Troubleshooting a Faulty Power Supply: A Case Study with the EVGA 210-GQ-1000-V1
When upgrading a computer system, finding the right components and ensuring their compatibility is crucial. However, sometimes even new hardware can introduce unexpected complications. This blog post shares a recent experience with troubleshooting a potentially faulty power supply (PSU)—specifically the EVGA 210-GQ-1000-V1—after it caused the failure of two hard drives.
The Situation
While assisting my son with a computer upgrade, we decided to replace his existing power supply with the 1000-watt EVGA model. Prior to this change, the computer was functioning perfectly, featuring both a boot SSD and a secondary storage HDD connected via the same SATA power cable at different points.
In our initial setup, we retained some of the existing cables (both VGA and SATA) from his former 550-watt EVGA unit since it was also semi-modular.
Signs of Trouble
After the installation of the new power supply, we noticed an issue: the PSU immediately entered a protective mode. Although the fans initiated their spin, a faint ‘click’ followed by an abrupt halt indicated that something was amiss.
Our troubleshooting process began with disconnecting the storage HDD and shifting the SATA power from SATA 1 to SATA 2 on the new power supply. Assuming we had encountered a faulty cable, we swapped out the SATA power cable and reconnected it to SATA 1, which gave the impression that everything was functioning properly.
The following day, however, my son reported that while the computer was operational, it only recognized the boot drive. The storage drive remained unresponsive.
Continued Investigation
To explore this further, I decided to test an SSD that my son intended to use as a replacement for his boot drive. Unfortunately, this ended disastrously as the new SSD released the dreaded “magic smoke,” indicating that it had also succumbed to some form of damage.
After reverting to the original power supply configuration, everything functioned smoothly, except, of course, for the two now-defunct drives. This situation ultimately left my son with a pair of damaged hard drives along with a potentially compromised power supply—a bitter blow given the effort he put into saving for these components.
Moving Forward
Now, the pressing question remains: where do we go from here in diagnosing the power supply? With a multimeter at my disposal and a general understanding of how to
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Response to Troubleshooting a Faulty EVGA 210-GQ-1000-V1 PSU
It sounds like you’re experiencing issues with your EVGA power supply possibly due to an internal fault, which can lead to damage of connected components like drives and SSDs. Using a multimeter to test the PSU is indeed a good first step to verify output voltages. Make sure to check the +12V, +5V, and +3.3V rails, and compare them against the specifications outlined in the PSU’s datasheet.
When testing, ensure the PSU is disconnected from the motherboard and all peripherals. Use the multimeter set to DC voltage mode, and carefully measure the voltage on the pinouts of the main 24-pin connector (consult a wiring diagram for pin assignments). If voltages are out of spec or fluctuate significantly, the PSU might be faulty.
If you suspect the PSU is defective, it is safest to replace it rather than attempt extensive repairs. Power supplies can pose electrical hazards if damaged or malfunctioning. Consider testing the PSU in a different, known-good system if possible, or replace it with an equivalent wattage unit to ensure system stability and protect your other components.
Additionally, since you experienced damage to drives and SSDs, it might be worth inspecting internal components for damage or short circuits, and verifying the health of your system’s motherboard and other components to prevent further issues