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Question

Is my SATA power cable fried?

Sep 11, 2017 2:15AM PDT

Hello.

I have built my first computer a year ago and it has done an amazing job all this year. I had new components in 10+ year old computer case.

Specs:
GPU - Gtx 1060 6GB G1 gaming
CPU - Intel I5 6500
RAM - 8GB 2133
HDD / SSD
PSU - silverstone strider plus 500w bronze rated modular
Etc

So I decided to get a new case and put everything in it.

That's just what I have done.

I have forgot to plug in 4pin CPU connector and started the pc anyways. (Probably has nothing to do with situation)

Heard electricity crackling inside my PC and it shut itself off after few seconds...

Very bad smell was coming from SSD (Samsung 750 evolution 250gb) (burnt electronics) and on the connectors that were connected to ssd, mainly SATA power.

My HDD however doesn't smell at all and PC is working fine. It boots me to BIOS. Says there are no SATA connections even tho HDD is connected. (Windows in HDD)

Tried different ports but nothing.


I'm about to order a new PSU + SATA cable. I can't get the SATA power cable in Lithuania (Silverstone), would cost me more than 30eur just for a wire...

Will order EVGA 600B1 600W.

Any idea what could have caused this? Am I doing the right thing now?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: fried
Sep 11, 2017 2:47AM PDT

It's the SSD drive, the cable or even the motherboard that's fried. Try the SSD in an external enclosure. If that's fine, order the new cable. If it doesn't work, order both.

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Update
Sep 11, 2017 3:27AM PDT

Just got HDD from my friend without any cables and it works...... That means both HDD and SSD are dead...... How is this even possible.

Good that I didn't order PSU yet.

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Edit
Sep 11, 2017 4:16AM PDT

Any idea what could've happened and how to prevent it??

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One clue is "new components in 10+ year old computer case."
Sep 11, 2017 7:44AM PDT

The most common gaffe when re-using an old case is not removing all the old METAL standoffs. The reason is there may be one that is uncalled for and will short out the backside of the motherboard causing any number of problems.

How to prevent? Learn from others that made that mistake and use this as a lesson about how to build a PC. From scratch you may not have made that mistake but most often, when folk recycle like this, it happens far too often.

How to prevent? There's no magic in building a PC today. I've seen folk get upset that there are places in the case for the mounting posts where their now toasted motherboard fried because of the extra standoffs.

I guess the only real fix is for them to not build?