Testing a PSU

voodooflux · 10 Aug 2008 at 11:54

My son has a an Antec Sonata II with a SmartPower 450W PSU, and the latter seems to be dead (there is a light on the motherboard but powering on just results in a half turn of the fans and then nothing).

An RMA has been raised for the PSU, but I just wanted to check it with nothing else connected. Unfortunately I've already removed the PSU from the case and disconnected everything, so I need to reconnect it so I can power it on via the power switch on the case. Typically I've gone and lost the motherboard schematics, so what connector should I be looking at on the PSU to reattach to the motherboard?

Hope this makes sense.

cheers
v.f.

voodooflux · 10 Aug 2008 at 12:19

Thanks for the review, I wasn't aware they came with free fireworks - ours seemed to die fairly gracefully. The PSU came with the case, and the system isn't particurlarly powerful so if we can get it replaced then it should keep him ticking along for a while. Any advice on the connector?

voodooflux · 11 Aug 2008 at 08:50

EsaT said:
If PSU doesn't start when green wire from motherboard's power cable is shorted to ground then PSU is clearly dead (except for 5Vsb part) so not much use for putting it back.

Cheers for that, but it's a bit over my head unfortunately. Apologies in advance for what might be a noob question, but how would I go about the test you describe?

From my description of the problem in the OP, would my conclusion about the PSU being at fault be correct given that there is a light on the motherboard (I'm starting to wonder whether this could be a fault with motherboard instead.)

EsaT said:
Antec probably doesn't have those old models in stock and repairing would be rather expensive so they'll probably replace it with newer Seasonic made PSU.

Fine with me

voodooflux · 11 Aug 2008 at 09:29

Greebo said:
snip

EsaT said:
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Thanks chaps - the PSU is currently disconnected from the PC, so I'll connect up a fan and then short the green against an adjacent black on the mobo power plug.

If you don't hear from me again then you can assume I fried myself in the process

voodooflux · 14 Aug 2008 at 20:58

Just wanted to say thanks for the advice chaps - I did the test you suggested and the fan on the PSU just stuttered repeatedly, and there was nothing but a very initial movement of the case fan I connected it to. The PSU will be winging its way back for replacement shortly.