I have some issues with the PSU.

[Selbio]

Well the other day I opened my pc to install a video card and I found a bunch of the power supply cables were damaged. So I got me some electric tape and taped them up as much as I could. After I got done doing that I noticed a lot more that I just couldn't get to because there were almost inside the unit they weren't showing any wires but it was noticeable that they were rubbed roughly against the sharp edges of the case. Anyways the pc works fine now but the power supply won't last long because when I sent the pc for repairs they put in the unit upside down and there is a lot platic smell coming from the back of the pc.  So while it works I was wondering if I should worry all those wires. So they represent any potential danger? Is it safe to leave the pc plugged into the surge protector without having to worry if a pc can catch on fire?
I'm planning on getting a better PSU that way I can add some more ram but I just don't know which one to get because they all have a ton of cables and I don't have a very roomy computer.
My pc is a Compaq Presario S6500NX

Thanks in advance

[HeavyMetal]

Well, I'd sure be worried. Melting wires is not a good thing. I dont know how your set up, but if there are exposed wires, you could short things out and possibly ruin the mobo, maybe short out the chip fan and fry a chip. I dont think any surge protector will save you from a short, or a fire. I myself sure wouldnt leave it plugged in unattended.

Speedbird_1961

[Jared]

Sounds like trouble just waiting to happen...

[Selbio]

Well I took care of some of the cables already. None had any wires exposed but I felt more secure taping them up. The thing that wires me a lot is the PSU installed upside down. Do you know what I mean by upside down? You know how the PSu has a circuit board inside on its upper side? Well they installed it in such way that it's actually right next to the CPU and on top of that they designed the BIOS to where the fans run at 40% speed. So the CPU has to reach 67C before they run at full speed. The temps used to be 37C before I installed the new video card. Now the temps are about 43-45C idle probably from that PSU working too hard and overheating. I know this unit will not last long specially with the plastic smell coming out of it.

What should I do in this case though? I want to have a normal pc not one I have to worry about the PSU blowing up. The pc is still under warranty but I'd like to take care of this. If I called HP right now they'll tell me that it'll be ok and that kind of thing.
I really want to take care of the problem but I don't know what to do.

By the way here are my system specs:
AMD XP Barton 3000+
512 ddr PC2700 Infineon chips
160gb Seagate barracuda hard drive
ATi Radeon 9200 128mb 128bit
Windows XP Home Edition
Onboard Realtek AC'97 sound card
DVD-RW
CD-ROM

[Selbio]

I was talking about the unit being upside down and all that. Does it really matter if it is upside down?

[Iroquois]

67C is hot for a CPU. AMD recomends that you don't let it get above 70C. Mine runs at 52 idle and 56C load and even that's too hot.

My recomendation, get that power supply replaced ASAP. Your CPU is also getting way too hot. Pop in a new CPU fan and heatsink. Copper heatsinks are the best. Ones with heat pipes are even better but they are more expensive. Makesure you get a good fan with it too. If you don't have a lot of case fans either, you should add more. CPU coolers can be bought from computer stores and online. You can get the case fans from places like Radio Shack.

In the mean time, unplug your PC and leave it unplugged until its fixed. If the wires are damaged, they may even be getting in the way or fan blades. Open up the case and see what kind of job they did when you get it back. If you see any wires dangling near any fan, just move them to a safer place.

[Selbio]

All the cables are well organised. They aren't touching anything except themselves.
They aren't nowhere close to any fans Either. The damage I was talking about was just scratches on the wire covers not the actual wire( sorry I should've clarified). It just looked li ke they've been rubbed against something but not enoknow. What PSU can I buy that does not have a load of cables? Most of the good ones have like 6-8 molex connectors and on top of that they have that annoying auxliary that all it does is take up space and I have a Micro ATX case which does not have a lot of room. I once tried to installed a fully sleeved Vantec ION with 420Watts but the cables were extremely long and I could not fold them. I need one that does not have that many connectors.
Does anyone know where I can find one?

[Iroquois]

Try looking around NewEgg.com. Most of them do have a lot of cables. My unused ones are safely tucked away at the top of the case.

[Selbio]

I don't really have room to put them on top of the case. They only way would be if I could just remove the cd-rom since I have it and a dvd-rw and then put all the unused cables on top of that dvd-rw or under it tied up.  This would be the only way but then it would just leave a hole in the front bezel. However, it sounds really good and it's probably what I'll do and try to find a way to cover that front bezel.
About the CPU fans.
The BIOS is set to run the fans at around 40% their full speed. No matter what fan I'll put in there, it'll run at 40% unless I hooked them straight into the PSU which sounds good.

[Jared]

Then also, could you not change the fan settings in the bios? Many bios systems have preset settings that can be changed to better suit the needs of the user...

just a thought...

[Selbio]

Well this is a custom made BIOS designed by HP.
I did nitced one thing. The BIOS says the CPU is around 60C idle but his is an ASUS motherboard and I have experience this in the past with ASUS boards, however; according to speedfan and sissandra the CPU is ~ 41C Idle so this was somewhat a relief.
I'll tell you what I'll do, I'm going to get me a piece of fiberglass and make a cover for the front bezel and then I'm going to remove the cd-rom and leave the dvd burner only that way I can have some space to put the unused connectors since most power supplies have a ton of cables.
Would it be ok to have all those cables sitting right on top of the DVD burner?

[Iroquois]

Simple solution to the fan speeds, a fan controller. If you have an empty 5 1/4'' drive bay, stick one of these in it. The fans are controlled through these, not the BIOS. They range from cheap ones (about $10US) that simply have dials on them that you can adjust the speed with. More expensive ones control speeds automatically, or manually. They also display crutial temperatures. They range from $24-$50US. I even saw some that fit into empty 3.5'' floppy bays.

Humm, just checked the Compaq site. Yours only has three bays and they're all full. Very odd. That's the problem with grocery store PCs. You've got a CD burner anyway so just pop out that floppy if your not using it and go with the 3.5'' controller. I see the warranty is only 90 days. You may even want to concider getting a better case for it when that runs up.

[Selbio]

Thanks,
I'll look into that, I've also thought about getting another case too but the pc is still under warranty and if I did installed everything in a new case and something goes wrong then I';ll have to put everything back in the old case and it can become a real headache.
As much as I hate it I'll try to keep the case for awhile but I can get a controller for one of the bays, the cd-rom in this case. I already have a dvd burner on the other bay so I don't really need a cd-rom.
What I have in mind though is uninstalling that cd-rom that way I can have that space to tie all the unused psu cables.

[congo]

Hi Selbio,

From what I've read in this thread, you should take the PC in for warranty service, that is if you haven't ALREADY voided your warranty.

You don't need a bigger power supply to add ram.

Use the BIOS to reset the fan speeds if the BIOS is actually slowing them.

Don't rip out your drives, it's still under warranty.... maybe.

I'm having another nightmare........ This time I'm a Compaq service technician..... and this guy walks in with his near-new Compaq Presario S6500NX .  I notice immediately a potent burnt smell, and a badly molded fibreglass modification to the front of the case where a drive unit recently resided. Closer examination reveals a PSU somehow wedged in upside down..... a horrible mess of electrical tape coating much of the wiring, or what remains of the wiring.......... and then there is the slightly soot blackened region of the case where I assume that horrible smell is eminating from!

How long have you had this PC Selbio?

[Selbio]

Congo,

I changed my mind last night after I talked to HP and told them what the situation was. The pc is still under waranty, all I have done so far was taped up some scratched wires. HP offered to send me a new unit at no cost after this I get the choice of installing it or taking it to an authorized service center for replacement.
I'll probably take it to the service center after I get me some more ram that way I won't have to open it ever again.

I'm not going take any drives out or anything.
I realized that all the Asus boards that I've had in the past gave me bad temp readings just like this one in the BIOS. However, If I use speedfan, SisSandrasoft or any other third party utility then the temps read at 39-42C idle and 58-62 full load( this is when both the case fan and the cpu fan start working at full speeds, extremely loud too).

I have had this pc since May this year. The pc works fine up until I open it and stick my hands in it.

Don't you think this is way too much for a 250W psu?
AMD XP Barton 3000+
512 ddr PC2700 Infineon chip
160gb Seagate barracuda hard drive
ATi Radeon 9200 128mb 128bit memory bandwith
Windows XP Home Edition
Onboard Realtek AC'97 sound card
HP DVD-RW 300n
Asus CD-ROM

SO all that + another 512 stick of ram?

Matter of Fact I called hp right this minute again and they told me that the repair center is going to replace the power supply at no cost and I can leave the new videocard and memory in there so this is what I'll probably do.