Questions About Power Supplies

My power supply fan isn't moving. Can I replace it?
You can if you have experience working with a soldering iron, but we advise against it because the fan may not even be the source of the problem. It's also dangerous. You can easily replace the entire PSU for very little money.

Our computer's power supply has failed. What type should I get?
You'll probably find your power supply is a standard ATX power supply with a single 20-pin connector to the motherboard. You should replace it with one of equal or greater wattage. Spending more on a power supply with greater wattage will not improve performance, just allow you to run more devices. Look for a name brand like Antec or Thermaltake.

Is there any easy way to test my power supply?
Many local PC and electronics stores will sell stand-alone power supply testers for about $12 USD. All you have to do is plug the power supply into the adapter and turn it on. The device will instantly tell you if the power supply is bad. If you have a multimeter, you can also test the voltages. Read more here.

Why can't I turn off my computer when it crashes? I have to use the power supply switch on the back.
Try holding the front power button for five or six seconds. Merely pressing the button will not turn the PC off, as this isn't a spring-loaded switch that has an On and Off. By holding the button for several seconds, the computer knows to shut the the power supply down.

I just installed a new device. Does it matter which power plug I use?
No. You'll notice that your power supply has several plugs not being used. As long as it fits, it's okay to use. There may be a couple of odd connectors that go to the case fans or floppy drive, but any of the 4-wire plugs can be used for devices such as hard drives, CD and DVD drives, case fans, etc.