Power Supply? Heard a noise & then smelled smoke!

Please tell me what you think. I would like to try to fix it myself if at all possible. I got my compu 5 years ago. Gateway has been good to me all these years. Thanks for any advice! :confused Mari

 

Welcome aboard, ya most likely the power supply. 5 yrs. is pretty good for the garbage that they put in there. I just hope that the blowup didn't take anything else out.

 

The prime suspect is the power supply unit, but it could be almost anything.

Given the symptoms you described, some component has probably fried itself. Open the computer's case and look around. The damaged component will probably be quite obvious visually unless it's within the PSU's own box. If the damage isn't visible, pull the PSU and smell it. If there are fried components inside the PSU, you'll likely have no problem figuring it out from the smell.

 

You don't have to pull the PSU to smell it - just stick your nose in the back. Repairing PSUs should be left up to a qualified technician - remember, anything that plugs into the wall can kill. But if 5 years old, you should just replace it.

Use the eXtreme PSU Calculator Lite to determine your power supply unit (PSU) requirements. Plug in all the hardware you think you might have in 2 or 3 years (extra drives, bigger or 2nd video card, more RAM, etc.). Be sure to read and heed the notes at the bottom of the page. I recommend setting Capacitor Aging to 30%, and if you participate in distributive computing projects (e.g. BOINC or Folding@Home), I recommend setting TDP to 100%. Research your video card and pay particular attention to the power supply requirements for your card listed on your video card maker's website. If not listed, check a comparable card (same graphics engine and RAM) from a different maker. The key specifications, in order of importance are:

1. Current (amperage or amps) on the +12V rail,
2. Efficiency,
3. Total wattage.

Then look for power supply brands listed under the "Good" column of PC Mechanic's PSU Reference List. Ensure the supplied amperage on the +12V rails of your chosen PSU meets the requirements of your video card. Don't try to save a few dollars by getting a cheap supply. Digital electronics, including CPUs, RAM, and today's advanced graphics cards, need clean, stable power. A good, well chosen supply will provide years of service and upgrade wiggle room. I strongly recommend you pick a supply with an efficiency rating equal to, or greater than 80%. Look for the 80 Plus - EnergyStar Compliant label. And don't forget to budget for a good UPS with AVR (automatic voltage regulation).