Sound Card

[mayennaise]

Anyone know where the sound card is located? Our computer 'blew-up' yesterday (a loud phrump and lots of acrid smoke). It blew all the upstairs fuses as well!!. Mr M took it apart and has seen the that power pack has died so has ordered an new one from that famous t'internet auction site. While he has got the 'innards' out he thought he would fit a new sound card as the old one died a few months ago - but where is it pse?

[MarkRae]

It's either part of the motherboard, or a separate expansion card.

From your description, I'll be quite surprised if the machine is savable...

[ubasses]

most modern pc's have it integrated into the motherboard. If not it will be plugged into pci slot which will have audio input sockets outside the computer to help identify which it is.

[rojash]

Well it's easy to spot, because it has the sockets (green blue and pink) where you attach the speakers, mic, and line in.
If you can't spot a separate card then it's built in to the motherboard. Even if it's on the motherboard, that doesn't prevent you from installing a separate one.

[rojash]

... oh, and I agree with MR "From your description, I'll be quite surprised if the machine is savable"

[VHG]

Also some power supplies from "certain internet auction sites" are pretty dodgy so it may be worth buying a decent one.

[AlBags]

TAGAN

From eBay : )

Just try another compatible power supply FIRST to see if it boots up and everything work.
Then if it does .. swap it for a good one.

If I were you, I would get it booting BEFORE you swap sound cards .. otherwise you may have other hardware problems. You need to remove old one properly first (if it IS a separate card)

[Hymie]

Adding my two-pennies worth to the discussion on the salvageability of the PC – I would think that once the PSU is replaced, all will be OK.

For the computer to have taken-out other household fuses, it must have been a large fault current flowing (due to a short circuit). This would almost certainly have occurred within the primary circuits – and therefore likely to have not affected the PSU output to the PC motherboard (other than to drop to zero volts).

Certainly worth spending £20 or so; as the easiest route to getting the important data off the drives.

[mayennaise]

Will update you when PSU installed...........

[Old_Geezer]

If Mr. M knew the sound card had died then I'd have though he'd know where the sound card was.

In any case once opened up if it exists it'll be plugged into one of the many sockets that are positioned so the card is visible from the back of the PC. It'll be the card you plug your speaker leads into.

If it doesn't exist then you were probably using the mother board functionality. If you get a suitable sound card and plug it in windows should spot it, configure it, and use it instead.

Make sure you get one that fits into the type of sockets your PC has unused.

[AlBags]

OG .. Sound cards don't blow up like power supplies do.
He is thinking of replacing sound card too .. when he has tried for a good boot after replacing power supply with a spare.

[mayennaise]

Yipee - PSU arrived this afternoon and Mr M soon had it in place. All seems OK but decided not to do anything about the sound card as it is part of the motherboard. Thanks for all your replies.

[AlBags]

Good ... thought and crossed fingers it would be ok.
I have blown two up whilst using PC's .. one left a big black mark on wall behind.
One almost set fire to power supply I think.
Both ... luckily .. didn't take out anything on mobo.

[mayennaise]

It took nearly three days to get rid of the acrid burning wire smell - it seeped into everything in the room.