything?

 

[jared426]

Sorry for the late reply, the corsair psu is still fine! Turns out it was the motherboard that was fried because I had vacuumed out my PC without thinking. When I went to go test with with an older psu it must not have had a safety mechanism to turn off when parts are faulty so it must have fried the board even further. I had the corsair psu tested and it was fine with no problems. I'm actually still using it in my new build which is kind of funny.