Just noticed something odd about my power supply.

[notyoueither]

If it's not broken, don't fix it.

[Dis]

yes, but eventually he will need a better power supply.

It's your choice. Now or later. Just remember if you upgrade your motherboard/CPU, to upgrade your power supply and fans as well.

[Urban Ranger]

Looks like it's broken though, the HDD failures and the CD-ROM drive failure were probably caused by an unstable power supply.

[The Mad Monk]

Hmm...maybe I should get one, then.

Another thing to add to my list.

Need a new UPS, too. The electronics in the old one got fried somehow a while back.

[Urban Ranger]

If your area gets lots of lightning storms or blackouts, UPS is a good idea. Otherwise it's probably just optional.

[notyoueither]

They got killed by the crap power the power company is feeding your PC. That is their job. They take the bullet for your PC.

Salute as you bury that soldier.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
If your area gets lots of lightning storms or blackouts, UPS is a good idea. Otherwise it's probably just optional.

UPS are never optional if you want your computer to live a long and healthy life.

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
If your area gets lots of lightning storms or blackouts, UPS is a good idea. Otherwise it's probably just optional.

I got worse -- a 30 unit apartment building with antiquated wiring and a bank of heavy-duty coin-op washers and dryers in the basement.

[Mr. Harley]

Sometimes it's cheaper to get an entire case instead of just a new power supply, though less common with a tower. Try ComputerGeeks, or Pricewatch. However, I've lost two hard drives to a cheap power supply, so this is a place I'd recommend spending a little cash. Go over to Sharkey's extreme, and see what they're using in their current setups .

[notyoueither]

I gave my mom a computer. It dies, and it was my fault. I had a tech fix it, had to replace the mother board. It dies again, and it was my fault again. I had a tech fix it, had to replace the power supply.

Gave it back to her again, along with a UPS. Immediately the site wiring fault light came on. Turns out none of the outlets in the house were grounded.

Hehe.

[The Mad Monk]

I had to install a grounded outlet in my first apartment here, as none of the existing outlets were.

Let me tell you, it's fun playing with a circuit tester and live AC, looking for anything that could work as a ground.

[Dis]

my red alarm light is always on for my surge protector.

I say **** it.

My mom's house is 1940's era. It has no ground lugs I have to use an adaport to conver the 3 prongs to 2. And the ground (loop) isn't actually grounded . But that computer is a P133. No big loss if that goes.

[Mr. Harley]

Another discount site I've used, but not for power supplies.

http://www.computersurplusoutlet.com/showproduct.asp?category=18&subcategory=85

They've got some apparently good bargains, but again I'm not sure if bargain is the best move with power supplies.

[The Mad Monk]

As an aside, everything OEM in this computer points to it being manufactured in early 1999, by Packard Bell, though it shows NEC on the front plate.

I remember buying it for $1000 mid to late '99 (maybe early '00), and thinking it a bargain at the time. Had I seen "Packard Bell" anywhere on the display, I wouldn't have purchased it, but it's been a good box all this time.

[DRoseDARs]

My computer has three fans: one sucking air in and two blowing out (one dedicated to the power supply). Case has airholes on both sides of the tower, allowing additional airflow. I don't recall the age of the tower, but it has housed a couple of motherboards over the years.

All in the name of keeping it from overheating.