Is It Time to Replace Your Power Supply?

SOunds like something a good computer repair shop should do, than I.

Yeah,it can be scary replacing a desktop power supply.Most of a computer power connectors are standard,so it really is easy to to.I have replaced three PSUs (power supplies)already and can say it is satisfying to get a dead computer going again.

Its a good idea after installing(or not) a new power supply to check the supply voltages with a dvm to make sure all the voltages are in tolerance.

Power supplies are one of the most important and most neglected components in a system. I had a power supply take out my processor and motherboard so failures can be nasty.
And this was a so called name brand.

I can say with all honesty and past experience, one of the first things I learned about having a computer 24/7, first try blowing out any "dust bunnies" in the power supply.

I have found that many times having problems with the components within your computer ... The first thing I do is removed the side panel of your desktop tower and simply clean out the "dust bunnies." If, that isn't the problem, at least you have solved one issue that can cause you plenty of problems.

Another thing that is very important, how size power you can use with the motherboard. Yep, some motherboards can not take a 1000 watt power supply, they will only take up to say 300 watt. I had to replaced the power supply on the computer I am now using. It could only handle a unit up to 350 watt. The graphic card that I had purchased only needed a minimum of a 300 watt power supply and I was glad that I found a power supply that would be right for both the motherboard and graphic card.

Just to say one thing, if, you do need to use a computer tech or shop ... Please make sure that they are reliable and know truly what they are doing. There are many good, honest and reliable Computer Repair Shops and Computer Technicians. Bob Rankin is one fine example. I was taught how to do computer repairs by a dear friend of mine, 23 years ago. So, I do my won repairs and of course, building computers from scratch.

The best thing you can ever do for your computer desktop tower ... Is to have a rountine mainentace of blowing out the "dust bunnies", and to know how to do simple things like replacing your memory modules, power supplies and graphic cards.

Another very important aspect when buying a new power supply component ... Does your other components take IDE or SATA connections? Just this simple knowledge helps you purchase the right one for your computer. As for laptops, the routine maintenence is a bit different, as is the replacing of the components. Bob has some excellent tutorials on replacing simple parts of a computer be it a desktop tower or laptop.

Bob, excellent article for all your readers!

Good info, just about a week too late. My power supply quit with no other sign except that nothing worked. I always thought there would be a burnt smell when a power supply failed but there was nothing.

Some power supplies have a fuse inside, but don't count on it. If nothing at all happens when you press the start button (ie no fan bump, no beeps etc, one possibility is that the power button has failed, or the reset button has stuck closed. Power supplies can be jumpered to rule out these things, but this is best left to the experts- or else!!!

The strangest PS failure I know of happened to a friend, many years ago. His hard drive had failed under warranty & he sent it away for replacement. I lent him an old HDD of mine to get him by, but in a couple of days it failed also. It was an older drive, so no suspicions were raised. His warranty replacement arrived & I put it in and set it up. In a few days he called me and this replacement had also failed. I told him that the best course of action was to replace the PS. We got a new PS & the second replacement HDD lived happily ever after.

Unfortunately, most big-name computers quite often use a proprietary designed power supply in their tower/desktop computers, which means that the owner of one of those brands may have no choice but to buy a new (more expensive) PSU from the manufacturer, because those computers don't necessarily follow the accepted guidelines of size and shape as compared by the PSUs made by the aftermarket makers, like Cooler Master, Corsair, NZXT or Be Quiet, and others, often used by computer builders.

According to Carey Holzman, a 25 year computer technician and builder, who has dozens of computer-related videos on YouTube, unless someone is a severe gamer or is creating high-definition movies and games that need a high-end, expensive video card, or may be using their computer for server purposes, then a PSU doesn't need to be any larger that 600 watts, and usually higher wattage units are a waste of money. A good PSU can generally be found on-line for well under $100.00.

The article refers to an overloaded power supply as one of the causes of a failure.

While I was providing technical support (10 years back) I recall a conversation with a technician for an OEM. At that time the technician told me computer power supplies have built in protections. These would include current overload, voltage protection and temperature.

Was the technician correct and do computer power supplies still have built in protections?

@DaveSmart >> The answer is yes and then some more. But the better answer should be either "maybe" or "sometimes"; after factoring in the 'you gets what you pays for' quotient.
My last build project included a Seasonic SnowSilent (80 GoldStar certified) modular power supply for $180. I only paid that price because of the peace-of-mind of a 12-year warranty and the fact that all the cables as well as the fan are user replaceable.

The original complainant was talking about a 'noisy fan making an awful noise'. As Bob has reminded everyone that HEAT is the enemy of the computer. It's my experience that the fans provided are of insufficient cooling ability to maintain correct ambient temperatures both above the CPU and within the Transformer Cage.

Generally - the noise is not the armature breaking down but its axle which has dried out due to excessive heat and a few drops of Sewing Machine Oil can often cure the problem or the use of a suitable viscosity of lubricant grease.

Sometimes the problem can be alleviated (noisy fan) by altering the vertical by some 5-10 degrees.

I have always insisted that the side panels of tower pcs should be removed - especially in tropical countries such as mine and, for good measure, a free-standing 8" conventional fan connected sending cool air to the interior of the
tower radiating across the motherboard and any MODEM using a SIM card because the SIM card can expand in the heat and one starts losing internet access quite quickly and very frequently.

Since I took my own advice breakdowns and loss of Internet access are almost non-existent. The only evil I have to accept are the MS Updates hahaha.

The effects of PSU deterioration can be quite subtle compared to those Bob describes above. One I have come across more than once is that the computer's boot fails at the POST test, but then goes through normally on the second or third attempt, after the PSU capacitors have charged.

I recall a Dell desktop with a whine coming from the power supply fan. After discharging any power left in the supply, I opened the case, removed the center stick-on label on the fan and placed a drop or two of oil to the fan. Instantly, the whine was gone.

There are variety of bearing types being used for PC fan/cooling requirements, in addition to supplementing the plain-old 2-wire fans with (3-wire) PWM fans which can vary rotational speed of the fan. Things (care and feeding) tend to get more complex, as there are about 4 different types of bearing designs, some of which are sealed and some which require no lubrication at all. This link may help >> https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supplies-101,4193-18.html

I find that Noctua PC fans to be of the highest build/design quality with a warranty longer than any other (not that you will ever need to exercise it) but offers no competition to the 2-dollar junk coming from some slave market, while lacking any concern for the environment and/or quality.

MmeMoxie - You can put in any wattage PS higher than what is required to run the computer. The PS will only ever provide as much wattage/amperage as required, so it's basically impossible to "overload" a motherboard from a high wattage PSU.

My PS was killed by a power outage and my Fujitsu desktop PC is a bit over 5 years old. The power supply that became deceased is 250W and the shop replaced it with a 210W one. I did not know until I educate myself. Is it ok to replace 250W PS with a 210W one?