Procedure for testing after a PSU blow out?

[alexw]

My PSU blew last Saturday, but I've only just managed to track down an old PSU to test my computer with and I'm looking for help on how best to test what, if any, other components were taken with the PSU when it blew.

I have an Abit NF7-S motherboard, with 2*256MB RAM, cheap GFX card, separate soundcard, 2 optical drives & 4 HDDs.

However, the old PSU I found only looks to be a 250W generic cheap one, so obviously I don't want to be plugging everything into it and damaging stuff any further.

What if anything should I try to connect up to the PSU and is there any best procedure for testing stuff? Tips on interpreting the results would be great too.

Would it be risky to use such a cheap old low power PSU for even the most basic test? If so then I'd rather just leave it and wait for something more suitable to come along, rather than risk harming components that actually survived the original blow-out.

Sorry if there's already threads about this, or links online - please point me to them if so - but I couldn't spot anything with an admittedly quick search.

Thanks very much

 

[hp7909]

You could try the 'generic' 250W one if ATX 1.3. Should be compatible & ok with your mobo.

What you will have to do is remove 1 optical drive, (backup &) leave only main hard disk plugged-in & remove the sound card. Rest can remain

I assume by 'cheap GFX card' you mean one that doesn't require extra power from a molex/PCI-E power connector?

 

[alexw]

Thanks.

Yep the graphics card is in an AGP slot, I can't ever seem to recall what card it is.

I haven't checked that it's even the right kind of power supply yet, but fingers crossed. Otherwise it's back to square one...

 

[alexw]

Back to square one...

B*gg*r - the Abit NF7-S has two power connectors, the standard 20-pin and an additional 4-pin, while the PSU only has a connector for the standard. It's also lacking the connectors for the various fans on the board.

Maybe I could connect it without these, but it all makes me very wary of doing so, it's probably not a particularly great PSU at all (I ripped it from an abandoned Viglen computer at uni) and the last thing I want to do is risk damaging what could still be a perfectly fine motherboard and cpu etc..

I really need some more computer-loving friends who are willing to let me gut their pcs. The only one I knew dug out his old computer for me only to find that his dad had already pilfered the power supply from it. Doh!

Looks like I might have to bite the bullet and taxi it to a local computer shop and pay for it to be checked out...