4 ms·

I had a little problem with my desktop computer (Intel I7-6700 CPU) a couple of months ago. It would start up and run OK, but eventually the file system would

I had a little problem with my desktop computer (Intel I7-6700 CPU) a couple of months ago. It would start up and run OK, but eventually the file system would switch itself into the read-only state, causing it to lock up. After a few weeks of trying everything to fix it, I noticed that the slider switch on the power supply was in the 230 volt position, even though I'm sitting here in the USA and the thing has been plugged into the 115 volt mains for years. That it could just about run on half the voltage it required(?) makes me think that the rightmost digits on voltages are there for historical or marketing reasons only, like the old 101 mm cigarettes, the 81 mg aspirins, and the guitar amp that goes up to 11.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
ofalkaed 3y ago
Those digits are fairly important to EEs. Common switch mode power supplies are not picky about input voltages and generally have a wide range of operating voltages, having the switch on 230 likely just knocked 20 volts or so off the input voltage to keep the 230 below the max voltage, not half it. The reason this eventually started causing problems is probably because your wall voltage has dropped and/or components in the supply aging and drifting from spec meant it could no longer maintain good clean output which triggered a safe guard in the computer.