Help needed! Bought used PSU

[limjialok20]

Hi, I recently bought 2 used desktop computer from my local marketplace.

First build
i5 4570
asus b85g-m motherboard
no gpu
1tb hdd
dvd drive
2x4gb ram
Silverstone 600w 80plus SST-ST60F-ES

second build
i3 3220
gtx 750ti
dell stock oem motherboard
12gb ram
dvd drive
Seasonic 520w 80plus bronze

I tested both system to be working well. I am worried about using the used psu as I heard that old or aging psu can spoil and bring the whole system down with them. I saw that the seasonic psu is tier 2 psu and the Silverstone is tier 3(I think) . Are they good psu? would they bring the whole system down if the psu decides to spoil.

the reason I am asking is because I know that psu are recommended to change every 5 years but I have completely no idea how long was both of the psu used.


The reason I am asking these instead of changing the psu is because in Singapore, pc parts are pretty expensive. The cheapest psu in local shop is a evga 500w 80plus psu which cost SGD69. There isn't cheap and good psu at the SGD30-50 price range like other country's bestbuy,walmat and etc

 

[atomicWAR]

The seasonic should be fine for a good while longer they make really good PSUs. But the silverstone being a tier 3 would give me some pause. I would see if I could find a tier 1 or 2 to replace it with.

 

[limjialok20]

is there any way to check when was the psu used or purchase? any software to check psu status? like how u would check a ram,gpu or cpu

 

[atomicWAR]

Not that I am aware of. Unless the owner you bought it from has a receipt. PSU don't have the kind of hardware/software systems HDDs and some other systems have.

 

[MauveCloud]

Here's something that can give you a rough idea how old that Silverstone psu could be, though: it's listed under "legacy products" at Silverstone's website (meaning they no longer produce that exact model), and the online manual lists an issue date of November 2010.

 

[limjialok20]

@atmoicWAR, thanks for your time and help!
@MauveCloud I see, the Silverstone psu seems so dated, it may be 7years old if the seller didn't upgrade his psu since 2010. How do u check old is the seasonic psu? cant seems to find the release date, only found tons of reviews dates(2012,2015 and etc) Is it normal that I couldn't find any manufacter date on the psu?

 

[MauveCloud]

idk if they're required to, but after a bit of looking at Amazon, which has a "date first available" listing (which isn't always reliable due to multiple sellers etc.), it looks like the Seasonic could be as old as about May 2010 (if it's the S12II-520) or April 2010 (if it's the M12II-520). You haven't specified the exact model. Also, if it says "EVO Edition" or has a honeycomb grill over the fan instead of concentric rings, that may mean it's considerably newer.

 

[limjialok20]

idk if they're required to, but after a bit of looking at Amazon, which has a "date first available" listing (which isn't always reliable due to multiple sellers etc.), it looks like the Seasonic could be as old as about May 2010 (if it's the S12II-520) or April 2010 (if it's the M12II-520). You haven't specified the exact model. Also, if it says "EVO Edition" or has a honeycomb grill over the fan instead of concentric rings, that may mean it's considerably newer.

the seasonic is s12ii bronze. 520w ATX12v. it has 'ulitra ventilation[honeycomb structure]' as written on the box. i5 seller didn't gave me Silverstone psu box, but i3 seller gave me the seasonic psu box.
This looks like the same box https://seasonic.com/product/s12ii-520/

 

[atomicWAR]

My guess is the seasonic is about 7 to 8 years old at the most with the CPU in that build (worst case assuming it was built all new). Best case it is 5 or 6 years old. I would be thinking about replacing it before it hit ten years mark which gives your roughly 2-3 or 4-5 years depending on which scenario it is. The tough part is figuring out exactly how old it is. Personally I would go with the 8 year timeline since you can't be sure. That gives you 2 more years before it needs fixing. Replace the silverstone now and you'll have time to save up for the seasonic's replacement. And if your really questioning it, just replace both.

 

[atomicWAR]

Can you reach out to the seller to see how old they say it is?

 

[Aeacus]

Since S12II-520 is ongoing product, Seasonic is making new S12II-520 PSUs daily.

I too have S12II-520 PSU powering my AMD build (full specs with pics in my sig) and i bought my PSU as brand new in a sealed package in May of 2015.

S12II-520 comes with 5 years of OEM warranty and it's very solid PSU. I see no issues why you can't get 10 years out of S12II-520.

 

[Vic 40]

Since both systems seem to work fine would i not worry too much. Both psu's have enough protections to make sure they don't take out a system when something goes wrong.

You can look at some voltage values the next way,

download hwinfo32,
install and open it,
check "sensors-only",
click "run".

sensor readings so the motherboards need to be supported and software readinsg but imo in general a good way to check things.

 

[limjialok20]

Since both systems seem to work fine would i not worry too much. Both psu's have enough protections to make sure they don't take out a system when something goes wrong.

You can look at some voltage values the next way,

download hwinfo32,
install and open it,
check "sensors-only",
click "run".

sensor readings so the motherboards need to be supported and software readinsg but imo in general a good way to check things.

Finally somebody answered my 2nd question. Are you sure that both of my psu will not take my whole system down if they end up spoiling? That was my main concern for creating this post. If the 2 psu happens to fail and fail alone, I don't mind changing a new psu AFTER it failed. But if both psu does drag my system down when failed, I rather source for other source of income to replace the psu asap. if both psu wouldn't drag my whole system down when spoiled, I think I shall continue using the 2 psu till I have enough budget or till they spoiled.

 

[limjialok20]

Since both systems seem to work fine would i not worry too much. Both psu's have enough protections to make sure they don't take out a system when something goes wrong.

You can look at some voltage values the next way,

download hwinfo32,
install and open it,
check "sensors-only",
click "run".

sensor readings so the motherboards need to be supported and software readinsg but imo in general a good way to check things.

Finally somebody answered my 2nd question. Are you sure that both of my psu will not take my whole system down if they end up spoiling? That was my main concern for creating this post. If the 2 psu happens to fail and fail alone, I don't mind changing a new psu AFTER it failed. But if both psu does drag my system down when failed, I rather source for other source of income to replace the psu asap. if both psu wouldn't drag my whole system down when spoiled, I think I shall continue using the 2 psu till I have enough budget or till they spoiled.

 

[atomicWAR]

^ A failing PSU can fry your whole system making everything useless, doesn't have to but it certainly can and has in my personal experience. This was why I encouraged the silverstone be swapped out as soon as you can afford it.

 

[Vic 40]

The build that psu is in when looking at the parts doesn't push that psu in anyway,i can't imagine it will fry the system. Can i be 100% sure no,but i cannot be with any psu.
If you feel more comfortable to change that psu be my guest,but if that psu dies it probably will not power that build up one day or give general signs that point to the psu with the build not working optimally.

 

[atomicWAR]

@Vic 40 it is quite possible it will be fine I have had things go both ways in his position (about 70/30...maybe better but if so not much for not frying components to frying components when a PSU dies). After about the second or third time I fried multiple parts though (usually it is just your motherboard that goes) I just started taking the safe route every time. Replacing a motherboard, CPU, ram or more in parts can get expensive. I am even more cautious then the advice I gave. For tier 1 supplies I replace them every 5 years and for tier 2 supplies I replace them every 3 years. When most folks usually get 10+ years out of tier 1 and 5-7+ years out of tier 2. It is a question of how much the OP is willing to risk based on budget to what he may or may not have to replace if things do go south.

 

[Vic 40]

I see what you get at,but he might be better off with a surge protector then another psu. When psu's fry a system they more likely get pushed beyond what they can deliver and i don't see that happening here.

 

[atomicWAR]

Surge protector never saved me from a PSU failure. I always use one. I an mot saying your wrong on the things may be fine as is bit, i like to be cautious. The surge protector bit, he should always use one with his PC. I just don't see a PSU failure frying his components being helped/prevented by using a surge protector in most cases.

 

[limjialok20]

The build that psu is in when looking at the parts doesn't push that psu in anyway,i can't imagine it will fry the system. Can i be 100% sure no,but i cannot be with any psu.
If you feel more comfortable to change that psu be my guest,but if that psu dies it probably will not power that build up one day or give general signs that point to the psu with the build not working optimally.

This is interesting. PSU has lesser chances of bringing the system down with them if the parts doesn't push the system? I did my research online and found that my parts for both pc only uses about 300w at full load. However I read somewhere that the watt of a psu will degrade after 3 or 5 years, which means my seasonice psu and Silverstone psu may only be able to deliver around 300w-400w of power. Does this means that I am pushing my system now?.

 

[limjialok20]

@Vic 40 it is quite possible it will be fine I have had things go both ways in his position (about 70/30...maybe better but if so not much for not frying components to frying components when a PSU dies). After about the second or third time I fried multiple parts though (usually it is just your motherboard that goes) I just started taking the safe route every time. Replacing a motherboard, CPU, ram or more in parts can get expensive. I am even more cautious then the advice I gave. For tier 1 supplies I replace them every 5 years and for tier 2 supplies I replace them every 3 years. When most folks usually get 10+ years out of tier 1 and 5-7+ years out of tier 2. It is a question of how much the OP is willing to risk based on budget to what he may or may not have to replace if things do go south.

Actually I know of stock oem psu like stock hp from the Core2Duo era still working well up to today.
in my workplace, I have a desktop which is still running Core2Duo system(as shown on the stickers) at around 10hours everyday still working well, although that system is normally used for paper work and not gaming. it seems like psu doesn't really spoil if the system parts want pushed. I couldn't be sure as they pc wasn't used for gaming while my pc are used for gaming.

 

[atomicWAR]

For sure. The harder a system is pushed the less long the psu is good for and vice versa. If a system has ample PSU and is barely pushed it will last longer. My point is you never know how the last user used the system. Had it been yours the whole time and barely pushed I'd say it is most likely fine but the system is used and the last owner may or may not have pushed it harder for longer (say gaming or video encode/decoding, etc)...or he could have barely used it. Again it is about the risk your willing to take using the PSUs that came with them. I think the seasonic will be fine, I am less sure of the silverstone due to its tier. Ultimately the decision is yours to make.

 

[Vic 40]

With just those parts in it will that i5 system not even use 150watts and more likely not even 100watts. You could imo even put a gtx 1050 ti in it and be fine,i think a gtx 1060 or similar would just work fine as well.

Can't say if the previous owner had a gpu in it,but can't imagine by what it is that it had a R9 290 in it or similar.That's just speculation though.

Like i said if you feel more comfortable with getting a new psu is that of course a good idea,but do you need to ... well imo not.