How check power supply?

  • Thread starter Thread starter PD
  • Start date Start date
P

PD

My Windows XP Home Edition has many unexpected shutdowns
and restarts. How do I check power supply voltages? I
have a Compaq 5315KS with AMD Anthlon Processor. Thank
you.
 
Jim said:
Sounds more like a "ventilation" issue to me than your
power supply.
I suggest you give it a good cleaning and either replace
the existing fan(s), or maybe even add one or two. ("Store-
Bought" computers are notoriously under ventilated.)
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Bad power supply can give these same symptoms. You'll need to back the
connections while the PS is still connected to the motherboard:

http://www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com/faqs/Power_Supplies/ps_A_3.asp
 
Many computers have a display of voltages/ fan sppeds from your power
supply when you go into the BIOS. There are also some thrid party
utilities around that can display the voltages. COMPAQ may have such
a utility.
 
My Intel mobo came with "Intel Active Monitor" which reports
temperatures and voltages. It will also sound an alert or
pop-up if something goes out of tolerance. If you have an
Intel mobo you can download the application from Intel.
There are third party programs that should do the same,
maybe Motherboard Monitor?

If you need to check the power supply, you need to check it
under a load, ideally you'd have a way to place rated loads
and check all the inputs and outputs. You could do this
with a DVM and a variable load device, but for practical
use, the monitor programs are best because they will report
while in use and not on a test bench.

http://mbm.livewiredev.com/download.html


| Many computers have a display of voltages/ fan sppeds from
your power
| supply when you go into the BIOS. There are also some
thrid party
| utilities around that can display the voltages. COMPAQ
may have such
| a utility.
|
|
|
| On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 18:48:55 -0700, "PD"
|
| >My Windows XP Home Edition has many unexpected shutdowns
| >and restarts. How do I check power supply voltages? I
| >have a Compaq 5315KS with AMD Anthlon Processor. Thank
| >you.
|
 
Voltage monitors on many motherboards are not accurate for
voltage measurements. Once calibrated to a good 3.5 digit
multimeter, then those voltage monitors can detect excessive
voltage changes.

The 3.5 digit multimeter measures power supply voltages
using wire colors on chart at:
http://www.hardwaresite.net/faqpowersupply.html

If important voltages (3.3, 5, 12) sit below the middle
half of that voltage range, then further power supply analysis
is recommended. For example, a power supply with slowly
failing capacitors will measure just above the lower voltage
limit. Power supply is then causing intermittent failures - a
problem that would be detectable with further analysis or over
time.

Of course you have also reviewed the system (event) logs for
additional facts?
 
The easiest way to test things out is to go into bios
restart the computer and press delete/f7/f8 or something
and check the hardware
Check :
cpu temp
mb temp
voltages - see if they match (they can be a little lower)

Heat may be causing shutdown if they are high(depending on
cpu etc). Or you can run your computer and when it shuts
down open it up(with power off - touch metal to discharge
static) and feel the cpu heatsink, ram, graphics card, and
other to see how hot it is - while your in there check the
power supply unit.
 
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