To tell if your power supply is bad, firstconduct a jump start test. It will show you if the power supply actually turns on. This is only a basic test, though.
To thoroughly verify if your PSU is bad,perform a multimeter testas well. Grab a multimeter and measure the voltage in each of your ATX power connector’s 24 pins.
If the measured voltage lies beyond the expected voltage range, your PSU is defective. Let’s get into the details.
Signs Of a Faulty PSU
Before getting to the actual procedure, here are some basicsigns and symptomsthat will help you determine if yourPSU is failing.
These signs usually aren’t enough to make a conclusive diagnosis. But if you notice them, it does mean that a proper PSU test is due. Begin with a jumpstart test, then proceed to the multimeter test.
Conduct a Jump Start Test
Alright! Here’s how to check your PSU health with a jump start test. You canfollow the same stepsfor testing all the PSUs these days since they have astandardized ATX pinout.
Please be mindful that the fans might spin for a while and come to a halt after a few seconds. This happens because your PSU has a zero-RPM orhybrid fan mode.
So, don’t yet conclude that your PSU is bad.Use a multimeterandconduct a digital multimeter test(DMM) before that. In fact, I advise you to conduct the DMM test whether or not the fans spin.
Test Your PSU Using a Multimeter
The multimeter test will help you know if every pin on the 24-pin power connector supplies the correct voltage to your PC.
To conduct this test, bring a multimeter and set it tomeasure DC voltage. Keep the clip/wire attached to the connector and check the readings on each of the 24 pins.
For example, you should get anywhere between +3.135V and +3.465V while testing a +3.3V pin. Similarly, it is between +11.40V and +12.60V for a +12V pin.
The voltage should always liebetween the tolerance limits. No discrepancies are bearable.
