power supply failure

[ReadyMan]

When I got home from work today, my computer was off but my fans were running and the LEDs were lit. I tried turning it off, even holding the power button for 15 seconds, but it wouldnt turn on or shut down.
I unplugged it, and plugged it back in but I nothing happens, no fans, no LEDs, nothing.
There's a slight burning smell (very slight) that I detect from the Power supply, so I'm assuming my power supply failed. It's 3 years old, but it's good quality: a 520W - OCZ ModStream ATX 2.01

Does that sound like the PS? I'm pretty lame when it comes to the components of a computer, but I'm tempted to buy one from best buy and try installing it myself. It's just a matter of plugging it into the same spots as the old PS, right?

[Krom]

Yeah, try using a different PSU in it to test (borrow one if you have to, doesn't have to be huge, just compatible). Hopefully it didn't fry anything else when it went.

Check the warranty that came with the OCZ, it might have a lifetime so you could possibly get a free replacement.

[ReadyMan]

Made it to Best Buy before closing and bought a Thermaltake Black Widow 550w PSU. It was $130.
They didnt have much of a selection...a couple of Antec PSUs and the Thermaltake in 450/550/850

I'll install it in the morning. Anything I should keep in mind when swapping out the old PSU and putting in this one?

Thanks for any input!
RM

[Krom]

Made it to Best Buy before closing and bought a Thermaltake Black Widow 550w PSU. It was $130.
They didnt have much of a selection...a couple of Antec PSUs and the Thermaltake in 450/550/850

I'll install it in the morning. Anything I should keep in mind when swapping out the old PSU and putting in this one?

Thanks for any input!
RM

Ewwww, Thermalmistake. (They use the really cheap even for Chinese manufacturing.) And $130 these days can buy you a 800+w major brand PSU, a 550w PSU should cost around $75-$85. Retail, ugh...

Other than that, its all pretty simple to swap a PSU. If the new one has more than one wire with drive power plugs on it, try to split the load up on each of them (load balancing the 12v rails).

[ReadyMan]

Thanks Krom (again!) You always come thru with helpfull input. PC is up and running now!

I'm on an island (oahu), so everything is a bit more expensive, and with CCity and CUSA out of business, Best Buy is the only show in town for parts that you can buy \"right now\". So $130 doesnt bother me so much.

I dont know if there is more than one wire with drive power plugs on this thermaltake.
Once I got the PSU out, I put the new one in, and then started disconnecting the old PSU, and reconnecting in the exact same spots with the new PSU.
This new PSU had the bonus of being able to only plug in to the PSU what wires you need, thus eliminating excess wires. The problem is that I have some wires that I dont know what they are or what they are for. It's a set of flat connectors with 5 holes...is this for another power scheme? The manual is a bit cryptic...but I think they are ata power connectors. Dont know why I would need that, cause as far as I can tell, it doesnt fit anywhere.

Despite a very slight plastic burning smell (gonna recheck that all the wires are clear of anything hot), everything is working fine.


Thanks again!
RM

[AceCombat]

5 leads with a flat black plug is a SATA Connector