POWER SUPPLY BLOCK

PSU block / POWER SUPPLIES

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Big block that gives your PC power 

*they're basically step down transformers

Converts AC power to DC power

Like puzzle pieces they all fit perfect

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2 piece ATX POWER CONVERTER 

(multi coloured wires - indicate YELLOW 12v, RED 5v, and ORANGE 3.3volt)

ATX12V is typical power for CPU

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SOME OLD ASS COMPUTERS USED "MOLEX"

TINY MINI CONNECTOR for floppy drives

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Once again - small black SATA CONNECTORS

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PCIE connectors are for video cards

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huge MODULAR CONNECTOR like a big adaptor

- so you don't have cables going everywhere

Purists say you should use soldered power supply 

*not the big MODULAR CONNECTOR

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80PLUS RATINGS GUIDE 

(power efficiency rating)

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HEAT SINK &

HEAT DISSIPATORS - COOLING BAR FINS

+ FANS for air flow

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When systems OVERHEAT they REBOOT

BIGGER FANS *LESS NOISY because they TURN SLOWER 

(liquid cooling even quieter still)

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PWM connectors are for CUSTOM FANS

TINY 3 PIN connector for SYSTEM FANS

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POWER SUPPLIES can either DIE FAST 

(burning smell) 

or 

DIE SLOW 

(due to multiple power surges)

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HOW TO TEST YOUR POWER SUPPLY

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If you suspect slow death 

- unplug your power cube from the motherboard

 

then plug it into a Manhattan POWER SUPPLY TESTER 

If the voltage drops 

*power supply is experiencing *slow death

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Stick a BENT SAFETY PIN

into old motherboard power supply cube

then read results on a MULTI -VOLT METER

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(SQUIGGLE with a "v" symbol = AC 

or subtract sign + 3 dots = DC)

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SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO REPLACE THE POWER SUPPLY BOX

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 If you turn on a new PC with a new motherboard 

and POWER SUPPLY together & nothing turns on??

..crickets..

Just restart & disassemble everything and build it back up from scratch. 

90% of the time this usually fixes problem

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When SYSTEM LOCKS UP on a new home built PC?? 

find the "CLEAR CMOS JUMPER" on the motherboard 

It looks like 2 tiny prongs

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push plastic SHUNT *or CAR KEYS* against these prongs 

and cause a short (hold it for 30 seconds)

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Noises coming from computer are rare. usually only a fan 

or power capacitor cause audible noises. 

if noise is accompanied by smoking - we're in trouble 

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INDICATOR LIGHTS blinking on PC??

Sometimes RAM sticks are wrong or actually broken. 

Use live CD or thumb drive to run windows "diagnostic memory" tester tool