how to test for bad PS?

[skisteven1]

I've got a computer I'm in charge of that has been shutting itself off for the past couple of days.

Right in the middle of whatever you're doing it will just power off, and refuses to power back on. When it won't power on, there is still an LED on in the NIC (onboard), which leads me to believe it's still getting power. Also, there is an LED on the front panel that turns on, but the fans don't spin up at all.

By removing the power cable for a minute or so, and then replacing it, it will usually power on again, and seems to work fine for a day or so.

Sounds like a PS issue to me, but how about you? Is there a way to test to see if a PS is bad?

Thanks!

 

[xrax]

they sell power supply testers at mwave.com and newegg.com. but it is probably easier to buy a new PSU and see if that makes a difference.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16899888901

 

[Spineshank]

Any error messages in the event log? Or anything coming up before it shuts down?

 

[ChemGeek]

Sounds like a PSU to me, bad RAM typically goes to a blue screen and you are describing shorting which is typically a PSU issue. I agree with buying a new one and seeing if it makes a difference.

 

[deathwalker]

The falicy behind a PS tester is that it really only detects if you have a dead rail....if you have an intermenent power issue or a rail that goes unstable under load...its useless.

 

[Kelvrick]

Do the fans plug into a 3-pin motherboard slot or are they 4 pings and plug directly into the power supply?

If they're all 3-pin, it could be a motherboard problem.

What about heat, is it overheating?

 

[skisteven1]

Well it all works sometimes, and it's worked for the past year or two... so I'm wary of thinking it's a mobo problem. I'm going to try a PS from a different machine next week and see if that helps.

thanks for the tips!