The power supply (PSU) is commonly forgotten once it comes to troubleshooting computer issues, but testing your PSU first of all can save you a lot of diagnosing headaches while fixing the problem. If your computer experiences issues such as hard drive errors, Blue Screen of Death crashes, or just simply won’t boot, you may be dealing with a bad power supply.
Before you start replacing expensive hardware, run these quick tests in order to test your PSU.
(1) Test if Power works properly:
- Turn off your computer. When the computer has been turned off, or if it isn’t starting to begin with, flip the switch on the back of the power supply. Unplug the power supply from the outlet.
- Open your computer case. Disconnect the PSU cables from all of the components inside the computer case. Follow each cable from the power supply to the component to double check that everything is unplugged correctly.
NOTE: Write down a note where everything was plugged into for when you reassemble the case.
- Perform a paper clip tester. Try using a paperclip in order to test your power supply and trick it into thinking that it has been turned on. To do this, straighten a paperclip and then bend it into a “U” shape.
NOTE: The paperclip will act as the pins that are inserted into the power supply that give it the “Power ON” mode.
- Find the 20/24 PIN connector that normally connects to your computer’s motherboard. It is typically the biggest connector for the power supply.
- Find the green pin and black pin (in most cases, pins 15 and 16). You have to insert the ends of the paperclip into the green pin (usually there is only one) and a neighboring black pin. Before you do this, double check to make sure that the power supply is completely disconnected from any power outlet. Make sure that is switched off, and that it is not connected to any computer components.
NOTE: The green pin is typically pin 15 on a pin chart.
- Insert the paperclip. Once you have placed the paperclip into each of the pins, place the cable someplace where it won’t be disturbed. Plug the power supply back into the outlet, and flip the switch in the back.
- Check the fan. Once the power supply is receiving power, you should be able to hear or see a fan moving. This will let you know that the power supply is at least working. If the power supply does not turn on at all, double check your pins (after unplugging) and try again. If it still does not turn on, then it is most likely dead.
NOTE: This test will not tell you if the power supply is functioning as it should, just that it is turning on. You will need to perform the next test to ensure that it is outputting correctly.
(2) Testing the Output
- Check the output through software. If your computer is functional and you can load your operating system, try using software to check your power supply’s output. SpeedFan is a freeware program that will read your computer’s diagnostics and report back your temperatures and voltage’s. Check the readouts to ensure that they fall within accepted tolerances.
NOTE: If your computer does not work, skip to the next step.
- Shut down the computer. Unplug the power supply from th outlet. Turn off the power switch on the back of the power supply. Open the computer and disconnect all of the components from the power supply. Follow the cables from the power supply to each component to ensure that everything has been properly disconnected.
- Test the power supply with a power supply testing unit. These are available online and from computer stores, and are not very expensive. Find the 20/24 pin connector on the power supply. This is typically the largest cable for the power supply.
-Connect the power supply testing unit to the 20/24 pin connector.
-Plug the power supply back into the outlet and turn it on. Your power supply should turn on automatically and your power supply tester will light up.
-Some power supply testers require you to turn on the power supply using a switch or button on the tester. Others will turn on automatically.
-Check the voltages. The 20/24 pin connector will have multiple readouts, but there are 4 essential measurements you need to look for:
- + 3.3 VDC
- + 5 VDC
- + 12 VDC
- – 12 VDC
Ensure that the voltages are within normal accepted tolerances. +3.3, +5, +12 can all be within +/- 5%. The -12 can be within +/- 10%. If any of the readings are outside that range, then the power supply is bad and needs to be replaced.
Test the other connectors. Once you’ve verified that the main connector is outputting power properly, test each of the other connector cables one by one. Unplug and turn off the power supply between each test.
- Test the power supply with a multimeter. Straighten a paperclip and then bend it into a “U” shape. Find the green pin on the 20/24 pin connector. Plug the paperclip into the green pin (pin 15) and into one of the neighboring black pins. This will trick the connector into thinking it’s plugged into the motherboard.
- Plug the power supply back in and turn it on.
- Find a pinout chart for your power supply. This will let you know which pins provide which voltages.
- Set your multimeter to the VBDC setting. If your multimeter does not auto-range, set the range to 10V.
- Connect the negative probe of the multimeter to a ground (black) pin on the connector.
- Connect the positive probe to the first pin that you want to test. Make a note of the voltage displayed.
- Check the voltages to make sure they fall within the tolerance threshold. If any of the voltages are outside of the tolerance range, then the power supply is defective.
- Repeat the process for each of the peripheral connectors. Refer to the specific pinout charts for each connector to see which pins to test.
- Reassemble your computer. Once you’ve tested and verified all of the power connectors, you can reassemble your computer. Ensure that all of your devices are properly plugged back in, and that all of the motherboard connectors are properly seated. Once you have finished reassembling the computer, you can try powering it on.
NOTE: If you are still having computer errors, or your computer will not start, move on to other troubleshooting steps. The first place to check will be your motherboard.
