hi, i have an old 450mhz pc, in the last week it has blown half a dozen fuses in the mains plug.. i'd be using the pc then all of a sudden it would die. am i right in thinking the power supply will need replacing? or could it be something else?? thanks.. ronnie

If this unit is causing mains power fuses to blow then do not under any circumstances continue to use it until you get it seen to by a professional. mains voltage is lethal. Fuses blow due to excess current drain. That current has to go to earth somehow and you better make sure it isn't via your body. I used to have a signature but it disappeared and I just couldn't be bothered writing another so please feel free to ingore this.

Hi, I can't improve much on the advice given. Try new mains power cables and even a different power socket. Most likely your power supply is about to fail seriouslym expensively and possibly spectacularly In failing it could take out your motherboard, CPU and memory. Don't risk this expense, replace the power supply as soon as possible. If you have a power connector for a graphics card then get the largest Power Supply in watts you can afford. DOn't go for a cheap PSU they are not worth it. hth Ceri

Try a different power receptacle. If you have an older house, it's possible that the wiring isn't up to modern electrical code. For instance, there should be a separate circuit for the fridge, one for the microwave, one for the furnace, one the washer/dryer, plus several general circuits for lighting & receptacles. For example, if your PC is plugged into a circuit shared with the fridge or an AC unit, it's possible the fuse might blow when the fridge or AC kicks on.

Good advice above...let me toss in another caveat. Most circuit breakers and fuses blow at an amp draw that is higher than the rating on the breaker/fuse. A 15a breaker might take 18-20a before it trips. As above, you have a problem that needs an electrician to troubleshoot. The advice to change the psu is solid but I feel your problem lies in the wiring of your building. I'd look there first as you gotta understand that household current is lethal and a great way to start a fire. Skip