Update: computer/lightning=ouch

[Cupitor]

Ok, so here's what happened:

Walked into computer room, no interwebz, monitor dead, modem dead, router lights on, USB ports (front) not working.

Had as much surge protection I could get without a commercial liscence+2 big ass APC/UPS etc.

Brought some parts this morning to my "knows everything about tech stuff guy", who owns one of those electronic parts stores that sell through phonebook sized catalogue only. He builds radar systems (and is German).

I had no idea what a near-close lightning strike could do- as in:

aside from taking out four street lights but not having any "power outs"...

The electric monster-thing came into my abode via (1) the cable-coax straight into my cable modem. Meter read the modem wall-wart dead. The ill-mannered voltage left the modem via Ethernet cable into (2) the router. Router wasn't 100% dead like the modem, lights still on, but toast. Onwards- sparky left the router (3) via cat cable (25') into the LAN port of the p9x79 deluxe mobo. From there, it sizzled the "NIC" and the front USB header/section, which sizzled a new monitor.

(The modem/Ethernet "problem beginning")

I had no idea cat cables could carry such crappy current, but then my friend explained to me the magic of "doesn't matter, lightning does what lightning wants, no amount of surge/protection/backup etc. will stop a near-direct/close smack of the old electric.

Lucky part: the network/LAN circuitry happens to be isolated from the $$$ parts of the (the particular) mobo I have...otherwise, I'd be upset due to 64 gig molten quad channel, a dead 780 MSI Lightning (good memory version), hexacore corpse and moribund raid arrays.

So I have to replace Modem, Router and Mobo.

I Hope(!) it's still there but last week m-center had a Rampage IV Black on clearance for $300>

I'm going to go there now!

[Firearm2112]

This post confuses me.

[Imabigmac]

well I have to say this is rather unlucky. 

[mariohead123]

well I have to say this is rather unlucky. 

most certainly

[mlbguy4life]

My house got hit by lightning about a month ago, it fried 3 HDTV's and my ps3 , thank god my pc was ok.

[SeriouslyMikey]

You see! Unplugging my PC when I go to bed isn't a bad idea! 

[Swndlr]

You see! Unplugging my PC when I go to bed isn't a bad idea! 

nerd

[babbaj]

-derp-

[babbaj]

Why not just get a new card and a usb hub?

[FuzzyYellow]

Wow! I have never seen(or heard) of something like this happening! i am kinda scared to use ethernet now!

[Cupitor]

Heh- well, I figure, living in an area where tornados rip on 1>mi yearly+having had Ethernet-LAN connection for 8+ years, it's not so bad. Last year 2 people I know had their homes totaled. The year prior, 1 person I knew had their roof ripped off. A few years back, a few dozen ppl died and the year prior to that, although it was 100mi+ away from my loc, 800+ died from 1 day of tornados (yes, it was that story which was all over the news fer a bit).