Cheap replacement Power Supply?

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techwanabe

Diamond Member
May 24, 2000
3,145
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Ok - so I have this computer - the case and power supply (250 Watt) were purchased 4.5 years ago to build a PIII machine. So I replaced the motherboard and CPU about 2 years ago (ASUS ST-6 and Tualatin CPU). It was my back up computer until I purchased a new machine, now it is sort of surplus so I decided to set it up so my 9 year old daughter had a computer to use at her mothers house. It's working fine for a week and all of the sudden it won't turn on.

I bring it back to my place and plug just the box into the wall and if fires up. Then I move it over to one of my computer desks and plug in the power cord, monitor, keyboard and mouse. Nothing. Unplug it and move it over to a different outlet and just plug in the power cord only - fans spin up and hard drive chatters etc. Take it back over and plug it into the monitor, keyboard mouse and power cord. Nothing. WTF? Is the power supply just flakey now, works sometimes and othertime not? This is weird.
 
Baked

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
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It's not weird, you got a old busted PSU. Replace it with another cheap PSU.
 
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techwanabe

Diamond Member
May 24, 2000
3,145
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Yep,

It looks like the PS is bad or going bad. I have to say I should be happy it lasted this long. Once a couple years ago I heard a low POP! come from the box but it just kept on working. This was a inexpensive case/PS combo I picked up at a computer show to build my first totally homebrew PC from in May 2000. It has served well.

In most cases with power supplies in the past - they either worked or died totally. This is just a bit weird since it fires up sometimes and somtimes not.

Any suggestions for a cheap replacement? I figure I should shoot for a 300W since it might be usable in the future for a different rebuild.
 
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techwanabe

Diamond Member
May 24, 2000
3,145
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Yeah,

The question is do I spend the bucks for a good PS that will be around for a long time and have some upgrade potential for later, or toss something cheap in there so I can get this rig up and running at minimal cost. I was trying provide my daughter with a computer at her mothers house for light usage and after Christmas and a long delay on my contract pay, I don't want to spend much right now.

The funny thing is my ex's E-machines video circuit (onboard) crapped out this weekend two, so both computers in the house are down. She has Best Buy 3 year coverage so her PC will be fixed at no cost. I told her she was Bad Luck Schledrock from the Flintstones... DON"T TOUCH MY COMPUTER! LOL!
 
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techwanabe

Diamond Member
May 24, 2000
3,145
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Originally posted by: jzimo
I've learned the hard way to never go cheap on a psu.
Click to expand...

Well, I don't think I did too bad - I paid $35 for the case/PS combo in May 2000 and it lasted until Jan 2005 - not bad for a cheap PS. ;)

 
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techwanabe

Diamond Member
May 24, 2000
3,145
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Originally posted by: Baked
Just get a cheap 300W ATX from newegg.
Click to expand...

Any to steer clear of? They have some suprisingly cheap power supplies as low as $12 for 300W
 
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coejus

Member
Dec 27, 2004
157
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Codegen (just a rebadged Deer) is bad news, though I've had a Codegen case that never had a problem with the power supply.

If you don't want to spend a lot of money, go with Sparkle or Fortron Source. They're excellent power supplies, and they're not expensive at all. If you've got more money, go with an Antec, Thermaltake, Enermax, et cetera.
 
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coejus

Member
Dec 27, 2004
157
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0
Actually... you're right. I withdraw the Thermaltake recommendation. They're somewhat overpriced, too.
 
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techwanabe

Diamond Member
May 24, 2000
3,145
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Originally posted by: CraigRT
I'd get this, no question.

http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=17-103-427&DEPA=1
Click to expand...

Yeah,

Allot of the computers at work had either HIPRO or Sparkle powers supplies. We had over 140 computers at work that I supported and most of them were clones of PII and PIII variety. I think maybe only one power supply actually went bad during the nearly 4 years I was there. I did have allot of PS fans go bad - so I'd just yank out the bad fan and replace it with an inexpensive case style fan and plug it into the PS and off it went. Not hi-tech but it did the job.
 
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