Power supply surge lockout (clicks once and requires AC unplug to reset)
The power supply internal supervisor IC triggers Over-Current Protection (OCP) or Short-Circuit Protection (SCP) due to an electrical surge or transient spike, latching into a protective shutdown.
Internal desktop parts run on harmless 12V DC voltage and cannot shock you. Simply unplug the wall power cable first, then touch the unpainted metal case frame to ground static electricity.
Common Symptoms & Tells
- Audible 'click' sound from the when pressing power button, then silence
- Power button does nothing on second press until power cord is disconnected
- Occurred following a wall socket surge or nearby lightning strike
Interactive Fix Checklist
0 of 4 steps completedDischarge power supply internal capacitors
Unplug the AC power cord from the back of the . Switch the rocker to 'I', hold the case power button for 20 seconds, plug directly into an isolated wall socket (bypassing old surge strips), and test.
Disconnect all internal power cables except 24-pin and 8-pin EPS
Unplug PCIe power cables from the graphics card and all SATA power cables from hard drives and RGB hubs. If the PC now powers on, one of the disconnected accessories has an electrical dead short.
Inspect USB ports for bent metal pins touching ground
Examine every front and rear USB Type-A port with a flashlight. If a metal shield pin is bent inward and touching the center plastic tab, it grounds the 5V rail and trips instant latch-off.
Test with known-good power supply unit
If the continues clicking off under zero load, the internal primary capacitor or MOSFET has suffered an electrical breakdown and the power supply must be replaced under warranty.
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