What type of Power Supply is this and how do I test it?

[legocitytruck]

My father-in-law's gateway recently started making a lot of noise and now won't turn on. I removed the power supply. Is there a way to tell what kind of power supply this is (format type) and if it is broken? If it is broken, does newegg sell a unit that is compatible with it? Is the small green led on the motherboard adjacent to the battery related to the power supply functionality.

Here it is:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1059019...eat=directlink

[DominionSeraph]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATX#Power_supply

[SKORPI0]

Most likely a Micro ATX power supply.

http://www.directron.com/ps320ma.html

[Zap]

Originally Posted by legocitytruck

Here it is:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1059019...eat=directlink

I think that is a standard ATX PSU. The fan sticks down to pull air from the CPU heatsink.

[legocitytruck]

Thanks guys! Are there certain dimensions that make the power supply a micro vs. standard in size?

Is there anyway to tell if it works still?

[JackMDS]

Originally Posted by Zap

I think that is a standard ATX PSU. The fan sticks down to pull air from the CPU heatsink.

+1.

Any regular ATX PSU (Not Micro) with the proper Wattage will do.

Example - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023

If the noise comes from the PSU then you need a New one.

Otherwise, it might be that some other components short the circuits and new PSU will Not help.

[Zap]

Originally Posted by legocitytruck

Are there certain dimensions that make the power supply a micro vs. standard in size?

A standard ATX PSU is 5.9" x 3.3" on the side that has the power cord and screw holes.

AFAIK there is no "official micro ATX" size. The one SKORPI0 linked is an SFX size. However, most people don't know about anything other than ATX, so vendors (and many consumers) incorrectly references them as "micro ATX."

For instance at Newegg you can find "micro ATX" as well as "SFX12V" power supplies as two different categories. They are the same thing. Thanks, Newegg, for creating confusion. Either categorize them properly (as SFX, they even used to have different SFX and SFX12V) or improperly (all "micro ATX"), but don't split up PSUs and list half with each.

Even more retarded is their "mini ITX" listing, which used to be called (maybe more properly) "flex ATX." Why did they change what they called them?

Here's some food for thought. Which "mini ITX" cases at Newegg use these PSUs that Newegg lists as "mini ITX?" I can't find any. Closest is the Antec ISK 300-150, but that is a proprietary PSU similar in size, but not an exact fit without modding.

Same goes for "micro ATX." Well, at least with "micro ATX" there might be some that do, for instance the Pixxo slim cases use them (SFX) and in the past Athenatech slim cases used them. However, the Rosewill and Apex slim cases use TFX PSUs, and all the cube and mini towers use ATX PSUs.

Here is a write-up on PSU form factors which has little to do with what form factors cases and motherboards are called.

Originally Posted by legocitytruck

Is there anyway to tell if it works still?

Simple way to test basic functionality is to short the purple wire on the motherboard connector with any ground (black) wire. This is NOT a 100% guarantee, as it just shows you the PSU is not completely dead. Also, some PSUs won't run this way even if they are fine.

[mfenn]

Originally Posted by Zap

Simple way to test basic functionality is to short the purple wire on the motherboard connector with any ground (black) wire. This is NOT a 100% guarantee, as it just shows you the PSU is not completely dead. Also, some PSUs won't run this way even if they are fine.

Purple wire? Don't you mean the green wire?

[VirtualLarry]

Originally Posted by mfenn

Purple wire? Don't you mean the green wire?

Uh-oh. Yes, the GREEN wire. Don't cross the streams.

[legocitytruck]

If I plug the power supply into the wall and connect the green wire with a black wire and no voltage is present than is the power supply toast?

[mfenn]

Originally Posted by legocitytruck

If I plug the power supply into the wall and connect the green wire with a black wire and no voltage is present than is the power supply toast?

Very likely. The PSU's own fan should spin up as well if its working properly.