Need Second Opinion

[MrPurple]

Ok, I got a comp to work on, and the problem is hanging Windows XP (SP1), with artifacts on screen.
The system specs are as follows:
PIII 500
192 MB RAM
30 GIG Drive
CDRW
56K PCI Modem
Realtek NIC
Geforece 4 MX 440 64 MB RAM Dual display

The problem started with the upgrade to the GeForce vid.
After getting it and opening up and seeing dust everywhere I cleaned it out with compressed air and decided to turn it on.
I get nothing. This is weird since the system worked earlier today.
So I reset the BIOS, still nothing. Than I plug in my spare ATX PS, and boom it works.
Hmm, I plug the problem comps PS to a barebone, and nada. So I am guessing a blown PS. The question is what could have blown it, so that I can tell the guy.

Plus would the original PS be able to support that system after the GeForce was put it, since it is only a 150 W.
(This is the more important of the two questions)

I believe that the problems were caused by not enough power, but I would like a second opinion.
Alos I wonder what could have blown the PS.

Thanks guys.

Well, it could be that the extra power draw blew the PSU.

But blowing dust around could also do it.

Just ask Socalgal.

Cheers
Mick

[MrPurple]

I guess I will go with the extra power draw blew the PSU, finaly.
And since I am going with that I can easily tell the guy that his now dead PSU was just too weak to handle a GeForce 4 vid.

[wavefront]

How old was the PS?? I suspect it was old enough that it didn't need an excuse to die.

[MrPurple]

Well the comp is not that old, considering it is a PIII 500.
Well its old by most standrads but it has some kick still left in it.
But that PSU does look a bit out of the times.
It is just weird that it worked for a bit, true causing problems, and died when I got my hands on it. I hate trying to explain things like this to people. They always say that it worked when it was at their house, but once I got it it stoped.
Oh well guess I will have to calmly explain that the excess power drian caused by the Vid card slowly destroyed the PSU.

[wavefront]

Well it was just a 150W PSU anyway. They should have replaced it awhile ago because the system was underpowered.

[MrPurple]

Yeah, but the problem was that 1. the system was built for them by CompUSA.
2. The PSU is very small, or short. About half the length of a standard PSU.
Well I was told to get them a new case so all is good.