Dead PSU or Motherboard?

[kasavien]

Hi just want to try and clear something up. I had a dead PC and i thought the motherboard was dead in it. I tried to power up the computer with another PSU, but the only PSU i had available was one from an ancient dell P2 machine that still worked, the PSU had what looked like the correct connector, but when the dell PSU was connected to the motherboard from the dead PC it wouldn't power up the board and it made a high pitched whining noise. Could this be because the dell PSU is not an ATX PSU and therefore couldn't power the board anyway?

What makes me think the PSU might be dead is that i tried using it to power up the old dell computer and it has all the right connectors but it wouldn't power up at all. One other thing is that before the PC died it had stability issues where it would power up but freeze when windows had loaded.

From the above information can someone tell me if it's the PSU or motherboard that is dead?

Thanks

Andy

[IAmATeaf]

Difficult to say really. If the PSU had the correct connectors then it should power up the mobo. What vid have you got in the dead PC, is it 1 that needs a separate power connector, if it is then could account for the loud whine. You also need to test all the components from the dead PC 1 by 1 to see if they are working.

[fat jez]

Dell PSU's are invariably non-standard. They may look like a regular ATX one, but the pin out is usually different.

They have to be the most custom and bespoke machines ever!

Cheers,
Stephen

[iranu]

Can you post your full system specs including PSU make and wattage and OS please. It sounds like a dead PSU rather than motherboard. Does the PSU smell of "burnt electrical smell"?