How to check your PSU so easy a bunny could do it.
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 11:40 am
As the title says, a guide to make it really easy. DON'T RELY ON ANY SOFTWARE OR BIOS READING!! They are a good idea and sometimes almost 100% accurate. Then again sometimes they are not. If you have had a reading as I did where all your voltages are either low or high then do it yourself.
Here is how to for the people scared of a voltmeter.
Checking your PSU so easy a bunny can do it.
You will need 2 things.
And something like this which I got for $2 at harbor frieght.
First you will have to open your case, usually by 2 screws. Like these.
Now turn on your volt meter on the settings shown below
Hook up the leads into the 2 connectors
Turn it on, and touch the leads together, to make sure it still reads 0.000
Good, if it doesn't return it, and now take the molex connector.
Insert the black lead into the black cable
Now we will measure the 5v rail
Insert the red lead into the red cable in the molex.
Obviously the closer the better. To the 5v rating.
Now move the red connector into the yellow wire, this will test the 12v rail
You should get a reading within 5% of the 12v range.
Now put it under load with a program like 3dmark, and retest, you should not drop much at all if your PSU is good.
Mine dropped to 11.91 now test yours!
Now you should get a reading within 5% of 5v.
Here is how to for the people scared of a voltmeter.
Checking your PSU so easy a bunny can do it.
You will need 2 things.
And something like this which I got for $2 at harbor frieght.
First you will have to open your case, usually by 2 screws. Like these.
Now turn on your volt meter on the settings shown below
Hook up the leads into the 2 connectors
Turn it on, and touch the leads together, to make sure it still reads 0.000
Good, if it doesn't return it, and now take the molex connector.
Insert the black lead into the black cable
Now we will measure the 5v rail
Insert the red lead into the red cable in the molex.
Obviously the closer the better. To the 5v rating.
Now move the red connector into the yellow wire, this will test the 12v rail
You should get a reading within 5% of the 12v range.
Now put it under load with a program like 3dmark, and retest, you should not drop much at all if your PSU is good.
Mine dropped to 11.91 now test yours!
Now you should get a reading within 5% of 5v.