Before you buy a new $500 graphics card, you should check if your old $50 power supply is the real culprit. Here is your practical guide to diagnosing PSU issues. Use this if: Your PC is completely dead (no fans, no lights).
Turn off your PC, unplug the PSU, and shine a flashlight into the fan grill on the back. check power supply on pc
The Power Supply Unit (PSU) is the heart of your computer. It pumps life (electricity) into every other component. When the PSU starts to fail, symptoms can be confusing: random shutdowns, failure to boot, or mysterious crashes during gaming. Before you buy a new $500 graphics card,
This is the most basic test to see if the PSU is completely fried. Turn off your PC, unplug the PSU, and
One paperclip. The danger: You are dealing with live electricity. Do not touch metal parts while the PSU is plugged in.
| Voltage Wire | Target | Minimum | Maximum | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Yellow (+12V) | 12.0V | 11.4V | 12.6V | | Red (+5V) | 5.0V | 4.75V | 5.25V | | Orange (+3.3V) | 3.3V | 3.14V | 3.46V |
You need a (costs about $15-20). Do not use software voltage readings; they are often inaccurate.