Last night, I tried to power on my PC and my power supply unit (PSU) let out a loud pop along with some sparks. I’m hoping everything else is okay, but I know I need to replace some cables. I’m not entirely sure which ones though. I assume I definitely need to replace all the PSU power cables, but should I also swap out the power cable from the wall to the PSU? What else should I consider replacing?
3 Answers
Honestly, I’d focus on replacing the power supply itself first. It’s likely dead if it made a popping sound and sparked. You definitely shouldn’t try using it again without testing, as that could be risky. Also, when you buy a new power supply, it will come with all the necessary cables you need to get back up and running!
Sparks are a sign your PSU is toast, so swapping out cables alone won’t help since you need a new PSU first. Just remember, when you replace the PSU, don’t mix cables from different units, as that can cause further issues. Stick with what comes with the new PSU!
You should absolutely replace the whole PSU, and just to be safe, don’t attempt to reuse any cables from the old one. Different power supplies can have incompatibilities, even if they look similar. The new PSU will include all the cables you need, so it’s best to start fresh!
Thanks for the advice! I’ll make sure to order a new PSU pronto.