Signs of Computer Power Supply Failure Symptoms

A power supply inside the computer is the unit that converts alternate current from your home or business wall outlet (assuming 110v) to direct current. Think of it as a transformer. Laptops work much in the same way. Every power supply is very different though. One may be designed to output 150 watts with only 10 amps and another could be 1,000 watts with 65 amps.

Desktop Power supplies are often found in the upper rear of the tower. Most are common to be rectangular (more square) in shape unless it is a specialty power supply that some smaller computers have.

Power supplies will fail. Sometimes failures are instigated and other times age just does them in. Below is a list of common factors that cause power supplies to give up.

* Age
* Electrical (lightning, power spikes, etc.)
* Dirty (Cigarette smoke, house dust, etc.)
* Brown outs
* Overheating and/or ventilation failure

The most common reason for power supply failures is overheating and lightning. If you are a cigarette smoker or the computer is in a dirty environment, rest assure you will likely be replacing your power supply sooner than later.

Note: A power supply can be easily tested with one of the testers below from Amazon.com.

More often then not, a power supply will just quit working instead of warning you that it is about to kick the bucket.

Here is a list of common power supply failure symptoms:

* There are strange noises coming from the back side of the computer where the power cord plugs into the power supply.

* Nothing happens when the computer power button is pressed. Sometimes a light may flash or flash continuously in the front of the computer or on the back of the power supply.

* The computer turns on for a few seconds and then turns off. (Sometimes this is unfortunately associated with motherboard failures.)

* Computer turns on for a while, but when games or other applications are using the computer steadily, it will turn off or I get a blue screen.

Let's touch on gaming for a minute. I have seen time and time again, that a user thinks they can slap any old video card in their system and think that any power supply can handle it. This isn't true at all. If you power supply cannot put the required amps and watts that is being demanded from your hardware, the power supply will cause a system halt (blue screen for Window's users.) Or, may even just abruptly turn the system off. Be sure you have plenty of wattage and amps (especially on the 12 volt rails.)

To get the most life out of your power supply, be sure you are not maxing it out to it's limits in energy consumption. Check with all your hardware's minimum requirements and see if you match it by at least greater than 20%. A power supply will only supply what is needed, so don't worry if you buy a 700 watt power supply. It isn't going to supply 700 watts unless it is requested.

Next, keep the air quality clean. If you need to, buy a air purifier or have your system cleaned occasionally. The computer needs to breath or it will overheat and die.

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