Lightning Strikes: A Cautionary Tale of PC Misfortune

Experiencing a power surge, especially due to a lightning strike, can be devastating for any computer enthusiast. Recently, I found myself in a predicament that left me questioning the fate of my entire PC setup, and I wanted to share my experience in hopes of helping others who may face a similar situation.

The Incident

During a thunderstorm, I was using my computer when suddenly, a lightning bolt struck nearby. My PC made a startling noise — sparks flew from the interior, and it powered down instantaneously. After the initial shock wore off, I attempted to reboot the system, but to my dismay, nothing happened. No lights flickered, no fans whirred, and there was complete silence.

Upon further investigation, I carefully opened the case to troubleshoot. I reset the CMOS, hoping it might rectify the situation, but still, there was no change. It quickly became apparent that the problem likely lay with the power supply unit (PSU). Upon closer inspection, I discovered signs of melting inside the PSU, which confirmed my suspicions.

Seeking Professional Help

Recognizing that this was beyond my expertise, I decided to hand over my PC to a professional technician. They replaced my old PSU, a Litepower 650W from Thermaltake, with a new one. However, even with the new power supply, the computer remained unresponsive. At that point, my setup was still in the technician’s hands, and I was left wondering about the extent of the damage.

Assessing the Damage

I was anxious to know whether my entire system was compromised or if it was primarily the motherboard that suffered. As a brief summary, here are my specifications:

• Processor: Intel i3-3220
• RAM: 8GB
• GPU: GTX 980
• PSU: Litepower 650W Thermaltake

On top of everything, it was worth noting that my Ethernet router did not survive the lightning strike either. Luckily, I didn’t detect any burnt smells coming from the computer’s interior, which offered a glimmer of hope amid the uncertainty.

A Ray of Hope

After some nail-biting days of waiting, I received confirmation from the technician: the problem was not as severe as I had feared. The motherboard was the primary component that had failed due to the surge, while the rest of my setup remained intact