Something exploded while playing game

[oskar23]

Hey guys

To start with this PC is 6 years old and just now something died.

Specs

3570k

evga z77 ftw

Be quiet l8 630w

Avexir 2×4gb

Gtx 950

 

While i was playing i heard loud boom and it just shut itself down. No signs of being alive. I didnt smell anything at all. My bet is mobo or psu. Any ideas how to make sure?

 

[Spotty]

2 minutes ago, okar said:

While i was playing i heard loud boom and it just shut itself down. No signs of being alive. I didnt smell anything at all. My bet is mobo or psu. Any ideas how to make sure?

It was most likely the power supply. Do not attempt to power the system with that PSU. Do not attempt to open the casing of the power supply unit, this may result in serious injury or death.

Just pray that it didn't take any other components with it.

 

Do you have a different power supply you can test the system with?

[oskar23]

Probably i can get another power supply to test everything. Psu is probably the oldest in this pc.

[Spotty]

8 minutes ago, okar said:

Probably i can get another power supply to test everything. Psu is probably the oldest in this pc.

There's a very good chance you'll be looking at purchasing a new PSU for your system.

 

15 minutes ago, okar said:

Specs

3570k

evga z77 ftw

Be quiet l8 630w

Avexir 2×4gb

Gtx 950

A good quality 450W/550W* unit would be suitable for your system even with a high CPU overclock or future GPU upgrade. (*450W is more than enough wattage. Some series of PSUs start at 550W and don't have a 450W model)
Let us know if you would like any help picking out a PSU, otherwise for general guidance check the PSU Tier List. (Anything Tier 3 or better would be good for your system)

[voiha]

As @Spotty said, it's the PSU. Happened to me once, bought a new PSU and everything ran fine afterwards.

[oskar23]

If its psu i will go for be quiet dark pro 11

[Spotty]

1 minute ago, okar said:

If its psu i will go for be quiet dark pro 11

They're very good quality units.

Unfortunately they are quite expensive and you're looking at about $140 USD for the Dark Pro 11 550W. That's probably more than you need to spend on a PSU for a somewhat older mid-tier system such as yours. You could save $50-$70 by going with units such as Corsair RM550x, TX550M, or Seasonic Focus Plus Gold, all which will also be suitable for your system.

Just something for you to consider.

[oskar23]

Do power supplies, from top shelf, have any goodies that prevent PC from damaging other parts once they explode like mine or it comes down to luck?

[Spotty]

Just now, okar said:

Do power supplies, from top shelf, have any goodies that prevent PC from damaging other parts once they explode like mine or it comes down to luck?

Yes. They have additional protections built in such as OTP (Over Temperature Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), OCP/UCP (Over/Under Current Protection), and SCP (Short-Circuit Protection).

 

I'm not entirely sure what protections your old BeQuiet Pure Power L8 630W had. A quick google found this article which claims that the unit had a full suite of protections built in, however there have been cases where manufacturers have claimed to have the protections but they have failed during testing.

Quote

Top safety and reliability

• Maximum protection of components (OCP, OVP, UVP, OPP, OTP and SCP). Certified based on international safety standards.

https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/be-quiet-pure-power-l8-630w-power-supply-review/

Regardless of any protections, under the right circumstances or due to manufacturing defects, even the best PSUs can still fail.

 

@Stefan Payne or @STRMfrmXMN might be able to help out with some better info on your Pure Power L8 and its built in protections, as well as more detailed information on the different types of protections built in to PSUs, and additionally which new PSUs you should be considering to replace it with.

[Stefan Payne]

1 hour ago, okar said:

While i was playing i heard loud boom and it just shut itself down. No signs of being alive. I didnt smell anything at all. My bet is mobo or psu. Any ideas how to make sure?

 

With the L8 its probably just the +5VSB Standby Controller that exploded. Its the small 8pin chip between the Heatsink and the smaller Transformer:

https://www.tech-review.de/include.php?path=content/articles.php&contentid=16475&page=4

 

Nothing to worry about. Just replace the PSU with either a Pure Power 10, 400W or if you want it cheaper, 400W System Power 9. The Performance A+ isn't that much cheaper.

 

[Stefan Payne]

1 hour ago, okar said:

If its psu i will go for be quiet dark pro 11

Waste of money, your System isn't high end enough to justify it.

If you want to go for good, get the Straight Power E11, its newer and fully modular and a bit cheaper as well.

 

You should save on at least a better GPU and the ~50€ or so that the E11 is cheaper is a good start.

[oskar23]

Thanks for help.

Money is not an issue. I just want to have stable base for the future if i want to upgrade. Just right now I dont play that much but who knows the future.

[oskar23]

Picked up today evga p2 650 and here is conclusion so far

PC went on once I connected everything but I didnt have HDMI signal to my screen. I was confused for a while but I put GPU in different slot and it worked. After 20min of running my PC  restarted. Should I worry or should I check something else?