Dead PSU??

azibux1 · 4 Sep 2012 at 15:29

Hi,

I have a family members computer here not working

It is a Dell Dimesion E520 and when you try to turn it on the power button/light just flashes amber/orange and doesn't make a sound, doesn't do anything

If you hold down the button for a while it stops flashing

Took it apart, very very dusty, dusted it all out but while we had it apart we thought we would test the PSU.

Done the paper clip trick but it doesn't start up. We have no case fan to connect to the PSU to add load, but am I right in saying most of them start up without needing anything connected to them? Mine did when I tested it

Is the PSU likely to be dead?

Thanks,

nick.lidgett · 4 Sep 2012 at 15:32

azibux1 said:
Done the paper clip trick but it doesn't start up. We have no case fan to connect to the PSU to add load, but am I right in saying most of them start up without needing anything connected to them? Mine did when I tested it

Is the PSU likely to be dead?

Thanks,

could always plug your psu into their system, if it starts up you know its their psu

azibux1 · 4 Sep 2012 at 15:36

nick.lidgett said:
could always plug your psu into their system, if it starts up you know its their psu

Sorry, I meant mine did a while ago

I'm actually at their house without my PC

3 hours away haha

If we buy one from the big PC shop nearby, and it doesn't solve the issue ... Would they take it back providing we package it like it hasn't been opened?

bremen1874 · 4 Sep 2012 at 15:37

Could be. There'll be four diagnostic LEDs on the front panel (somewhere near the front USB sockets) that could help.

Bacon? · 4 Sep 2012 at 15:37

If its packaged properly when bought its hard to replicate.

azibux1 · 4 Sep 2012 at 15:38

bremen1874 said:
Could be. There'll be four diagnostic LEDs on the front panel (somewhere near the front USB sockets) that could help.

Just seen what you mean, none of these were flashing when we tried to boot it

Bacon? said:
If its packaged properly when bought its hard to replicate.

Hmmmm ... Does it sound like a PSU issue to you?

bremen1874 · 4 Sep 2012 at 15:42

It does sound like a PSU problem. Luckily it's modern enough to use standard atx wiring.

azibux1 · 4 Sep 2012 at 15:46

bremen1874 said:
It does sound like a PSU problem. Luckily it's modern enough to use standard atx wiring.

This is what we are also thinking, quite sure it is the PSU

Hmmmm

bremen1874 · 4 Sep 2012 at 15:50

According to the manual a flashing amber power switch is a non specific internal power problem.

azibux1 · 4 Sep 2012 at 15:55

bremen1874 said:
According to the manual a flashing amber power switch is a non specific internal power problem.

So quite likely the PSU then? Considering I done the paper clip trick, without anything else connected and it didn't spin the PSU fan at all?

azibux1 · 4 Sep 2012 at 16:02

Just put it all back together again and noticed that the CPU fan tries to spin, goes for maybe 1 second then stops, doesn't get fully going

Now with that extra bit of information, sound like a PSU to you?

EDIT: Also, there is a orange light on the motherboard, when we plug the PSU in to the power, this light comes on, and goes off it we disconnect the power.

Still won't boot though

Bacon? · 4 Sep 2012 at 16:03

Yeh almost definetley the PSU.

bremen1874 · 4 Sep 2012 at 16:05

If you're buying a replacement check the depth as the Dell PSUs can be quite short. Also there's no point going over 400 Watts.

azibux1 · 4 Sep 2012 at 16:10

Bacon? said:
Yeh almost definetley the PSU.

This is what we are thinking

bremen1874 said:
If you're buying a replacement check the depth as the Dell PSUs can be quite short. Also there's no point going over 400 Watts.

We are looking at the ANTEC Basiq Series VP350P 350W, the current one in their is a 305W

This current PSU is about 14cm from back to front, depth is about 15cm (going into the case) and height is about 9.8cm (from top of case towards the bottom)

Is that standard?

azibux1 · 4 Sep 2012 at 16:29

Just been to a local pc shop and he says if there is a light on the motherboards which there is and the power button light flashes that means the PSU is working and the problem is elsewhere. Does that mean sound right to you guys?

He did say we can bring it for a free diagnosis so may do that

EDIT: Just left it with him, he said he will ring about half 5

azibux1 · 4 Sep 2012 at 18:10

Going to get the above PSU later. Guy at PC shop said he also thinks it is the PSU but he can't be 100% sure as he doesn't have another one to test it with, as he says the Dell PSU is different? As far as I know connections are the same just size is slightly different. We will make it fit and hopefully it works

He said it will be £60 for a new Dell PSU and said that it could go to £80 if this one sells as it is the last one on special offer in stock.

Hopefully the antec will work

nick.lidgett · 4 Sep 2012 at 19:18

the guy at the shop sounds like a chimp

bremen1874 · 4 Sep 2012 at 20:44

nick.lidgett said:
the guy at the shop sounds like a chimp

Agreed he does. No PSU available for testing, but there is one available for sale. Something doesn't add up.

AtaRo · 4 Sep 2012 at 22:26

Have fixed a few dell and flashing orange is probably a short somewhere in the usb sockets, check all the usb socket especially the front socket that none of the connectors inside is bent or shorted you can also remove the connectors for the front usb panel from the mobo inside its easier and faster and usually it is the front panel usb that it is the problem anyway as it is the most used.

azibux1 · 4 Sep 2012 at 23:33

nick.lidgett said:
the guy at the shop sounds like a chimp

PAHAHA!!!

We agree lol

bremen1874 said:
Agreed he does. No PSU available for testing, but there is one available for sale. Something doesn't add up.

Lol he said he had one in stock that needed to be ordered from the warehouse

AtaRo said:
Have fixed a few dell and flashing orange is probably a short somewhere in the usb sockets, check all the usb socket especially the front socket that none of the connectors inside is bent or shorted you can also remove the connectors for the front usb panel from the mobo inside its easier and faster and usually it is the front panel usb that it is the problem anyway as it is the most used.

But we have changed the PSU now and it is working fine without any issues so surely that can't be the problem? Or would it short again if we put a USB device in?

We changed it for the one above (the Antec) and it works now