Help with Computer Power Supply

Culcuhain

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A friend of mine gave me a gateway Profile 6 computer. He said it was running fine and then one day he went to turn it on and it wouldn't go. He got a new MB for it and gave me it and the computer in a box of parts. I have it all together. When I plug in the power supply the computer automatically turns on (don't need to hit the power button.)
The output on the PSU has 2 +12v lines (checked out at 11.95v, no load) and a -12V (checked out at -9.5V no load). So I am assuming it is the power supply issue.
Also the fan for the PSU does not come on as well.


Where do I start?
 
Yes there is usually a "power restore" option

1) Power up
2) Remain off
3) Last state

Checking with no load is pretty meaningless, you are lucky the values are as close to spec as they are.
 
So it doesnt automatically turn on then, being that "on" tends to suggest it is working.

Take all the cards out, including the gfx card and the memory. Power attempt to power it up, if you get no beeps at all then either the PSU, the mobo or the CPU is knackered.

If you do get beeps (which you should without gfx or RAM) then put a single stick of ram in and the gfx card. Power up again, if you still get beeps then take that RAM stick out and put another in. If it still only beeps or you still get nothing then either the gfx card or the RAM is shot, or the slots on the mobo.

If it boots with RAM and gfx card then add any cards back in until it fails, if it does then you have found a bad card.

The PSU is a fair candidate, you have measured the 12V rails but there is also the 5V, -5v and 3.3v
 
this PSU is a gateway specific... it has 2 +12 and one -12
Fan on the CPU isn't working... (.36v to the fan in the PSU)
It came with a "new" psu, but that doesn't mean anything. I might check the old board.
Like I said, I got a box of parts.
thanks!
 
"Gateway specific" two words that should never have been allowed to be paired, they made some horribly nonstandard stuff. Am not sure I would waste time on it personally.

Fan may only run when it is needed, often they are temp controlled on all by the cheapest PSUs.
 
that's possible. I will see if my friend has the other PSU that came with it.


I will post up later what I find...
 
Open the PS and check for bad caps... Check the motherboard for bad caps...

If it's an AMD system then it's very possible the CPU is bad. They have poor thermal shutdown capabilities and tend to cook themselves to death.
 
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