Super Cheap PSU for External Testing?

Guitarman0

Guitarman0

Guitarman0

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Do you guys think it would be safe to buy an uber cheap eBay PSU for testing stuff outside my case (i.e. 1 fan, or 1 set of cathodes but only 1 at a time)?

I realise cheap PSUs should never be used inside systems but with such a small load do you think a cheapo would be ok?

Cheers
 
I would agree with reaper.

Believe you me, having a spare decent PSU can be a god send when you need to troubleshoot problems.

500W is sufficent for a "barebones boot", I have seen first hand mobos "go" when a cheapo PSU has given up the ghost......buy a bargain branded PSU now, anything else in my opinion is false economy.
 
For just testing the sort of components you indicated I would think a cheapo PSU would be fine as you won't be drawing much power at all.

I wouldn't use one for bench testing a system.

If you want a PSU as a spare, or for more extensive testing, then buy a decent make.
 
Surveyor said:
For just testing the sort of components you indicated I would think a cheapo PSU would be fine as you won't be drawing much power at all.
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i agree, this is a psu for testing accessories, not key components, so yeah - cheap-and-bay-cheerful :)
 
I wouldn't go super cheap, go for the coolermaster suggested. I have a friend who says that upon pressing the on button of his newly built computer it came on for about 3 seconds then instantly turned off, the PSU had died and luckily taken nothing else with it. It's not much extra for the coolermaster than it would be for a 'super-cheap' one anyway.
 
DJmartin said:
I wouldn't go super cheap, go for the coolermaster suggested. I have a friend who says that upon pressing the on button of his newly built computer it came on for about 3 seconds then instantly turned off, the PSU had died and luckily taken nothing else with it. It's not much extra for the coolermaster than it would be for a 'super-cheap' one anyway.
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but this isnt for a computer - it is just for testing fans and cathodes to see if their working
 
Phenomenologica said:
Can't you just grab a standard 12 volt power supply for both of those uses? Less likely to explode on you.
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I was using a 12v supply until I found it blew one of my LEDs which made me think I was getting something wrong. This is why I want to test using a proper PC PSU.

Thanks for the OcUK Swift PSU link, I think that is exactly what I want :D
 
panyan said:
but this isnt for a computer - it is just for testing fans and cathodes to see if their working
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ahh I misunderstood, I thought it was for when you build the computer out of the case before putting it in. I was wondering why you would even need another tbh. :p
 
Some people take this whole "never use a cheap psu" thing far to literally. They make them for a reason, they come with a 12 months warranty. If they all blew up after 20 seconds of use then OcUK wouldn't sell them in the first place.

While I totally agree you should never use a cheap PSU with any sort of components you value. For testing a few LED's and some Hardrives, optical drives. Then it will be absolutely perfect and do the job nicely. Buying a branded 550W PSU to test an LED is borderline lunacy IMO.

Get yourself a £6.99 PSU to test your fans.

I've used OcUK cheap psu's in many of my older, less valuable builds for years and never had an issue at all. If it did happen to blow up and for some reason it took out everything with it, it wouldn't be an issue.

When you see people using £20 PSU's with a £600 gaming pc running gtx 570's off it. This is the opposite end of the lunatic scale. A major no no.

So to conclude my jibberish.

For running cheapo old computers - £20 PSU is fine

For running a gaming machine with quality components - get a branded PSU with a high efficiency rating, Antec, Seasonic, Corsair etc

For testing LED's - The cheapest PSU you can source will be great!
 
LOL. At first I thought it was going to be used for testing mobos and GFX cards. If you're only planning to test fans, leds, cathodes and nothing more, you should be fine with a cheapo PSU.
 
Buchanan0204 said:
For running cheapo old computers - £20 PSU is fine

For running a gaming machine with quality components - get a branded PSU with a high efficiency rating, Antec, Seasonic, Corsair etc

For testing LED's - The cheapest PSU you can source will be great!
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+1 completely agree, think logically about your psu, dont underestimate their significance :)
 
I did realise that you weren't going to run a full system off the PSU. I was just saying that it would make sense to buy a branded PSU that you would happily run your rig off.

I see so many threads with people trying to troubleshoot problems but have no PSU spare to test. I'm not trying to jinx your rig, although if you had a fault with your PSU then you would be up and running in no time.

It's your money, was only suggesting a lil forward thinking. Better to have more than you need than be caught short one day...if the price is right ;)

p.s You do know you qualify for free delivery too don't you?
 
honosuseri is right. If you're using it to test individual components, you could just get a cheap one, but it's worth having a spare PSU to hand that can power your entire system, and if you're going to buy a spare PSU anyway, why not make them one and the same?
 
I have a PSU from a 1996 Gateway 2000 computer for this purpose >.<

And talking of Gateway.. Can't believe they are still around!
 
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