How to Test your Computer Power Supply By Itself - (Test if PSU is DOA)

This is just a quick tutorial on how you can test your PSU to see if it is DOA and also to see if it is healthy. In my case I installed my PSU and it started for a split second and I knew something was wrong so I decided to test it by inserting a wire into the 4th wire (green) from the right and ground it to the black wire next to it and not to my surprise it started for a split second here as well and then went flat dead.

If you have any questions please let me know and also don't forget to be VERY CAREFUL when handling a PSU (especially if you have turned it on before).

Intro Music - Ascension by Mitis
Intro Sound - SlenderX (from Heroes of Newerth)
Outro Music - Flight by Tristam and Braken

[sully]

Brother you’re such a life saver, it’s so reassuring to know it’s my power supplies fault and not my other components

[itfc]

Not all power supplys fans will spin all the time only when it reaches a certain load. I know the Corsair gold ones are like that.

[yolandagomez]

you did a great job demonstrating the testing of the power supply with just a paper clip..   I have one to test and was going to get a tester, this  a simple easy way to test since I don't have a tester.    Thank you for your demonstration..

[pedrosoares]

Thanks for this man, my Bequiet 450w PSU finally died after 11 years. Had it off for a year, tried it on another system and the exact issue happened.

[klaaz]

How will this work with the Corsair RM series? That fan wil only spin above a certain percentage of load.

[hhero]

when i forget how to check if components are defective or not i usually got in this channel to refresh my memory.

[Sandwich]

Note that some PSUs will spin up and shut off the fan as seen on this PSU (but still work fine). This can be a feature of the PSU, such as the "0 RPM mode"

[modifiedmafiakolic]

I literally bought a PSU off ebay for 35 dollars (corsair 450s) and the seller said it was used for only 4 months and is in mint condition. I am about to test the PSU. WISH ME LUCK!!

[nushydude]

So how do you test a PSU whose fan doesn't start spinning until the PSU load reaches a certain level? Like Corsair RM series or even the HX650 Gold version that I own?

[CypherusMcClain]

I was building my first computer; forever* in my 23 years of life, I was doomed to sub-par performing laptops; and upon assembling all the necessary components for my bench test, the power supply fan would not spin. I've tried various outlets, different cables, anything... But with no success. I've been having dreams and nightmares these last three days wondering, if I was right to assume that a non-spinning fan was an indication of a DOA PSU, and your video certainly confirms my fears.

Thank you for this information.

*Not literally forever, but ever since I got a laptop when I was like... 12

[ericg]

+Tech YES City Great tip! This should be done EVERY time BEFORE installing/connecting a power supply to the motherboard. EVGA provides this test nowadays before you hook your power supply.

[xrogaan]

Make sure to shut down everything before playing with electricity.

Electricity Can Kill You!

[GrahamCake]

thank you so much! the psu was not powering my molex fans and i was worried thats its DOA and when i did the paperclip method it worked thanks

[Chidie]

Thank you for such a clear concise video. Saved me some money.

[dead_head]

Hey I'd like to add that even if your UPS and your PSU are both switched off, you should probably have the 24-pin cable disconnected from the PSU while you're inserting the paper clip

[anthonyhershko]

I got a brand new highend PC with brand new monitor,
Recently my monitor turns off and come back on.
It could be my PSU? I got ROG THOR 850W (it's the only pieces that I didn't replace),
Everything is update form GPU driver to bios.
Thanks!

[ProGamer-fyug]

You helped me find out that my power supply was good

[kilurz]

You just saved me 300$ cuz i thought it was my cpu but turns out i was wrong thank you so damn much

[fatalpotatoe]

I was just building my *"first"* computer (emphasis on *first* because it is my *first PC build*) and my Xplower GTX light 480W PSU did not work, there was no motherboard active light and it would not start, checked every connection, it is good I found this video, I almost threw away my motherboard

[corruptedsmurf]

I don't know if you are still actively checking comments, but I had a question on this test: Does this force the power supply to draw maximum power? My PC is running TECHNICALLY but on certain high demand graphic games, the PC will completely shutdown/crash.