I was playing a game when the power to several appliances in my room suddenly shut off, although the room lights stayed on. I heard a loud bang and immediately smelled something burnt. Since then, plugging the gaming PC into different outlets causes the breaker to trip again. I have an i5-10400F, an RX 6800, two monitors, and a 650W power supply. One monitor was also replaced shortly before this happened. I'm not very experienced with PC hardware—what should I do, and does the power supply need to be replaced with a higher-wattage model?
3 Answers
The power supply is the most likely point of failure. A bang followed by a burnt smell and repeated breaker trips strongly suggests an internal short or failed component. Unplug the PC and do not try powering it on again. Replace the entire PSU, and don’t open it because it can retain dangerous voltage even when disconnected. Also check the power cable and the PC’s other components for visible scorching before installing a replacement.
A good 650W unit may be enough for an i5-10400F and RX 6800, so the failure doesn’t automatically mean the PC needed more wattage. Buy a reputable replacement with the correct PCIe cables and adequate capacity, rather than reusing modular cables from the old PSU. The failed monitor could be unrelated, but inspect its cable and outlet for damage too.
Don’t keep testing it in different outlets—the breaker is tripping because it’s detecting a serious electrical fault. Disconnect the power cable completely and have the system checked if you’re unsure how to remove the PSU. If anything else smells burnt or shows damage, stop there and get professional help.
A quality surge protector or properly rated power strip is also worthwhile, but it won’t make a damaged PSU safe to use.