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Anna Villarreal
Anna Villarreal

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PSU Drama: Unwitty Resolve XD

TLDR;

Use the cables that come with your new PSU, and check all cable connections thoroughly after a mod!


I turn my PC off. It needs a solid rest on occasion, right? No problem. Until I go to turn it back on. Nothing! Not even an inkling of trying to do anything.

Drama has ensued.

I built this pc as my first build < 6 months ago. What terrible thing have I done that it no longer turns on!?

What horror - I spent so much effort.

I immediately tried all of the obvious things...

  • Power switches
  • outlets
  • surge protector
  • cables

Nope. Not the problem.

I then started thinking maybe its the power supply? Not getting power, must be power supply. (Hang in there with me.)

I made a special trip to the store, fully convinced that it was the PSU. (Less then 6 months old, did get a cheaper-ish one.) I return it, and get a newer, fancier one. (ROG STRIX 1000w) I was like, well I'm not going cheap on that again! I bring it home, and here's where the real chaos starts.

ROG strix PSU

I liked the cables on my old PSU better than the new ones.

PSU cable before

I wanted to keep as many as possible, including modifying a clip so it would insert into the new power supply.

PSU cable after cutting

I realize now that this should have been a huge red flag, but in my newness I said "The pins are the same, they should work." This is logical, no? XD

Connecting PSU cables

So, I've got my haphazard cable situation going on, and again, nothing. Nothing turns on. Why? Time to pick apart my computer and figure out the cause. Remove the ram, nothing. Remove the graphics card, nothing. Remove everything including the battery on the motherboard, and put it back in... nothing. Did I unknowingly fry my motherboard? This is outside of my current diagnostic toolset.

Before I continue, I also want to point out that I had also recently been playing with my fans and LEDs in my case. I discovered that the f-panel connector was disconnected, and I'm guessing I removed it upon fadunkling with the tiny cables, and forgot to plug it back in. The power button is not going to work without that! I was like, that's gotta be it. I plugged it in before I went to the store and tested it... still nothing.

Front panel connection

Concerned I just ruined my entire world, I make a second trip and drag my entire system fully reassembled (and its a good thing I did) to the computer store. It was heavy, and felt very dramatic. I bring it to the counter and briefly explained my situation. He took a 60 second look at my computer. The guy asked if I used the cables that came with my new PSU. I told him I used some of them. He said he wouldn't even look at it unless everything was connected with the cables it came with.

Feeling slightly defeated, I went home with a new plan. I had reservations like 'yeah right its the cables.' How dumb would that be? On my way home I had a conversation with google and started to feel more and more dumb! Perhaps in my wanting pretty wires I was shooting myself in the foot.

I come home and replace the cables, I noticed how the proper connectors just snap in so easily! Like magic, it freaking turns on effortlessly. I felt my soul run through my body. I was mentally preparing to buy a new motherboard, ect. Guess I have a new PSU out of the whole situation, like I secretly wanted anyways.

Functional PC

Yes - that is a piece of selenite in my case. Infinite good vibes.

NEVER AGAIN

So, how was your weekend? XD

Top comments (2)

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moopet profile image
Ben Sinclair

I've heard lots of horror stories about people doing things like changing model of PSU even with the same make, using the old cables and blowing it up because the polarity was reversed or something. They don't adhere to any standards at all!

Glad you got it sorted.

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annavi11arrea1 profile image
Anna Villarreal

Yeah that's horrible! I'm so glad I know for the future now. Hopefully this post can help someone. Definitely don't want to explode anything. XD