6 Things to Look Out for When Purchasing a New Processor for a Desktop Computer

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The processor is one of the most important parts of a computer. It behaves like the "brain" of the computer, sorting out information. Every key stoke, click or command is processed by the CPU (Computer Processing Unit) and sorted, sending resources to different components in order to fulfill your instruction. When selecting a desktop computer the better the processor, the better the performance

Here are the two main factors to consider when buying a new processor

1. Number of cores
Since the mid 2000's, Computer processors now contain multiple processing cores. The definition of a multicore CPU is a processor with two or more independent cores that read and execute program instructions. To use an example, a standard single core processor is like a single lane road and a multiple core processor is like a motorway, allowing information to be processed faster without any congestion (or information waiting to be processed). The more cores your processor has, the faster your computer. At the moment, there are many processor out there which have 2, 4 or 6 cores such as the Intel I-Core and the AMD Phenom ranges.

2. Clock Speed
The clock speed (Measured in gigahertz) is the rate which a computer processor executes instructions. When selecting a new processor, the higher the speed, the faster the processor will perform. Most processor's on the market today generally range between 2GHz to 3GHz. Apart from the number of cores in the processor, the clock speed is the most important thing to look out for when shopping for a new processor.

Other things to consider

1. Hyper Threading
Hyper threading is an Intel technology which increases the performance of each processing core by allowing the Operating system (of the computer) to use two virtual processors per core. This technology, like Multicore processing, has been developed to improve the performance of the processor when doing multiple tasks at once. Buying a CPU with this technology may run between 15-30% faster (according to Intel). Hyper Threading is available on the latest range of Intel processors such as the I-core range.

2. Cache Size
A computer processor cache is used to reduce the average time to access memory. Like RAM (Random Access Memory, another component in the computer) the cache stores copies of data most frequently used by the processor to speed up the time it takes to process instructions. The larger the CPU cache, the more information the processor can access quicker meaning a faster computer.

3. Socket type
When buying a new processor for an upgrade or a new build, you will need to pay attention to the socket type to allow it to fit inside your motherboard. For each brand or range of CPU, it will use a specific socket type that will match the mother board to allow it to fit and work correctly. This information can be found on the product spec on the processor and motherboard. Buying a processor with a different socket style to the mother board (and visa versa) will leave you with something you wont be able to use.

4. Overclocking
Overclocking is the process of increasing the work load capability's of a computer processor to improve performance. Popular with gamers, overclocking is achieved by altering the computer bios to tell the processor to faster than the manufactures deem recommended. One disadvantage of overclocking your computer can be the increased heat out put of your processor. To ensure you do not damage your computer, you will need improved cooling and ventilation inside the case to ensure the CPU does not exceed to recommended operating temperature (set out by the manufacture). You also might void the warranty with the CPU manufacture.

To conclude, when looking to buy a new computer processor, you will need to consider the points above. While all of the information above is relevant, the most important factors to consider are amount of number of cores and the clock speed of the processor. If you look for a processor with multiple cores and a high clock speed, you will be sure to buy a decent CPU

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Source by Liam R Miller

Regular Computer Maintenance – Knowing the Benefits

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If you read the guideline about computer, you will find many articles which talk about recommendation and suggestion to do the regular computer maintenance. What are the benefits of doing such thing? In this case, you need to know that there are many good things and effects you can get if you maintain the great work of your computer. It is almost the same as the benefits of maintaining your car and your house. Do not worry, since the maintenance is actually easy to do and it can be done by people with even very basic knowledge of computers. The following explanation will bring the brief information for you.

The first benefit of doing the regular computer maintenance is the longer computer life. You can protect your computer against the changes of electricity supply by plugging it into the electrical surge protector. However, testing the surge protector regularly is a must thing to do as well. How can you perform this test? You should not feel worry, since the surge protector manufacturers will provide the instructions to do it. The improper work of surge protector will potentially destroy the motherboard or hard drive. However, this test will be great to prolong the life of your computer by months and even years.

What are the other benefits you can get from regular maintenance? The faster speed is the answer. What are the steps you need to do to get the faster speed? There are several examples, and some of the most essentials are installing the virus removal programs and also updating the software. Those are the things which will help your computer to run at top speed. Besides, you need to update the Windows to let the computer run much more efficiently and will close the recent security holes.

What about the regular maintenance by updating the anti virus? It is the most essential thing to do. We have hundreds ways to protect your computers, but the hacker have thousands ways to grab and destroy your computer system. The best protection should be provided if we do not want something bad happen to our computer. The threats on computer system become certain frightening thing nowadays. Even, the threat has developed in internet network as well.

There is always a possibility for the third party to steal our personal information. They will transmit it to third parties then. They steal the information through spyware and malware. The worst thing you can possibly get it the permanent computer broken. It becomes the main reason why you need to do the regular maintenance. The possible threat can be detected as soon as possible.

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Source by Calvin M Nieves

Similarities Between the Computer and the Brain

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Have you ever realized that the brain and a computer have nearly similar functions? For example, if you download something to your computer, it is just the same as the brain downloading new information during lessons in class. The same thing goes with uploading a file or an image from the computer to the internet; your brain does the same thing by uploading something you learned in class and projecting it onto a piece of paper. For example, your brain downloads an image when you see something, and then uploads it by you drawing a picture of something you have seen. Of course even the world's most powerful supercomputer can not rival a human brain, but these are some examples of the similarities between man and machine that can be identified. Probably in the future, where humans have developed some high technology will they be able to create near-human computers.

Here are some other similarities between the computer and the brain:

Functions and Purpose

Both are used for storage of information, to process information and to run tasks.

Functions: Both are used for mathematical calculations, carrying out complex algorithms and to storing of crucial information.

Role in society

Both play extremely important roles in society, commerce, entertainment and science

Every single living creature survives by quick thinking and reflexes, that includes us. The computer today plays the most important roles from specialized systems controlling entire production factories to little "fuzzy logic" chips in washing machines that intelligently monitor the washing process.

Combining components

Both work by combining the processes of several components and parts to perform their tasks.

A computer consists of many parts, including a motherboard (which is also made of several components), the disk drives, the processor, graphic cards and many more … all of which has its own roles in the computer's processes.

Like a computer, the brain is formed out of parts. Besides having the left and right brain, there are also parts of the brain that take care of emotions, mathematical calculations, body co-ordinations and many other tasks needed for our daily activities.

Electrical signals

Both work by transmitting "logic signals" to each of their parts. Signals are both electrical

ie A computer works by using binary ( "on" / "off" logical signals known as "bits", put together as "bytes" to represent data.) To communicate internally between components, represent information and store data.

In a way, neurons in the brain are either "on" or "off" by either firing an action potential or not firing an action potential.

Memory capacity

Both can increase their memory storage capacity.

Computer memory grows by adding computer chips / external hard drives / pre-installed hard drives. Memories in the brain grow by stronger synaptic connections.

Self-maintenance

Both computers and brain have repair and " backup" systems.

The brain has "built-in back up systems" in some cases. If one pathway in the brain is damaged, there is often another pathway that will take over this function of the damaged pathway.Similar to a computer, where backup files can be stored in the computer.

Degrading with time

Both can degrade. Computers break down and brain cells deteriorate

Like all machines, computers break down with time. Brain cells deteriorate with age, losing their functions and slowing down because of lower counts of chemicals and hormones in the body.

http://worldnewsgogo.blogspot.com

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Source by Yousef Sabqi

PS3 Faults – Solution To Find The Problem And Fix It Immediately

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There are currently numerous PS3 faults that plague many PS3 consoles on today's market. These things can be very frustrating in trying to find a solution that will remedy these systems of the issue they possess. As this consoles life-cycle moves forward there have been more and more cases that led to various reasons of why this console has fallen victim to various malfunctions. If you currently possess a PS3 system that has malfunctioned and are one of the many frustrated owners of a broken PS3 system you have now stumbled upon the resource that you have been in search for that is going to show you exactly why your system has received such errors and what your next step is in getting your broken PS3 system permanently fixed.

Before I begin to go into further detail about possible fixes for your system it is imperative that you first understand why your system has received the error that it currently has. Throughout various studies, it has been concluded that many of these issues come from internal components throughout the system that have become disruptive to the system, fortunately many of these problems can be fixed through very simple means by individuals with technically no experience. Throughout various cases it has been drawn that the majority of these issues come from the CPU, disk drive, hard drive, motherboard, or overheating issues.

Starting from the last point that was illustrated in the previous section, one thing that many console owners has misinterpreted as an internal error has been a result of the system overheating. This is why it is very important that you first observe your consoles surrounding. You should immediately test to see if your system is in a space in which it can pull in cool air and push out warm air effectively. If it is in an area in which it is forced to pull in more hot air it will force the system to overheat which can cause various issues. Many console issues can be solved by simply placing the system and an area where it can obtain better airflow.

Now that you understand the various causes of these PS3 faults you now have two major options to choose from to get your system repaired. The two options that you have are to either simply repair the system yourself or pay a repair service to repair the system for you.

Throughout my experience, it has shown that self-repairs provide an exponentially greater advantage over using another repair service. These advantages come from the perspectives of price, return time, how long the repairs last, the ability to keep your saved data, and a variety of other things.

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Source by Ben M. Anderson

Common Hardware Devices and Computer Peripherals

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The average computer user has a wide range of hardware devices and components installed on his or her system. Each has a corresponding device driver. Some of the most common include:

BIOS – Short for Basic Input Output System, BIOS is a type of software that resides on a motherboard chip. It contains codes that control devices such as the mouse, keyboard and various functions.

CD / DVD – Most newer computers come included with CD / DVD drives. These drives allow you to install software applications, play video games, and listen to music on Compact Discs among other functions.

Displays – Displays simply refer to computer monitors, such as flat panel screens and touch screens.

Game Controller – A game controller is a device that connects to a computer or game console and allows you to play video games. The most common example is a USB joystick.

Graphics / Video Adapter – Graphics video adapter cards handle the appearance and performance of your display. They are responsible for processing information, making calculations about the pixels of each color, and outputting data to the computer screen.

Hard Disk Controller – A hard disk controller is an interface or circuit that enables the operating system to control the hard disk on a computer. The most common examples are modems, which are integrated with hark disk controllers.

Input Devices – Input devices are used to enter data into a computer. Common examples include a keyboard, mouse or touchpad.

ISDN – An ISDN refers to a certain digital phone data network service. It requires the use of a modem that corresponds with the type of network connection that is being used.

Modem – A modem allows a computer to be connected with computers via phone line, cable connection or wireless connection. The most common use for a modem is to establish an internet connection.

Network Adapter – A network adapter is a device that allows you to interconnect computers and networks. Some of the most common include PCI Ethernet cards and wireless network adapters.

Printer – A printer is a device that connects to a computer and allows you to print documents and graphics. Many printers today also function as copiers, scanners and fax machines.

Removable Drive – Removable drives refer to storage devices that are primarily used to backup and restore data onto a computer. Common examples including USB flash drives and portable hard drives.

Scanner – A scanner is a device that connects to a computer and allows you to scan documents and images. It typically requires a special type of software in order to function properly.

Soundcard – A soundcard is a built-in component that enables computer speakers to produce sounds. Soundcards also come in external variations and require that a microphone be connected.

Tape Backup Drive – Tape backup drives are used to store data on magnetic tapes, usually for backup purposes. They generally come with backup software that allows you to schedule automatic backups.

USB – Short for Universal Serial Bus, a USB is a standard used to interconnect computers with various devices. This process is done with USB ports and cables.

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Source by Adam K Smith

7 Step Procedure To Fix PS3 Yellow Light of Death And PS3 Red Light of Death

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The PS3 Yellow Light of Dead (or YLOD) and the PS3 Red Light of Death are probably 2 of the most common faults afflicting the PS3 console.

In this article I will briefly explain the sequence of indicator lights on the PS3 console that you need to look out for that confirms that your console is suffering from the Yellow Light of Death or the red indicator fault; why these faults occur in the first instance; and how to effectively mitigate, avoid or troubleshoot your way out of a potentially catastrophic failure of your game system that can end up costing you at least a couple of hundred dollars to fix.

It's unfortunate but true, PS3 faults are a common occurrence with the blinking Yellow Light fault probably being the most serious and widespread problem. It is thought that many of the problems occurring with the PS3 console is largely due to a design flaw, making it vulnerable to failure.

PS3 Yellow Light of Death

If the power status light on your console flashes or blinks from green to yellow and back to green, this is known as the "yellow light of death". If what you experience is a power status light that flashes red after using your console for 3 or more minutes and then shuts down, then you are likely to be experiencing the red light of death.

It's widely believed that the main cause of the Yellow Light of Death is due to the processor getting so hot during heavy use of the console that the tiny solder points on the GPU liquefies and over time loses its connection with the motherboard.

Older PS3s tend to be more vulnerable to YLOD and it's believed that this may be due to them having older less efficient processors that generate more heat than the newer PS3 models. The official line from Sony however is that the yellow indicator warning light can be caused for a variety of reasons, without giving any further explanation

What we do know from the many PS3 owners that have experienced the YLOD fault is that the only repair that seems consistently to work involves opening up the PS3 console and using a heat gun to heat up the CPU / GPU and direct chipsets.

However, in a limited number of cases, the YLOD warning may be due to a faulty power supply preventing the console from properly booting up. To determine what is causing the YLOD, switch the console off and allow it to cool down for at least 20 minutes. Then turn the console on and listen closely for the fan. If the fan powers on briefly and then switches off again, you are likely to have a problem with the motherboard. If you do not hear the fan on start-up, then the likely problem is with the power supply.

PS3 Red Light of Death

The red light error may also be caused by overheating but equally it may also be because of a major hard drive failure. Depending on how often you use your PS3 and how well you look after it, a hard drive ought to last on average at least 3 to 5 years.

Of the two YLOD is the more serious as it tends to indicate an internal fault needing a professional repair. A flashing red indicator light on the other hand is often the precursor to more serious internal problems. So if you are experiencing a red warning light, all is not lost. In fact even if you are getting a yellow warning light, you may still be able to recover you PS3 system if you catch it early enough.

Since we know that many of the problems that arise with the PS3 are due to overheating especially if the console is being used for long periods of time, here are some of the things that you can do to prevent serious damage:

  1. Ensure that the air vents on console are not obstructed in any way.
  2. Allow at least 4 inches of clearance on all sides of the PlayStation 3 for adequate ventilation.
  3. Remove the PlayStation console from any cabinets, away from other stacked electrical equipment and do not tuck it into corners of the room as these areas promote heat build up.
  4. Check for dust on and around the air vents as well as inside the console, as this can choke your PS3 of air, preventing it from cooling down, which itself can lead to fan failure.

7 Steps For Retrieving YLOD and Red Light of Death PS3 Errors

If your PS3 is not functioning because of a possible YLOD or Red Light error issue, here is a brief outline of what you can do to recover your PS3 console:

  1. Shut down the PS3 console and all peripherals
  2. Disconnect the console and allow to cool down in a well ventilated location.
  3. Safely remove all dust and perform a "PS3 Fan Test".
  4. Reconnect cables, ensuring that you check all cables and connections that they neither loose nor damaged.
  5. Perform "PS3 Safe Mode" and reboot your PS3 system – particularly relevant if your PS3 is failing to boot up.
  6. Check PS3 system settings and ensure that you have the latest software download update.
  7. The final troubleshoot procedure is what's called a PS3 heard drive reset, which simply involves removing the hard drive cassette and reinserting it.

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Source by P Brains

How to Fix PS3 Red Light Blinking? Step by Step Effective Guides to Fix The Red Light of Death!

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If you need to fix PS3 red light blinking, aka Red Light Of Death (RLOD), on your gaming console, you are not alone! Thousands of people are suffering with this problem and the internet is flooded with frustrated and angry consumers who fear they will have to throw out a gaming console that they spent hundreds of dollars to purchase.

Luckily, throwing your console out is entirely unnecessary! Do not let anyone convince you that you can not fix PS3 RLOD issue, because you can! The following five steps will help you find a solution to the problem.

Step 1: Check Your Console

One of the biggest causes of the blinking red light problem is placing the console with the fan vents sitting against the floor or up against a wall where air can not flow freely in and out of the console.

So, start by checking your console and making sure those fans are not blocked off. If you notice a lot of dust on the console, clean it off right away. Once you fix the blinking red light of your ps3 and your console is working again, you will want to keep the vents clean and unobstructed.

Step 2: Test the Hard Drive

Now, find the hard drive on the side of your console and remove it. Wait a few seconds and replace it. In some cases this may fix PS3 red light. If you still see the blinking red light, there is a chance you have more substantial damage inside your unit. It could possibly be a problem with overheating which causes problems with the motherboard, especially if you had your console on the floor or up against a wall.

Step 3: Unplug

The last in-home remedy to fix PS3 red light blinking is to unplug the console from the wall for about half an hour and then plug it back in. This does not always work, but some people have had success with problems other than overheating. If it does not work, then you have more substantial damage to your console motherboard.

Yet, that does not mean the console is useless! Continue on to find a permanent solution to the problem.

Step 4: Check Your Warranty

The next step you can do to fix red light of death is to see if you still have a valid warranty for your gaming console. If you do, then you can contact Sony and mail it in for a fix. Note that this will take at least 6 weeks before you can expect your ps3 back and chances are high you will receive a refurbished unit rather than the one you originally sent in. Also note that Sony will delete the memory from your unit so you will lose everything saved in the console.

If you do not have a valid warranty or you do not want to lose everything saved inside the console, bypass Sony altogether. Without a warranty they charge $ 150-300 or more and often the unit you receive back will have the same red light of death blinking problem in a short period of time.

Just skip to our last step.

Step 5: Find an Online Fix

Go online to expert sites which will show you some online programs that will fix PS3 red light blinking in just an hour or sometimes less. These programs will show you how to fix your console just as an experienced PlayStation 3 repairman would fix it, but you will not even pay $ 50 for most of them!

If you learn learn how to fix PS3 red lights from unprofessional websites or forums, chances are, you might make it worse because there are more than 20 reasons behind that problem.

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Source by Gabriel Fox

4 Factors To Be Considered When Choosing The Best 2.1 Speaker System

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Throughout the years, the increased demand of getting the best 2.1 speakers has influenced many manufacturers making these speaker systems. The large amount of speakers offered in this category has made the process of choosing the best speakers quite complicated. For this reason, the following overview on factors to consider when buying the best quality speakers might come in handy during the process of selection.

1. Size

The size of the speaker is an important aspect that should be considered when you pick the speakers for your home. If the speakers are intended to be used as an additional sound system for computer, the smaller ones would be a smart choice. For other typical uses such as playing music, watching movies or playing games, when you wish great quality sound, a large speaker system is recommended.

2. Power

The power of the 2.1 speaker system is considered as one of the main qualities when picking the best option. Power is typically translated as speakers with a higher wattage produce a higher power output. The power of a speaker also influences the depth of bass generated. As a result, if you wish to get a system that produces solid bass, you should aim for a system which has high wattage or power output. Otherwise, if you are thinking about a system that delivers lower bass then a system with low wattage will do just fine.

3. Features

The features available on a 2.1 speaker system also come into play when picking your ideal speakers. Some of the features available in these systems include radio, Bluetooth connectivity, memory slots, dedicated bass and volume level control as well as docking stations. Finding a model that incorporates all these features is highly recommended because they often guarantee the best experience for the user.

4. Cost

Last but not least, this purchase can be quite costly if you choose one of the premium models. If the budget is something you consider an important factor, you should do a price comparison of the several chosen models in order to find the best deal: the speaker system that fits within your spending budget while including the features that you are mostly excited about.

The factors above will give you a great base on how to choose the best 2.1 speaker system that meets your needs. That includes features, design, sound quality, while not forgetting the price.

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Source by Matas Baranauskas

Common Blue Screen Errors and Their Meanings

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There is never a good time to encounter the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). This infamous system glitch has been known to show up right when you are in the middle of something important and it will bring your computing activities to a crashing halt. Though it may seem like your computer has turned against you, it is actually calling out for help. When this untimely annoyance makes an entrance, it is usually a sign of stability issues or critical system errors. Here's the good news: BSOD errors provide hints of the underlying problems so you can fix them.

Blue screens are accompanied by messages and hexadecimal values ​​known as stop error codes. These codes contain vital information that can be used to troubleshoot the cause of the problem and ultimately lead you to a solution. Below are some details and resolutions on a few stop codes that typically accompany the dreaded Blue Screen of Death.

Stop Code 0 × 0000001E – KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED: This code commonly means there are issues occurring within the kernel of the Windows operating system, a problem that often stems from device driver files. The recommended resolution for this blue screen error code is to remove, disable or update the driver file in question. This file will be specified in the error message so it should be relatively easy to find. If this does not work, make sure the hardware installation was completed properly.

Stop Code 0 × 0000007F – UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP: This code means that your Blue Screen of Death problem is the result of a glitch the system was not able to detect. It is typically rated to hardware components such as RAM. This error code can also be caused by defective components on the motherboard or the CPU over clocking. To address this blue screen error you can do one of the following:

* Run memory diagnostics to check the status of RAM.
* Restore over clocked settings to their previous state.
* Repair or replace the motherboard.
* Disable the sync negotiation function in SCSI BIOS.

Stop Code: STOP 0 × 000000D – DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL: This code means the Blue Screen of Death occurred because the system is trying to access page memory at a process IRQL that is too high. This error is usually related to a device driver or application installed on the system. Address the problem To, the disable or update the drivers in question, or uninstall and reinstall any backup utilities or anti-virus software the recently installed on your computer.

Stop Code 0xC000021A 0 – STATUS_SYSTEM_PROCESS_TERMINATED: This blue screen error means that the user-mode subsystem has been fatally compromised. When this occurs, security and integrity can not be guaranteed. The most common cause of this error is third-party applications on mis-configured system files. To fix this error, try one of the following:

* Remove or roll back any device drivers recently installed on the system.
* Uninstall and reinstall any new software installed.
* Make sure you only Windows utilize-certified backup utilities.
* Restore the security on the system root folder by doing a fresh installation of Windows on a separate partition.

Conclusion

BSOD errors have a number of causes and therefore, numerous stop codes exist. While your first instinct may be to kick your PC to the curb, these problems can be easily resolved with a little troubleshooting and patience.

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Source by Colin Richards

ATX Power Supply – The Simplest Way To Repair It

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I had stopped repairing ATX power supply many years back due to the new one cost very cheap. It's not worth to repair it because the spare parts sometimes were much more expensive than getting a new power supply. Searching for ATX power supply spare parts was not easy as many of them you can not even find them on the internet. Not only that, many complicated and different designed by power supply manufacturers had eaten up our precious troubleshooting time too because of we need time to understand how all these different designed power supply work.

Some of the power supply designs were using the PWM IC (UC3842) and power FET, some use the double transistors while some use only a single power IC in the primary side. Because of the manufacturers wants the design to be made into compact size, many secondary or even primary power supply circuit were build into a modular board (smaller board). This made troubleshooting even more difficult because many times the meter's probe can not reach to the testing point.

The real reason why I had stopped repairing ATX power supply was the profit margin. If you charge to high the customers rather buy a new unit with one year warranty given. If you charge too low, you may end up in the losing side because of the components replaced, electricity and etc. If you charge reasonable, the profit margin gained can not even cover your time spent on troubleshooting it. I'm here not to discourage you to stop repairing ATX power supply, however if you have the time, have contacts getting cheap power supply components, easy to access many power supply schematic diagrams and etc then you may go ahead to repair it.

Okay back to the article, one of my customers had asked me to repair his ATX power supply. I told him to get a new one (since it was very cheap) but he said he could not find one that suits his customer's CPU. He wanted a power supply that is either same size or smaller then the original one with same or higher specification but all he could find was a standard size power supply!

As a favors to my customer, I would do my best to help him to repair the ATX power supply. When the power supply was switch on, measurements were taken. The results were over voltage. The 12 volts line shot up to 13 + volt and the 5 volts line became 5.6 volts. After the casing was removed, I found the inside was very dirty and I used a vacuum cleaner and a brush to clean off the dirt. Then I saw four filter electrolytic capacitors had bulged at the top casing.

As you know, we as electronic repairers can not just see things at only one side; we have to see the other sides too. What I mean was, try to see if there are any suspicious components that contributed to the failure of the power supply such as broken components, dry joints, loose connection, decay glue and etc before start checking the suspected area.

What I saw was at the primary side there were some components covered with decayed glue as seen in the picture. I have to carefully remove it by scrapping off the layers of the decayed glue while preserving the outer layers of the components. Once it was done, I clean it with the Thinner solution. Decayed glue could cause serious or intermittent problem in electronic equipment because it can be conductive.

If you repair any ATX power supply, make sure you check the fan too because some power supply failure was due to heat caused by a faulty fan. The purpose of the fan is to suck out all the heat generated by the components inside the power supply. In order for the fan to run smooth, you can service it by using a Philips oil base spray as shown in the photo.

Once the four electrolytic capacitors were replaced and the decayed glue removed, I then have to plug it into a junk motherboard together with a hard disk to test the performance of the ATX power supply and measure all of its output voltages. It seems like the output voltages were back to normal. Once everything is okay I then test it in a working CPU to check for the display.

The reason I test it with a junk motherboard first as a way not to cause my good motherboard to go bad just in case if the output voltages is still very high. Better safe than regret later. By the way you can not test a power supply without load otherwise it may turned on for a while and then shut down. If you do not have a junk motherboard you can always at least connect a hard drive and a wire jumper to its connector to turn on the ATX power supply.

Do you know that most ATX power supply is using dual schottky barrier rectifiers to convert the ac wave into DC voltages? Even in LCD Monitor power supply, a dual schottky were used in the rectification too. For your information, checking schottky diode is different from checking a normal diode. With analog meter set to X10 K ohms, it should show some leakage reading when doing the reverse bias test. If this component becomes faulty it is very easy to get a replacement, of course you have to get one with the right specification. That's all for today, hope you enjoy the article and come back more often to check out for any latest repair techniques that I'm going to share to you.

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Source by Jestine Yong