[jeystone]

My wife desktop pc decided to blow its PSU a few weeks back so off we trot to (a popular computer chain store) to buy a new one.

Now I aint toally stupid around computers. I can build em and install them etc etc etc. so I bought a psu and went home and fitted it.

What a noise!!!! (oh cost £30 ish)

took it back and asked for a quiet one please? £80 please i was told. No thank you I replied and bought the same thing off ebay for £25 thank you.

Now the object of this tale is :- standing infront of me at the computer shop was a nice young lady almost in tears as it seem her PC had done exactly the same as my wifes from what she was saying any way.

So instead of telling her that, the nice young man told her the PC was beyond repair (without even seeing it)

Nice young lady forked out £700 for a new one.

We dont go there anymore thank you, and as part of my job I can tell you a few more like that as well.

[Wolfeymole]

That's life Jey.

[Dave Hybrid]

Use an online seller like www.ebuyer.com in future chap.

I think their starting PSUs are a fiver, new.

[alex]

Grrrr. Don't get me started. Cheap, generic psu's should be banned. Full stop.

They're a sodding false economy.

The psu is the single most important component in any pc.

Rule of thumb when buying one: The heavier the better.

And check the spec on the 12v and 5v rails on the manufacturers website to ensure they match or exceed the minimum on the ATX spec.