Possible Fried system

[xtreemman]

ok i made a mistake trying to install me new video card and i feel like a total idot but i need some advice.

here is what happened first instead of just using a power connector straight from the power supply i used the split-power connector that came with the card and when i went to turn on the computer it zapped and didnt turn on. i know that its hard to say without lookin at the actual computer what happened but do u guys think that i blew up my video card along with everything else in the computer?

now that i have to computer i was lookin at the local computer store for a new mobo and processor cos mine are prolly shot. here are 2 deals that i found keep in mind i dont want a super cool top of the line computer just one that will play most games today.

Deal 1
AMD A64 3000+ with an Abit NF8-V for $200

Deal 2
P4 3ghz with an Asus P4S800D-X for $255

now assuming that my video card isnt blow ill be using that its a 6600gt, so what deal would be the best or are they both just a waste of money. Thanks a lot for your help.

[Poppa_Meth]

You may have just overloaded the PSU, in which case you may have just blown the PSU. What is your wattage on the PSU, what is on the +12v rail and what else was plugged in with the video card? I've split off to a 6600gt with no problem, but I did it from a cable connection to the diskette drive. If you hook it up along with your hard drive you are probably gonna pull too much juice on one cableset. Hook it up with the CD/DVD drives instead if you must split. Big thing first though is to make sure your PSU can handle it to begin with.

[xtreemman]

the ps was 300watt at 115 volts, i have 2 fans 2 hard drives a cdrom and a dvdr all hooked up

[xtreemman]

if you guys think that its just the power supply then can u recommend one for me to get?

[budz]

if you guys think that its just the power supply then can u recommend one for me to get?

Get a Antec True Power.

[madvideos]

400 or or more, I run a 450. As you add devices to your system you need more power, I have personally blown up 5 power supply's in the past 8 years due to I tried to put too much on it. That happened to me to, it sparked and smoked, worked great after that.

[Poppa_Meth]

I like the Antec TruePower 430W for about $70 on newegg.com. It has a very good 12v rail.

[xtreemman]

so is what everyone is guessing is that my ps burnt up?

[INFRATOM]

I suggest you pull the cards and wires out, 1st your new video card should match your requirements and I assume it does that you bought it. Reconnect everything fresh see if it works. Try your old video card see if computer /power supply is still good then test your new video card (wired correctly) you can try on another computer if you have one available. If your power supply is dead you might as well buy a new case it cost the same as power supply itself (almost if you buy a good one) good choice is Antec get 350 ~380 +, 430 watts come with big tower. if you have several HD's go with highest power. P4 needs lots of power .
good luck

[INFRATOM]

Quick note on new computer, technology is changing we are getting into new generation by next year. If you buy these systems go with ASUS & P4 they have good support, remember you will get involved with buying new memory and stuff and going to cost more!

[redwudz]

I would disconnect and remove the video card. Try to start the system. It won't do much without a video card, but the fans should spin and the drives light. You should get the beep code for no video card. If you get none of that, probably dead power supply. You might as well get a decent power supply if you have to replace it anyway.

If you do get something, try the video card with the proper connections or better yet, a different video card with no external power connection.

The bad news, if a PS shorts between connectors, it can take out the MB, the CPU, even the drives. I did this myself when a HD power connector shorted to the 5V leg of the PS. The only thing that survived was the HDs, one optical drive and the RAM.

[normcar]

I shorted a Power supply with a loose grounding connector on a round ide cable--the loose wire went in the slots on the powersupply and shorted and welded the wire to the PS. I blew the motherboard, the keyboard, and the cable, but the CPU is ok. I assume that there was a connection on the MB that fried before the powersurge got to the CPU. I would take out all the parts, and add them one at a time. You might purchase several parts from a store/online which allows you to return parts you do not need. A couple of months later one of the HDs connected at the time went bad. Who knows if it was the powersurge or a bad HD, but I would backup all critical data.