Enhance 5150GH lifespan?

[VirtualLarry]

Remember the hot deal thread about these PSUs? I'm wondering how long they will last.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...NP-5150GH-BULK

A friend has had one running 24/7 for the last three (plus?) years, and I have another one powering a 10-drive server that is rarely powered on.

Edit: Another friend of mine reminded me he has been running one for the last 5 years, not quite 24/7.

How long should I expect each of these to last?

Edit: Here's a fun read:
http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/psu_reports/EnhanceElectronics_ENP-5150GH_80PLUS_Report.pdf

 

[answ3r]

It really depends on how hard the unit is being pushed, what kind of environment its in, etc. If its not giving you any stability issues when you power your server up, or your friend any problems, they'll probably last for a decent amount more. It looks like its identical to a Silverstone ST50EF-Plus which is a pretty decent unit, so I wouldn't fret too much. However, the Silverstone's warranty was only 1 year, but that doesn't reflect how long the unit will keep truckin' along. Most likely, it'll last at least another year, but you never know.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, the friend that has been running one 5 year, is having issues with Linux, it sometimes goes back to the login screen.

 

[mindless1]

First thing to fail will probably be the capacitors unless it sees mains AC power surges, with their lifespan determined by the usual things such as ambient temperature, load, chassis airflow. Pull the PSU, pop the cover and check them for venting.

If it's a sleeve bearing fan then the fan ought to be replaced, or relubed every couple years.

 

[Cerb]

I wouldn't build a 300W+ gaming PC in one, having run for so long, but I wouldn't worry about low-power computers with them.

Also, do you have a working link to whatever your, "fun read," is?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Also, do you have a working link to whatever your, "fun read," is?

Link in OP works just fine for me, using newest version of Firefox on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. It's a PDF.

 

[Cerb]

Link in OP works just fine for me, using newest version of Firefox on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. It's a PDF.

Newest version of FF win Win7 64-bit, I got an unknown error on 2 different PCs (unknown, huh...really helpful there, Firefox!).

Works fine in Chrome.

 

[mindless1]

Newest version of FF win Win7 64-bit, I got an unknown error on 2 different PCs (unknown, huh...really helpful there, Firefox!).

Works fine in Chrome.

Firefox's semi-recent PDF integration still seems a bit buggy to me, try associating PDF files with another PDF viewer or "Save File" in Firefox's tools>options>applications.

 

[Cerb]

Firefox's semi-recent PDF integration still seems a bit buggy to me, try associating PDF files with another PDF viewer or "Save File" in Firefox's tools>options>applications.

Saving is what gives an unknown error. Trying to open gives a connection reset, which seems to be Firefox's interactive equivalent of, "I don't know what happened, but I don't like it, so I'm not showing this to you."

 

[mindless1]

^ You can also try pasting the URL directly into Acrobat or Foxit, etc. but I ran out of ideas on Firefox.

 

[Cerb]

Well, anyway, the problem really was Firefox. At first I figured the link had been mangled, but that wasn't the case.