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alkestra · 01-30-2003, 04:07 PM

Hi, this is going to sound like a daft question, but, is there a way of testing the power unit ? I have a case here that belongs or did to my nephew. The case only has the motherboard processor and the power unit (EP-7KXA A AMD K7 Slot A Processor based main board (133/100MHz)
, but nothing works its dead. So I'm hoping it's down to the power unit & nothing else. One last thing my nephew said that when this unit was up and running and near to the time when it just wouldn't start he was having a lot of freezes and sometime it took one or two attempts to get to the desk top, is the power unit at fault here too ?
Alk

Alienware_Dude · 01-30-2003, 04:13 PM

You can test the voltages with a voltmeter/multimeter. Also, Antec makes a very handy tester that does all the work for you and tells you if the PSU is working; get it at NewEgg for around $13.

alkestra · 01-30-2003, 04:23 PM

Hi Alienware_Dude
Thanks for the quick reply, I'm in the uk so I won't be able to get the tester you mentioned, I have just taken the power unit out in case I had to take it to be tested. If the power unit was ok wouldn't the motor start the fan ? I'm new to this so forgive daft questions again.
Alk

Alienware_Dude · 01-30-2003, 04:30 PM

If the PSU fan is working, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good unit; there still might be something that's funking up the juice.

foghat46 · 01-30-2003, 05:12 PM

Hi Alkestra

Alienware_Dude is right. The 12V rail could be fine (that's what your fans run off of) but the 5V rail could be messed up. I've seen a few times when even putting a meter on an unstressed unit would show a good voltage reading, but putting the unit under load would then show the problem. Got stumped like that once, I learned from that one. If the comp was freezing up, a 5V rail going south will certainly cause that.

alkestra · 01-30-2003, 05:33 PM

Hi foghat46
Thanks for you reply, so it seem that the power unit maybe the problem afterall and also the culprit for the freezes. I'll look for a replacement now, thanks again for your advice.
Alk

Alienware_Dude · 01-30-2003, 06:09 PM

Make sure you get a high-quality unit from Antec, Enermax, Sparkle, Enlight. Stay away from Deer, and other generic units.

01-30-2003, 04:07 PM	#1
alkestra Member (3 bit) Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 6	How to do this ? Hi, this is going to sound like a daft question, but, is there a way of testing the power unit ? I have a case here that belongs or did to my nephew. The case only has the motherboard processor and the power unit (EP-7KXA A AMD K7 Slot A Processor based main board (133/100MHz) , but nothing works its dead. So I'm hoping it's down to the power unit & nothing else. One last thing my nephew said that when this unit was up and running and near to the time when it just wouldn't start he was having a lot of freezes and sometime it took one or two attempts to get to the desk top, is the power unit at fault here too ? Alk Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Last edited by alkestra; 01-30-2003 at 04:10 PM.

01-30-2003, 04:13 PM	#2
Alienware_Dude Red Sox Nation Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,546	You can test the voltages with a voltmeter/multimeter. Also, Antec makes a very handy tester that does all the work for you and tells you if the PSU is working; get it at NewEgg for around $13. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-30-2003, 04:23 PM	#3
alkestra Member (3 bit) Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 6	Hi Alienware_Dude Thanks for the quick reply, I'm in the uk so I won't be able to get the tester you mentioned, I have just taken the power unit out in case I had to take it to be tested. If the power unit was ok wouldn't the motor start the fan ? I'm new to this so forgive daft questions again. Alk Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-30-2003, 04:30 PM	#4
Alienware_Dude Red Sox Nation Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,546	If the PSU fan is working, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good unit; there still might be something that's funking up the juice. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-30-2003, 05:12 PM	#5
foghat46 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Race Car Heaven Posts: 347	Hi Alkestra Alienware_Dude is right. The 12V rail could be fine (that's what your fans run off of) but the 5V rail could be messed up. I've seen a few times when even putting a meter on an unstressed unit would show a good voltage reading, but putting the unit under load would then show the problem. Got stumped like that once, I learned from that one. If the comp was freezing up, a 5V rail going south will certainly cause that. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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01-30-2003, 05:33 PM	#6
alkestra Member (3 bit) Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 6	Hi foghat46 Thanks for you reply, so it seem that the power unit maybe the problem afterall and also the culprit for the freezes. I'll look for a replacement now, thanks again for your advice. Alk Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-30-2003, 06:09 PM	#7
Alienware_Dude Red Sox Nation Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,546	Make sure you get a high-quality unit from Antec, Enermax, Sparkle, Enlight. Stay away from Deer, and other generic units. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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