PSU pulsing after being plugged in.

dbruno

Honorable
Jun 11, 2013
7
0
10,510
Recently there was a couple power surges at my home. The first one, a few weeks back, my computer wasn't turning on and but then ran fine in another outlet, no problem. But after this most recent surge the computer would power on normally but freeze after only a couple minute. No bsod, just completely locks. I assumed something was overheating because when I open the case the cpu was burning up. So I changed the thermal paste and now the computer won't start at all.

This is the strange part. As soon as the computer is plugged in and the psu is turn on it beings to click and if there is something plugged into a usb port, like the speakers or a mic, it's power light will flash on with the first click, go off, there will be a second click, then it will flash back on with the next click, repeat. Nothing else will power on when this is happening and it will continue to do this even if I press the power/reset button on the mobo or on the case.

It does not appear that the power button or reset button are sticking but I can't think of a reason for the psu to be doing this only after being plugged on.

APEVIA WARLOCK POWER ATX-WA900W 900W ATX12V / EPS12V
 
They make very very poor power supplies.

Tier 5 - Other than the units listed above for any of these brands, NOT RECOMMENDED. Replace ASAP if you have one.

A-TOP Technology
Apevia
APEX (SUPERCASE/ALLIED)
Aspire(Turbo Case)
ATADC
Athena Power
ATRIX
Broadway Com Corp
Coolmax
Deer
Diablotek
Dynapower USA
Dynex
EagleTech
FOXCONN
FSP Everest
HEC Orion
Hiper Type-R
Huntkey
I-Star Computer Co. Ltd
In Win
JPAC COMPUTER
Just PC
Kingwin Inc.
Linkworld Electronics
Logisys Computer
MGE
MSI
NMEDIAPC
Norwood Micro/ CompUSA
NorthQ
NZXT
Okia
Powmax
Q-Tec
Raidmax
Rocketfish
Rosewill
SFC
Shuttle
Skyhawk
Spire Coolers
Star Micro
STARTECH
Thermaltake Purepower NP
Thermaltake Purepower RU
Thermaltake TR2 (and TR2-RX)
TOPOWER TOP
Ultra X-Connect
Ultra X2 >greater than 700 watt
Ultra LSP
Wintech
XION
YoungYear
Zebronics

 



It doesn't appear the PSU is the issue. I replace it with a SeaSonic S12II 620 Bronze 620W and the computer does the exact same thing. In fact, the light will continue to go off and on a couple time even after the PSU is unplugged.
 
Motherboard would be the next most likely cause. The bad news is if the psu allowed a surge to damage the motherboard(happens with low quality units as they usually lack the proper protection circuits) there maybe other components that have been damaged aswell.