Testing power supplies

[bcohen116]

How do I know if my power supply is good? I've been getting some weird effects of freezing which goes away after restarting the computer. It happens about once or twice a day. It seems like this is a failing PSU. How do I know though?

I checked the BIOS configuration and it says all the voltages look good. I don't have a voltmeter on hand, but the motherboard tells me the voltages are fine. How else do I know if it is indeed the PSU that needs replacing?

I've been using this PSU for probably 6 years or so, and it has never been short on power, so it could be that it is just old, but I want to know for sure.

Edit: The power supply is a ePOWER EP-500NE-XV 500W and the freezing is happening randomly even with simple tasks like opening a browser. It fixes with a restart for a couple hours.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

What make and model?

 

[Mark RM]

How do I know if my power supply is good? I've been getting some weird effects of freezing which goes away after restarting the computer. It happens about once or twice a day. It seems like this is a failing PSU. How do I know though?

I checked the BIOS configuration and it says all the voltages look good. I don't have a voltmeter on hand, but the motherboard tells me the voltages are fine. How else do I know if it is indeed the PSU that needs replacing?

I've been using this PSU for probably 6 years or so, and it has never been short on power, so it could be that it is just old, but I want to know for sure.

You can't unless you can place it under load and accurately measure what kind of power output you're getting. As PSU's age they can lose their ability to hit their rated outputs even though all seems fine.

Review a site like Toms or Jonnyguru and see what kind of setups they have for load testing PSU's . Not easy.

If you are currently not experiencing any problems, I wouldn't worry about it. But I will point out the one thing I always have on hand is a selection of PSU's - because they are usually the first thing to go.

 

[TJ Hooker]

What made you think it looks like a PSU problem? Intermittent freezing sounds more like a software issue, or possible CPU/RAM/GPU instability (which could be a result of a PSU issue, among a number of other things).

 

[bcohen116]

What make and model?

it is a ePOWER EP-500NE-XV 500W

 

[bcohen116]

What made you think it looks like a PSU problem? Intermittent freezing sounds more like a software issue, or possible CPU/RAM/GPU instability (which could be a result of a PSU issue, among a number of other things).

I think it is the PSU because the freezing happens not only for games, but for just opening a chrome window. And because it fixes when I restart the PC.

 

[Mark RM]

No offense, but I wouldn't use that PSU for anything I actually liked. For example (there are others)

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2396189/psu-burning-smell-failed-psu-burning-smell.html

This is the type of PSU's I typically take out of new cheap cases and toss in the e-waste bin for recycling without ever firing up. I'm being honest.

 

[TJ Hooker]

What made you think it looks like a PSU problem? Intermittent freezing sounds more like a software issue, or possible CPU/RAM/GPU instability (which could be a result of a PSU issue, among a number of other things).

I think it is the PSU because the freezing happens not only for games, but for just opening a chrome window. And because it fixes when I restart the PC.

If it is a PSU issue, why would restarting the PC fix it? Also, I would say the fact that it happens under a variety of circumstances, rather than just under load suggests it's not a PSU issue. An issue with the power supply would typically present more often when the PSU is heavily loaded.

That being said, as said above that PSU looks like garbage and should probably be replaced regardless. A "500W" PSU that can only supply 32A on the 12V rail (i.e. 384W) is pretty bad.

 

[delaro]

ePOWER EP-500NE-XV 500W = Low Quality supply when it was made and low quality supplies that old get real unstable under load. I would replace for the simple fact that it is 6 years old.

 

[bcohen116]

So it is just too unclear what the real issue is. But like the comments here have said, the power supply is pretty old anyway. I was planning to get a new GPU (currently have a 550TI) once a sale came up, so I guess the best solution is just to upgrade both the GPU and the PSU and hopefully the issue will be fixed.