PC won't boot, no fans kick on. All I hear is a quiet squeal from my PSU

pilso

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Jul 14, 2017
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For some backstory, my computer has been acting up ever since I installed an FX-8370 in my computer. The power supply would always go unstable and crash every few days when I'd run games for hours on end. Just last night the computer crashed again, but when I went to restart it nothing happened. The lights on my computer mouse lit up though, so I think the motherboard is getting power still. I tried many times to restart the computer, and no fans will spin up and I only hear the quiet sound of my power supply. The power supply's fans aren't moving either when I turn on the PC. Should I replace my PSU or do I have a bigger problem on my hands?
 
Solution


Yeah, I'd start with replacing that PSU. You don't really want that in your PSU anyway, so it makes sense to start with the component that you'd want to replace under any circumstances.

A complicating factor is the motherboard. It's a really weak motherboard on which to run a 125W CPU and manufacturers have generally been way too aggressive at putting these CPUs on the support list for entry-level motherboards. They rarely have the voltage regulator modules to run them well at load. It's very possible that you could have two problems, the crashing caused by...


Was this a competent PSU? If not -- and if it's a pre-built, almost certainly it's not -- adding a more powerful CPU could very easily put a junk PSU over the edge.

How big a problem, of course, depends on whether it was in fact the PSU or not. A PSU can die on its own or take other components down to the silicon afterlife with it, something that's more likely on a low-quality PSU.

In any case, you're most likely to get an answer to helps you fix your problem with a lot more information. We know nothing about your PC other than that it has an 8370 in it right now.
 
AMD FX-8370 with Wraith cooler
AMD R7 370
7 GB RAM (I don't have any details for this)
ASUS M5A78L-M-USB3 Motherboard
Suntec 580W 20+4 pin PSU (it's pretty shitty)
The computer isn't a prebuilt, but I did take the power supply off my prebuilt I owned before, it probably wasn't a great idea.
 


Whew. yeah man, that PSU is likely a huge problem, and may have damaged other components. Do you have another (safe) PSU to put in there to test with? Maybe one from a friend?

If not, get a Seasonic S12II 520. It's cheap and enough wattage, but above all, it's safe.

Also, That mobo is AM3+, but I don't know if it's safe to use with that CPU. Those micro-ATX boards aren't great for 125w TDP CPUs
 


Yeah, I'd start with replacing that PSU. You don't really want that in your PSU anyway, so it makes sense to start with the component that you'd want to replace under any circumstances.

A complicating factor is the motherboard. It's a really weak motherboard on which to run a 125W CPU and manufacturers have generally been way too aggressive at putting these CPUs on the support list for entry-level motherboards. They rarely have the voltage regulator modules to run them well at load. It's very possible that you could have two problems, the crashing caused by overheated VRMs and eventual non-turning-on from the PSU giving up the ghost.
 
Solution


I wouldn't expect much of that, especially if it's also garbage.

More than likely you need a different mobo to go with the 8370 and a safe PSU
 
I just replaced the power supply and everything is running okay. I'm unplugging the PC for now though, because this PSU is very light and cheap that I just put in. Does anyone have recommendations for better power supplies and motherboards that are compatible with my CPU? I don't want to risk killing my computer again.