I suspect I have a bad power supply in my mains at home - I dont use a surge protector - I THINK this has blown 2 graphics cards on my pc - but anyway to test the power supply ?
2007-11-05 20:12:52 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
If it is going bad you will know because many of them start to make clicking noises. Itis very possible that this could be the cause of taking out 2 graphics cards. I have had it happen multiple times, one time taking my entire hard drive. Most of my trouble has been with, believe it or not, Antec. After complaints and nothing being resolved, I have come to the decision to NEVER buy anything Antec again, and to tell everyone I know what garbage they are.
2007-11-05 20:16:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello,
(ANS) from what you have said in your posting it sounds like you live in an area were the mains power supply fluctuates a good deal all the time. I would suggest to you that a surge & spike protector is highly desirable & more than just desirable but essential.
**Remember a surge & spike protector is designed to flatten out the mains supply so that the output to your equipment is smooth & consistent.
i.e. mains fluctuations=> surge protector strip=> smooth out to PC
**A good quality surge & spike protector strip will help prevent brown outs, protect you from spiking of the supply when the current goes up suddenly for a short duration, helps protect the equipment if the mains supply is cut,etc,etc.
**NOTE: But a surge & spike protector MAY NOT always protect you from a lightening strike? I have my workstation sat on a rubber mat (its only an old car mat but it does the job) and this helps provide some extra protection and insulation from electrical damage.
**If you DON'T run your computer 24/7 then its worth turning it off during large thunder storms as an extra safety precaution.
**YES! you can have an electrician come and test your supply but you would have to pay a fee for that. However, you could contact your electricity provider and ask them if they could test your supply??
Ivan
2007-11-05 20:37:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi woody,
You pass a fault to the local electricuty firm, they should come and check out the main board, or call a sparky to test.
I found that a cheap UPS (£40-60) works wonders, not only does it smooth out any spike/surges, it also gives me upto 15mins of power should the mains fail! (my monitor is on it too) and its comes with some software and data lead so i can monitor the mains too for free.
For a cheaper alternative pop into a high street store and pick up a surge protector, best the one with a light on for and the second light for when its been activated!. Plug your pc and printer etc, via an multiblock, into this to protect them all.
hope this helps...at least you will know.
2007-11-05 20:24:32 · answer #3 · answered by Neurotic_Fish 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds more like your PC internal power supply than your mains. They are available as spares and not too difficult to fit if you are familiar with the inside of a PC.
There are instruments which can check the cleanliness of your mains but they are expensive to buy. You could hire one but it is probably not much use unless you are an electrical engineer. An oscilloscope might give some idea - but again unless you already know how to use one it is not a simple solution.
2007-11-05 20:32:20 · answer #4 · answered by meerkat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea how the 'test the power supply'.
All, I know, is that where I live, we have many mini power cuts, especially if we have a thunderstorm.
Surge protectors aren't all that expensive. Pop along to your local DIY shop-or computer shop, they'll have them there. There are multiple socket ones, but the important one to protect your pc, is to have one in the mains socket such as Belkin Mastercube.
2007-11-05 20:31:52 · answer #5 · answered by Julia H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bad power supplies usually cause random shutdowns or restart.
The graphics card and the processor circuit both draw power from the +12V rails. Use a monitoring software (Speedfan, Everest, etc) to check your +12V rail stability. Run Super Pi 32M or Orthos while you watch the +12V rail. It should stay within 11.4 to 12.6 volts.
If you need to replace power supply, get a higher rated one and complying with ATX V2.2 or better. They run cooler.
2007-11-05 20:52:05 · answer #6 · answered by Karz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
their is no such thing as a bad power supply all ways use a
surge protection just as important as the pill
2007-11-05 21:50:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Next time - get an UPS (uninterruptible power supply) with power conditioning. Would not run any computer without one.
2007-11-05 21:01:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋