Testing outside of a case/ open air testing

[soybeast]

I just received a cpu, mobo, and psu that I ordered to upgrade my comp. Problem is, I'm going to have to wait till I get home for thanksgiving to install it in a different computer case.

I wouldn't mind waiting till next week but I'm worried the PSU I ordered from eWiz might have been damaged during shipping. For one, when I came home to see the package at my door, there were two strips of something wrapped around the box that said "If package is damaged, check contents before signing receipt." Well I never got the chance to sign a receipt so...... This would have been fine if the psu inside was packaged properly but when I opened up the box there was only a spare amount of plastic air bag cushions covering one side of the box. The other side of the box was another box housing my psu and there were absolutely no cushioning. When I took out my psu and shook it a little, I heard something wiggle around a bit. To say the least I'm a bit concerned that it's DOA.

So my question is, what's the safest way to test my psu, cpu, mobo without connecting anything else to them and without putting them in a case? Should I place the mobo on a non-conducive surface like wood? etc.....

pleast help!

 

[soybeast]

ok so I shook the thing a little more and whatever was wiggling around came out. It's this white, gummy looking, plasticky, possibly some sort of adhesive. Anyone know what it is, and if it's that important that my PSU is missing it now? Oh btw, I ordered the Enhance ENP-5150GH 500W

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-E5150GH

 

[pkme2]

I've tested mobos on flat surfaces, tabletop, flat box, newspaper, foam sheet and now progressed to a static-free pad.

I just hooked up everything to mobo and turned on the power. If something didn't work, I went back to the basics.

I have a testing bench with all my extras available. Substitutes galore.
I use the original components and if something didn't work, I swapped out to a standby immediately. My standbys all worked so narrowing down to the problem was thankfully resolved.

In reality,this is more than what a newbie would have available.
AFAIK, if you're building your own, you need a test bench to check your builds. Building on a shoestring is normal and so having problems is OK if you can get online diagnostics. Sometimes that works and sometimes, not. As one gains experience, that's the challenge, you might be able to get a lead from someone who's familar with that problem.

You are not expected to know everything, so use Google to research a situation and if it isn't available, AT is an excellent place to get it right, majority of the time.

I believe in hands-on verification. If you take one thing at a time, replace & switch gives you immediate results.

Good luck on your adventure into computer R&R.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

My friend does not even own a case anymore. This is what his setup looks like on a good day.

 

[LouPoir]

Who needs a case. I just throw the board on top of the M/B box, plug everthing in and Im good to go.