power supply ?

[FoulDragon at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/21/2006 12:44:21 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
molossermom at ev1.net writes:
>does this sound like a power supply issue?
>i have been running this same system with redhat for about 5 years now 
>and rarely shut it down (once a year? maybe).
>if it's a power supply thing, can anyone recommend a reliable, cheap, 
>QUIET new one that i could get at fry's elec.???

It could be.  General weridness or unexpected shutdowns are also common signs 
of inferior or dying PSUs.

You might also check if the switch itself is failing.  With a modern system 
(one using an ATX power supply), the power switch runs to two pins on the 
mainboard.  If you remove the power switch cable and short those pins with a bit of 
metal (ie a coin), it should power on.  The switch is a cheap fix, just cut 
the old one off and solder a momentary (normally open) pushbutton to the ends 
of the wires, costs like 45 cents.

However, if not there, I'd suspect the power supply.  The cable usually 
doesn't get loose because it has a little "hook" that snaps down once you push it 
in, but worth a shot.

Monster caveat:  Some "brand name systems" (such as some Dells) have power 
supplies which are NOT ATX standard; a regular ATX power supply will result in 
nastiness when you attach it.  Others have odd shaped ones, so they might be 
wired the same, but you won't be able to bolt a new standard one in.

Good PSUs:

Antec, Enermax, Sparkle/Fortron/FSP Group (same company), PC Power and 
Cooling.

You will pay good money for a quality PSU, but don't skimp.  A decent-make 
300 or 350 watt will cost you between 30 and 50 dollars, but OTOH, it will 
probably last you longer than one of those $9.99 "400 watt" models.

For quietness, get a PSU with a 120mm fan on the bottom, rather than an 80mm 
one on the back.

Quality power supplies are sometimes a bit pricey in local shops; I'd point 
you at Newegg, cos they have like 600 Sparkle models, and I've been extremely 
happy with my Sparkle FSP300 series (it's lasted me from when I got a "pretty 
high end" Athlon 1200 to the present, it's very good with a famously finicky 
mainboard)