scary reviews say that an external power supply can damage a computer

[Concerned]

Is it really possible for an external power supply to damage a computer? No matter how good the reviews, Amazon always has some bad ones for every single power supply there is claiming it fried their computer. How would that even be possible?

I bought EVGA - W3 Series 450W 80 Plus Power Supply White from Bestbuy and it was dead on arrival. I then read others had the same problem with that.

I then returned it and ordered a different one from Amazon but it had female connectors instead of male so wouldn't plug into the 6 pin slot of my new graphics board so have to return it.

Anyway, do power supplies honestly have a chance of damaging or destroying a computer or any of its components?

Can anyone suggest a cheap one they have used without problems? Geforce GTX 1650 Super is the graphics board I have.

 

[FinneousPJ]

What do you mean external? That seems like a normal PSU to me, that goes in the system.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Don't believe everything that you read on the Internet. And since you didn't provide a link to any of these "scary reviews", or even a brand and model number for those supplies, I sure don't believe what I am reading here!

As far as your female connectors vs male, that makes no sense. I suspect you were looking at the the wrong cable. But since you again told us nothing about this "different one from Amazon" supply, we have nothing to go on.

As far a as suggesting a supply, how about filling out your System Specs then we can go from there?

 

[Concerned]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CXVKP3M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 This was the other one I got. It has two 6 pin connections, and neither would fit in the six pins of my graphics board. External power sources are outside the computer, and just run the relevant cables into the computer to hook to things. I guess you could fit them inside a computer if you actually had room for them.

 

[R0H1T]

External power sources are outside the computer, and just run the relevant cables into the computer to hook to things

Umm what

 

[rtwjunkie]

I can’t tell if the OP is actually this confused or if we are being trolled.

 

[Jetster]

It's possible, a bad power supply can harm your hardware. If you want some suggestions for a power supply ask and state what country and your specs

(He's confused)

 

[the54thvoid]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CXVKP3M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 This was the other one I got. It has two 6 pin connections, and neither would fit in the six pins of my graphics board. External power sources are outside the computer, and just run the relevant cables into the computer to hook to things. I guess you could fit them inside a computer if you actually had room for them.

Highly improbable. I recommend you start providing pics of the problems because what you're suggesting isn't possible. The 6+2 pin connectors supplied with that PSU are definitely for GPU power. You use the 6 pin part and leave the 2 spare hanging off.

 

[Concerned]

I already boxed it back up to return it. It had CPU written on all the cables though. And it was just 6 pins, not 6+2. Every single power supply at Amazon, I click the one star reviews, and they clami it damaged their computer. Perhaps people who shove things into their computers have them overheating or something. I had one of these over 20 years ago for an older computer, but it doesn't have the 6 connection(a row of three over another row of 3) but just six in a row and other connections. Can I use a converter with it?

 

[Frick]

Is it really possible for an external power supply to damage a computer? No matter how good the reviews, Amazon always has some bad ones for every single power supply there is claiming it fried their computer. How would that even be possible?

In short, don't trust user reviews, especially for PSU's. The only thing they can tell is if the unit was DOA, and nothing beyond that. "Fried their computer" I would take with massive amounts of salt unless hard proof. But yeah, it's power electronics, meaning if things go bad enough bad things happen. This is exceedingly rare in with modern PSU's though, at least when it comes to visible damage. The damage that you don't see is caused by ripple and you can't find that without serious equipment.

I bought EVGA - W3 Series 450W 80 Plus Power Supply White from Bestbuy and it was dead on arrival. I then read others had the same problem with that.

Could happen to anything, but that PSU is not very good anyway. It works though, but it might not be very suitable for modern GPUs (if it's group regulated, which I assume it is).

I then returned it and ordered a different one from Amazon but it had female connectors instead of male so wouldn't plug into the 6 pin slot of my new graphics board so have to return it.

Uh. Ok. What? No. I don't believe this is accurate.

Anyway, do power supplies honestly have a chance of damaging or destroying a computer or any of its components?

Sure. But as said, it's so uncommon as to be unheard of.

Can anyone suggest a cheap one they have used without problems? Geforce GTX 1650 Super is the graphics board I have.

A power supply? In your case I'd go with ... like a Corsair CX or somthing. It'll just work and it'll save you trouble. There are better units out there and probably for a better place but I don't know where a good place to find them in the US are these days and Amazon is a nightmare so...

I already boxed it back up to return it. It had CPU written on all the cables though. And it was just 6 pins, not 6+2. Every single power supply at Amazon, I click the one star reviews, and they clami it damaged their computer. Perhaps people who shove things into their computers have them overheating or something. I had one of these over 20 years ago for an older computer, but it doesn't have the 6 connection(a row of three over another row of 3) but just six in a row and other connections. Can I use a converter with it?

Don't read those reviews. Don't buy bargain bin units. It's as simple as that.

 

[Concerned]

If not male or female, what do you call it? The thing would not fit. Since it said CPU on it, is there a different connection end for CPU than for graphics boards?

 

[R0H1T]

Why don't you post pics of the cables you're having issues with? The PSU linked seems decent enough. Before returning it see if this can be solved over here.

 

[NoJuan999]

This is a Cheap (but still decent PSU):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DTMXD83?tag=bt3table-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1&keywords=500w%20power%20supply

Johnny Guru Review:

EVGA 500B 500W Power Supply – Page 6 – JonnyGURU.com

www.jonnyguru.com

 

[Concerned]

Thank you. I bought that one just now.

 

[FinneousPJ]

I can’t tell if the OP is actually this confused or if we are being trolled.

I'm worried for their safety.

 

[NoJuan999]

If not male or female, what do you call it? The thing would not fit. Since it said CPU on it, is there a different connection end for CPU than for graphics boards?

The PCI-E cable (6pin + 2 Pin) is for the Grahics Card and the CPU cable (4 pin + 4 Pin) is for the CPU power connection on your MB (usually located to the left of the CPU socket)

 

[Caring1]

I already boxed it back up to return it. It had CPU written on all the cables though. And it was just 6 pins, not 6+2. Every single power supply at Amazon, I click the one star reviews, and they clami it damaged their computer. Perhaps people who shove things into their computers have them overheating or something. I had one of these over 20 years ago for an older computer, but it doesn't have the 6 connection(a row of three over another row of 3) but just six in a row and other connections. Can I use a converter with it?

Think about this, those one star reviews are more a reflection of the installers I.Q.
And YOU'RE reading them!

 

[rtwjunkie]

Can anyone suggest a cheap one they have used without problems

I’m glad you selected one. Hopefully this will work out. Please though, in the future if there is one component in your system that must be quality, please make it the PSU. I’m not saying overly pay for it, but don’t try to go cheap.

You can save that description for some other components if you really have to. Think of the PSU as the “heart”, providing a stable supply of life to the entire system.

 

[timta2]

One thing that you have to keep in mind when reading reviews is that only a small percentage of people actually know what they are doing, when it comes to computer hardware.

 

[Palladium]

One thing that you have to keep in mind when reading reviews is that only a small percentage of people actually know what they are doing, when it comes to computer hardware.

Most people grossly underestimate the technical skills required to build a PC, let alone troubleshoot and picking the best value parts.

 

[Caring1]

Most people grossly underestimate the technical skills required to build a PC, let alone troubleshoot and picking the best value parts.

Were you one of those children that struggled with Lego blocks?

 

[TheLostSwede]

Were you one of those children that struggled with Lego blocks?

Now now, that's mean, there's Duplo for those kids...
And if that fails, Playmobile...

On topic, yes, it's possible to damage your computer with a power supply, if you plug things in wrong.
I have to admit that I did it once, but that was only because the modular cables could be put in the wrong holes on the PSU and I wasn't paying attention.
Cost me a couple of hard drive
However, that was not really the power supplies fault, it just did its job and delivered powered when turned on.
This should no longer be an issue on most moduler PSUs, as they've made sure that issue can't happen on more modern units.

Even further back, there were PSUs that were rated at a higher capacity than they could deliver, so at 100% load, they would fail and could fry your components.
Shouldn't be an issue today, but don't buy junk brands like the one you linked to at Amazon.
You really don't want a cheap power supply.

 

[olstyle]

I have to admit that I did it once, but that was only because the modular cables could be put in the wrong holes on the PSU and I wasn't paying attention.
Cost me a couple of hard drive
However, that was not really the power supplies fault

If there was no Poka Yoke
/Keying on the cables I would actually blame the PSU designer for that one. On a good PSU that error is technically not possible.

 

[yotano211]

Most people grossly underestimate the technical skills required to build a PC, let alone troubleshoot and picking the best value parts.

This sure happened to me. I have built many many mining computers some years ago. I just upgraded my nephews desktop to something much better including a B550 motherboard, I fried the motherboard because I didnt put spacers between the motherboard and the case, so the mobo was fried. It was a $200 lesson.

 

[TheLostSwede]

If there was no Poka Yoke
/Keying on the cables I would actually blame the PSU designer for that one. On a good PSU that error is technically not possible.

Yeah, it shouldn't have been, but apparently it was. I won't be making that mistake again for sure.

This sure happened to me. I have built many many mining computers some years ago. I just upgraded my nephews desktop to something much better including a B550 motherboard, I fried the motherboard because I didnt put spacers between the motherboard and the case, so the mobo was fried. It was a $200 lesson.

Eh? Why would you use spacers between the motherboard and case? You know that prevents the motherboard from grounding properly, right?
I think something else went wrong in this case, as those spacers haven't been in use for like forever.