{"id":497490,"date":"2022-10-01T16:00:48","date_gmt":"2022-10-01T13:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-to-test-your-computers-psu-with-a-psu-tester\/"},"modified":"2022-10-01T16:00:48","modified_gmt":"2022-10-01T13:00:48","slug":"how-to-test-your-computers-psu-with-a-psu-tester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-test-your-computers-psu-with-a-psu-tester\/","title":{"rendered":"#How to Test Your Computer\u2019s PSU With a PSU Tester"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2924f443dad\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2924f443dad\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-test-your-computers-psu-with-a-psu-tester\/#%E2%80%9CHow_to_Test_Your_Computers_PSU_With_a_PSU_Tester%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;How to Test Your Computer\u2019s PSU With a PSU Tester&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-test-your-computers-psu-with-a-psu-tester\/#Why_Use_a_PSU_Tester\" >Why Use a PSU Tester?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-test-your-computers-psu-with-a-psu-tester\/#How_to_Use_a_PSU_Tester\" >How to Use a PSU Tester<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-test-your-computers-psu-with-a-psu-tester\/#Before_Testing_your_PSU_Disconnect_the_Cables\" >Before Testing your PSU, Disconnect the Cables<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-test-your-computers-psu-with-a-psu-tester\/#Attach_the_PSU_Tester_and_Power_Up_the_PSU\" >Attach the PSU Tester and Power Up the PSU<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-test-your-computers-psu-with-a-psu-tester\/#Reading_the_PSU_Tester_Results\" >Reading the PSU Tester Results<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CHow_to_Test_Your_Computers_PSU_With_a_PSU_Tester%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;How to Test Your Computer\u2019s PSU With a PSU Tester&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-834213 size-full\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/PSUTester1.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A PSU tester resting on a PSU.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-credittext=\"Jason Fitzpatrick \/ How-To Geek\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\">Jason Fitzpatrick \/ How-To Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A PSU tester is one of the simplest ways to test your computer\u2019s PSU as it offers an all-in-one experience with im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>te actionable feedback.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Use_a_PSU_Tester\"><\/span>Why Use a PSU Tester?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>PSU testers are so cheap and so easy to use that we really can\u2019t recommend them enough. If you have a multimeter, you\u2019re comfortable using it, and you don\u2019t mind testing a bunch of pins and taking notes, you can certainly test your PSU the old-fashioned way.<\/p>\n<p>But, besides the simple plug-and-play ease of using <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B076CLNPPK\/?tag=lsmedia-11215-20\">a PSU tester<\/a>, it has one significant benefit over doing the test manually.<\/p>\n<p>A PSU tester is purpose-built for the task and will give you both immediate feedback on whether or not the connections match the expected voltage and configuration or not as well as loudly alerting you if they do not.<\/p>\n<div class=\"product-box  \">\n<div class=\"product-img product-img-noaward\">\n<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"presentation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B076CLNPPK\/?tag=lsmedia-11215-20\" onclick=\"fbq('track', 'Buy Button'); if (fb_t_convert){fb_t_convert();}\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/41l+vox+iyL._SL160_.jpg\" height=\"147px\" width=\"150px\" alt=\"\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><br \/>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Further, it allows for easy SATA terminal testing (there\u2019s no way to easily test the tiny pinout on a SATA connector with a multimeter) and it will give you a readout for the PG value\u2014the \u201cpower good\u201d time-to-start delay period\u2014that a multimeter cannot.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, a word on PSU testers: they all look just about the same because they are all just about the same. There are dozens of brands that look just like the model we recommended above because basic PSU testers are a \u201cwhite box\u201d product.<\/p>\n<p>A few factories crank out a bajillion of them, and different companies pay to have their particular case and\/or logo sl<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ed on the circuit board. But inside, they\u2019re identical. Should you be reading this article and the specific PSU tester we linked to above (and are using for this tutorial) is out of stock, you can simply buy another that looks just like it, such as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Optimal-Shop-Computer-Supply-Connectors\/dp\/B00Q8SUYHW\/?tag=lsmedia-11215-20\">this one<\/a> or <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Kingwin-Computer-Supply-Tester-Digital\/dp\/B07VXSFXP1\/?tag=lsmedia-11215-20\">this one<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Use_a_PSU_Tester\"><\/span>How to Use a PSU Tester<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Using a PSU tester is straight forward, but you should always follow best practices. Here\u2019s how to test your PSU safely with a tester.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_warning\"><p><strong>Warning:<\/strong> At no point will we be opening up the PSU itself. Doing so without proper precautions, knowledge, and tools can give you a lethal shock.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Before_Testing_your_PSU_Disconnect_the_Cables\"><\/span>Before Testing your PSU, Disconnect the Cables<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Power off your PSU. If it has a switch, you can use the switch on the back. Otherwise, unplug it. Before using the PSU tester, we recommend unplugging not just the particular cable you wish to test but all the cables linking your PSU to internal components.<\/p>\n<p>Not only will this protect the various components if anything should go wrong, but it\u2019s wise to test every cable at once to ensure the PSU is functioning properly across the board.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Attach_the_PSU_Tester_and_Power_Up_the_PSU\"><\/span>Attach the PSU Tester and Power Up the PSU<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The PSU tester draws power from the PSU itself. To use it, simply turn off the PSU (either with the switch on the back or by unplugging it from the wall).<\/p>\n<p>Then plug in the mother power cable to the tester as well as the CPU power connector cable\u2014if you don\u2019t plug in the CPU cable, you\u2019ll get an error message. Turn on the PSU.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reading_the_PSU_Tester_Results\"><\/span>Reading the PSU Tester Results<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The tester will show you various power categories it expects from the motherboard and CPU cables like -12V, +12V, +3.3V, etc. Beneath those categories, it will show you the actual voltage.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s OK if these values don\u2019t match up exactly. If the -12V value is 11.8, that\u2019s well within the expected \u00b15% range acceptable for that connection. And if it were outside the range, the tester would warn you\u2014no math or knowledge of the acceptable range required.<\/p>\n<p>It will also show you the PG value. This value represents how long it took your PSU to go from the first sign of power activity to full voltage across all connections.<\/p>\n<p>An acceptable value is 100-500 milliseconds. A higher value can indicate failing PSU components, and an excessive PG value can cause your computer to get stuck in a boot loop because your hardware components don\u2019t power on in the expected window.<\/p>\n<p>You can further test other connections, including the PCI-E, MOLEX, SATA, and 4-pin floppy connector, to ensure each connection delivers the expected output.<\/p>\n<p>Most testers, including the one here, have a simple LED light indicator for the voltages when testing the secondary cables. Because of that, you need to test the cables one at a time (e.g. don\u2019t plug in a SATA cable and a MOLEX drive connector simultaneously).<\/p>\n<p>It won\u2019t hurt the tester or the PSU, but you won\u2019t get an accurate readout for their respective voltages because there is only one set of LED indicators.<\/p>\n<p>If your PSU tests indicate that the expected voltages are out of spec (e.g. you get 8 volts for one of the connections when 12 is expected) or your PG value is over 500 milliseconds, it\u2019s time to replace your PSU.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/834206\/how-to-test-your-computers-psu-with-a-psu-tester\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;How to Test Your Computer\u2019s PSU With a PSU Tester&#8221; Jason Fitzpatrick \/ How-To Geek A PSU tester is one of the simplest ways to test your computer\u2019s PSU as it offers an all-in-one experience with immediate actionable feedback. Why Use a PSU Tester? PSU testers are so cheap and so easy to use that&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":497491,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/PSUTester1.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-497490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/497490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=497490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/497490\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/497491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=497490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=497490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=497490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}