how to tell if the power supply is bad?

Question

I BOUGHT A MOTHER BOARD AND TURNED IT ON BIOS SHOWED BUT THEN EVERY THING WENT OFF MOTHER BOARD IS RS400-A BY ECSEVERY
AFTER I TURNED IT ON AGAIN NOTHING SHOWED BUT EVERY THING WAS ON MAYBE MOTHER BOARD WASNT GETTING ENOUGH POWER EVERY FAN WAS ON IT GOT COLD INSIDE THE CASE EXEPT FOR THE PWR SUPPLY WICH SEEMED TO GET REALLY HOT

Answer 1

Make sure power supply is set to correct voltage, 115V in the USA.

I service computers, I use an Antec Power Supply tester, with a meter to doublecheck.

Power supplies like to have a minimum load, you might hook up a disk drive even if you don't plan to use it yet.

Answer 2

The best way to tell if it's the PS is with a voltage meter. Check the actual voltage it's supplying while everything is on.

The symptoms could be caused by a lot of things though. Read the motherboard manual and carefully verify that everything is plugged in that is supposed to be. Make sure memory, cpu, etc. are plugged in and seated properly. Make sure cpu fan is operating and heat sink is mounted properly. If you have any PCI cards that are not necessary for startup, remove them and try again.

Answer 3

If it was the power supply, then the computer would not come on at all. My guess would be your motherboard just died if the power comes on but nothing else happens, ie black screen.

My motherboard went out a couple of months ago, the power supply would come on and the fan would blow, but the screen remained black.

Check to make sure everything is hooked up properly and tightly, maybe sometime came loose?

Answer 4

Power supply might not be the real cause.

Have you install other components correctly?
The 1st thing to check, is the CPU fan working.

Answer 5

Borrow or buy another power supply and just try it. That is the best way.