power supply ?

[Vaughn Treude]

On Sat, 2006-01-21 at 13:35, FoulDragon at aol.com wrote:
> 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.???
> 

I got in on this one late, so I missed the original message, but I can
at least recommend a new supply.  I have bought two Antec power supplies
at Fry's and have been happy with them both.  They are quiet, and the
most recent one I bought had detachable cables so you don't have to
clutter up the inside of your case. They are not the cheapest, though. 
I don't think they go for less than $50-60.  The last one I bought was
on sale for $70, which was $20 off the regular price.

Vaughn

> 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)
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