Technies: Fan stopped on power supply

[Catshrink]

on my computer of course. How hard is it to replace? I came in the house last night and it smelled so I shut it down. I'm pretty adept -- replaced harddrives and stuff. Should I replace the power supply or can I just replace the fan?

Thanks!

[Kellanved]

1. get a new PSU

Not difficult to replace.

The Fan alone... I wouldn't touch anything inside the PSU.

[Catshrink]

3. Thanks... I kinda thought so

but there's always hope. How much will that cost me?

[Champion Jack]

8. Check here:

http://www.pricewatch.com






.

[Kellanved]

10. depends

A silent branded Unit with good specs should be around $50. You should be able to find an acceptable one for about half of that.

That said: I'd choose a branded one (Enermax or Zalman) with at least 400W, as a bad PSU can cause all kind of trouble (crashes).

The Watt value is pure marketing BTW, look for the maximal combined output value. Respectable manufacturers will print that one as well on the box /the data sheet.

Edit: adjusted to US prices.

[Don Claybrook]

2. It's very easy

The hardest part is finding the power supply for sale by itself, but you can find it. The alternative is to buy a whole new case with power supply included, about $30 last time I checked.

There are different mounting screw holes, which makes the PS pretty much universal. Just take note of what you unplug from the motherboard, and from the power leads, and reconnect in the same fashion with the new PS. It should take you about 15 minutes.

[Catshrink]

7. Fry's should have one....

I know CrapUSA has them, too. So, I go shopping. I do like the idea of a new case though.

Thanks for your help!

[MojoKrunch]

4. You can just replace the fan.

Ask over at AnandTech.com in their Tech Support Forum for specifics.

But powersupplies are cheap.
You can get decent ones online for $20 these days.
Either way you're gonna have to disconnect and remove the PS, so the choice is yours.

Mojo

[smiley_glad_hands]

5. Should be easy

I have a gateway and had to replace the power supply because of a burned out fan. It took less than 15 mins.

[sexybomber]

6. Hopefully you haven't fried anything else in the box

If something smelled, you may have torched some cards... hopefully that didn't happen though! Best of luck fixing your ish!

[Catshrink]

9. I sure hope not...

I haven't opened it up yet, I guess I need to do that and check. Luckily, I just backed up my system on Sunday.

[onebigbadwulf]

11. Strangely enough..

it's usually cheaper to buy an entire new case with power supply (about 40bux) than a new power supply by itself (40-100bux). Don't ask me why, but I feel like an idiot for buying a power supply by itself.


Of course, 2 months later, it's starting to make strange noises and it's super loud.


Buy a new case, it's much easier.

[Maine-i-acs]

12. $30 at Staples.

The power supply for a standard PC is an easy swap-out. The PS itself should not be taken apart.

Unscrew the burned out PS from the back of the case. Unplug the big plug on the motherboard and all the little plugs on the drives.

Then change out the PS for the new one. Screw it back in and re-plug all the connections.

Than power up! I just did one last week, cannibalizing a PS from another dead machine. 10 minute job.

[Catshrink]

13. Staples has them that cheap????

Cool. It's much closer than Fry's or CrapUSA. I'm on my way...

[Maine-i-acs]

14. yes - saw one last week.

It's in with the hard drives and CDs, but only in the larger Staples outlets. Good luck!

[Deja Q]

15. Get a new power supply - and get a GOOD P/S, never a cheap one

Antec TruePower series. Nothing less for me. http://www.antec-inc.com/pro_powerSupply.html

NEVER get a cheap power supply, especially from some no-name brand. They can overload. They can overheat. Capacitors can explode. They're cheaply built.

www.tomshardware.com - do a search for power supplies. I recall an article, which is old now, but they go into cheap power supplies being bad too.

[BiggJawn]

16. Fans are a pain in the ass to replace...

It's almost ALWAYS some odd-ball size that isn't stocked, most mail-order houses have a $25 minimum (which the fan will eat up, so no problem) then there's another 8-9 bucks for shipping, and your out of commission for 3-5 days (IF it's in stock!)

THEN you have to get into the P/S, and i have seen some now that are rivetted together, so you almost can't get into them.

And you STILL have an old power supply, but now you have a nice new fans to go with those drying-out filter capacitors that are gonna fail next month...

I have a HUMUNGOUS work shop and Carol at Newark knows my voice and I have a standing P.O with them, but I still get a whole new supply and trash the old one.

[Catshrink]

17. Thanks everyone!!

I have the new one in and my machine is again humming. It looks like nothing melted so I guess I'm lucky about that.

4 screws.... not a bad project. Hey, nothing left over either! (well, except the extra wires, but that's expected)

[Maine-i-acs]

18. Nice going Catshrink!

Thanks for the follow-up!