PC Power supply help
June 27, 2011 1:10 PM Subscribe
Need some advice please.
I tried to install a new Power supply in my 2 year Old Dell PC in anticipation of installing a new Hi Spec Graphics card. Did all the necessary connections (I think) except connecting up the Sata cable to the Optical Disc drive (It wouldn't reach, I'll come to that in a minute).
Powered it up, nothing. I noticed a light came on, on the motherboard (so It's getting power right??)
Took out the power supply, refitted the old one and it all works.
Questions -
1.Does not attaching the Sata cable to the optical drive matter??
2.Can I buy a Sata cable extension??
3.Is the light (showing on the motherboard) indicative of the Power supply working??
4,Is it possible that the new power supply is not functioning???
5.Is there something really obvious I'm missing??
Any help advice would be gratefully accepted, thanks
A lot of modern ATX boards need two power cables- one 24-pin and 1 8-pin. If you just connect the 24-pin the motherboard will power up, but it won't boot. Is it possible you've missed hooking up the 8-pin cable?
posted by Benny Andajetz at 1:34 PM on June 27, 2011
posted by Benny Andajetz at 1:34 PM on June 27, 2011
1.Does not attaching the Sata cable to the optical drive matter?
No, not at all.
2.Can I buy a Sata cable extension??
Not sure about extensions, but Wikipedia says SATA cables can be up to 1m in length, so you probably can get a longer cable.
3.Is the light (showing on the motherboard) indicative of the Power supply working??
If the light is working, _some_ power must be reaching the motherboard. You could still have a mixed-up pinout as FishBike suggests though.
4,Is it possible that the new power supply is not functioning???
Unlikely, but not impossible. You could check it out with a voltmeter, but you could also give yourself a nasty shock if you don't know what you are doing.
5.Is there something really obvious I'm missing??
Are all the cables firmly seated? Is everything plugged in where it's supposed to, and with the correct orientation? Are you sure you haven't forced a connector on backwards, e.g. by bending a guide pin? Does your new PSU have a switch or fuse in a non-obvious place?
Any help advice would be gratefully accepted, thanks
This is the point where you get out the manual for your motherboard and check out the part about connecting the power. If you don't have one, check the surface of the motherboard for anything that looks like a model number and plug it into google - chances are you will come up with a link to download the manual.
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:37 PM on June 27, 2011
No, not at all.
2.Can I buy a Sata cable extension??
Not sure about extensions, but Wikipedia says SATA cables can be up to 1m in length, so you probably can get a longer cable.
3.Is the light (showing on the motherboard) indicative of the Power supply working??
If the light is working, _some_ power must be reaching the motherboard. You could still have a mixed-up pinout as FishBike suggests though.
4,Is it possible that the new power supply is not functioning???
Unlikely, but not impossible. You could check it out with a voltmeter, but you could also give yourself a nasty shock if you don't know what you are doing.
5.Is there something really obvious I'm missing??
Are all the cables firmly seated? Is everything plugged in where it's supposed to, and with the correct orientation? Are you sure you haven't forced a connector on backwards, e.g. by bending a guide pin? Does your new PSU have a switch or fuse in a non-obvious place?
Any help advice would be gratefully accepted, thanks
This is the point where you get out the manual for your motherboard and check out the part about connecting the power. If you don't have one, check the surface of the motherboard for anything that looks like a model number and plug it into google - chances are you will come up with a link to download the manual.
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:37 PM on June 27, 2011
3.Is the light (showing on the motherboard) indicative of the Power supply working??
Sadly no, its even possible to have fans + lights and still have a dodgy power supply. Power supplies output different voltages and its common for one to stop working and not the others.
4,Is it possible that the new power supply is not functioning???
Possibly though it would seem strange if it is new new. I would say it's a mismatch between a Dell system and a non Dell power supply, they are notorious for it.
posted by tallus at 1:36 AM on June 28, 2011
Sadly no, its even possible to have fans + lights and still have a dodgy power supply. Power supplies output different voltages and its common for one to stop working and not the others.
4,Is it possible that the new power supply is not functioning???
Possibly though it would seem strange if it is new new. I would say it's a mismatch between a Dell system and a non Dell power supply, they are notorious for it.
posted by tallus at 1:36 AM on June 28, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
So while a non-Dell power supply would fit in the case and would plug into the motherboard, it would never work because some of the pins have the wrong voltage on them. I don't know if that's still true of machines made 2 years ago, but checking the colours of the wires can give you a hint about whether or not this is the issue.
posted by FishBike at 1:18 PM on June 27, 2011