I turned on my computer and after a few minutes, I heard a popping sound along with a spark. Shortly after that, the entire system shut down and won't power back on. I suspect that a capacitor in the power supply (MSI A750GL 80 Plus Gold) blew, but I'm worried it might have damaged other components as well. Is there a way for me to determine if the power supply is the issue? By the way, there's also a burning smell coming from inside it.
4 Answers
Yes, you can troubleshoot the power supply like any other component. Start by visually inspecting the motherboard for burn marks or damaged capacitors. Then, if possible, borrow another power supply to see if your system turns on. Just a heads up, connecting a faulty PSU to a new part could cause issues, although it's rare.
Definitely check out the power supply first. Don't open it up, as it's dangerous. You can test it by unplugging it and using a paperclip to jump the right pins on the 24-pin connector to see if the fan spins. If it does, your PSU might still be good, but it can be damaged even if it starts up. Always double-check your PSU's pinout online before doing this.
The easiest way to diagnose this is to swap in a different power supply. If your computer powers up with the new one, then the original PSU is likely the issue. PSUs can fail like this, so it's not uncommon. If you're not comfortable with doing this yourself, I'd recommend taking it to a professional technician.
This reminds me of when I had my graphics card blow up! Be cautious and give all the components a sniff test. They usually have a burnt smell if they're fried.
Good advice, but remember, if you're checking things yourself, don't open the PSU! It has high voltage components inside that can be dangerous.