FYI - I installed the latest BOINC update yesterday, not as service, and left the PC running. A couple of hours later the computer was dead. I removed and disconnected the PSU and opened it up, saw that the hard-wired fuse was open. When I tried bypassing it, I got fireworks.

PC is a G213 PowerSpec (Microcenter House brand) from 2012, Intel core i7 (8-core), 48 GB RAM, NVIDIA video, 2 SSDs, 2 HDs. PSU was an Allied model SL-8500-BTX / AL-D500EXP 500W. Running Windows 7. I don't know the BOINC version number because the PC is dead. I believe the only active project was Rosetta.

I ordered an exact replacement PSU, only available through eBay. If anyone knows, I'd like to know if there is a newer replacement with higher power rating that I should buy.

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FYI - I installed the latest BOINC update yesterday, not as service, and left the PC running. A couple of hours later the computer was dead. I removed and disconnected the PSU and opened it up, saw that the hard-wired fuse was open. When I tried bypassing it, I got fireworks.

PC is a G213 PowerSpec (Microcenter House brand) from 2012, Intel core i7 (8-core), 48 GB RAM, NVIDIA video, 2 SSDs, 2 HDs. PSU was an Allied model SL-8500-BTX / AL-D500EXP 500W. Running Windows 7. I don't know the BOINC version number because the PC is dead. I believe the only active project was Rosetta.

I ordered an exact replacement PSU, only available through eBay. If anyone knows, I'd like to know if there is a newer replacement with higher power rating that I should buy.

It’s not necessarily a higher power rating that you need but you can get higher quality PSUs, the main thing is making sure that you get a PSU with the connectors that you require.

Your motherboard needs 1 x 24 pin board connector (often referenced as a 20+4) and an 8 pin CPU connector (sometimes shown as a 4+4) and you then need connectors for each of your peripherals such as the disk drives. The standard PSU comes with 3 molex, 4 sata, 1 floppy and 2 PCIe connectors so you need to check which of those you box uses.

I have had a couple of original psu's go dead over the years. In each case I have gone for a higher quality one of either the same or higher power rating and they have lasted till I gave the PC away in one case and the other it is still running at over twice the life of the original. I think bad luck rather than anything else.

(Sorry, I don't see how to edit this post)

I now believe that the PSU failed because of a momentary power outage a few days earlier, when it was very windy. Updating BOINC must have been a coincidence. It has been running fine for over a week with an exact replacement from eBay.

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BOINC definitely is not to blame for your PSU blowing up. ::rolleyes::