Simon C

My PSU blew last night, as I've just found out. I got woken up just after going to bed by a blinding blue flash.

I want to know how, cos whilst plugged in at the time, the thing was switched off and didn't blow the ffuse in the plug or the 5 gang its plugged into!!!!

Now I need to do something I swore I'd never do and go shopping at PC world for a new 1 cos I need files off it tomorrow night / early sat morning

Daz34

What make was it?

Simon C

God only knows, 1 I bought of ebuyer.co.uk. I'm only hoping that it hasn't damaged teh data. I have somewhere in the reigon off 4500 pics on the 2nd hdd, some of which were not baccked up.

Scooby-Doo

Unfortunatley the PC world ones are very noisy but will get you going.

Simon C

better than a kick somewhere. Just pulled the psu apart and the internal fuse is nice and black.

scoobie-shieldy

ok psu's r a silly price, 30+ for a ****ey 1

but if u get a new case, with a psu built in its better for your wallet

failing that give www.lasertek.co.uk a look

and no it wont of dmgd your hdd's

jpor

iTrader: (1)

You do use a power surge protector? A friend of mine had something similar happen to him. Found out his next door neighbour was using her hair dryer which caused a surge in the mains. You maybe lucky and changing the quick blow fuse in the PSU will be enough to get it going again. Maplins stock quick blow fuses. You will need to check the MA rating first.

G00ner

A cheap psu may not have short-circuit protection, worse case scenario is 240v through the 12v line.

Better to visit Overclock/ers/Scan/Misco/Ebuyer etc and get a decent one for £50+.

I've got a 550watt Enermax that's about 5 years old and it cost about £100, but it's rock solid and will probably outlast me.

PS, PSU's can pack a nasty punch if you touch the wrong side of the fuse holder or pcb.

mart360

novatech, they do them from £5

but you must get the £500 pound one , cos everyone says its the best..

buy what you can afford and are happy with

Mart

Simon C

Yup I do, and that was fine. Twas the quick blow that went.

Simon C

Cheers guys. Took the oppertunity to get a quiet 400w PSu at teh same time (the last 1 being 400w but not so quiet).

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like a short circuit somewhere. Possibly the fan in the PSU has packed up.

Castrol

I got a Hiper 580W from PC World about 9 months ago. Modular, under £60 and very, (very) quiet. Oh, and in stock on a Sunday when I needed it!

Cheers

Daz34

It's not worth wasting money on a cheap nasty one.
They don't supply the advertised output for sustained periods, overheat and if they go they can cause a lot of damage to you system.
Spending £50-£60 on a good one that will last years isn't much hardship.
I have often found that people having issues with system instability and random lockups are often solved by a good psu as well.

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Seconded. A very good PSU.