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Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 - 22:15 SGT
Posted By: Gilbert

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Power To The Pecee

As it turns out, I only happened to be partially right when I deduced that it was the connection between the power supply unit and the motherboard that caused my computer power-up problems. Actually, the entire Power Supply Unit was on its last legs, and after some unproductive percussive maintenance and tinkering, I discovered that the only way to coax a few seconds of weak fan-whirring out of it was to pull the main power cord out and reinsert it. Don't ask why.

This is the second time a generic PSU has burnt out on me, the first time somewhere in mid-2005. Then again, assuming an average of twenty hour days, which should be close to the reality if on the high side, one-and-a-hour years would come to about 10000 operating hours, in the region of what the generic PSUs endured. Can't ask for more, I suppose. The other sorta-branded PSU I got was given away with some of the rest of my old rig, so I wouldn't know how it has been faring.

First to Google and then to Sim Lim, where I took some time to locate a CoolerMaster Real Power 450W model. Frustratingly encountered some of the same shenanigans with recent price lists (they were giving them out by the escalators just minutes ago) showing out-of-stock goods or underpriced goods, probably to lure bargain hunters before being quoted an "updated" price at the outlet.


This particular CoolerMaster PSU isn't exactly the newest around (debuted late 2004 I think), but who am I to argue with a functionally quite useless but glowing blue Human-Computer Interface (HCI) Analog Wattage Meter? Once I verified that I had an empty 3.5-inch floppy bay sitting around, I just had to get something to fill it up. The PSU reviews weren't that bad either.

And remember, the PSU fan also glows blue.

My grandpa somehow acquired a couple of slighly-used PSUs in double-quick time after hearing of my need, but they were of the old 20-pin motherboard connector variety (i.e. hopelessly obsolete). Generic-type PSUs are probably going to be a stop-gap measure anyway, judging from past experience. If the 100000 hour mean-time to failure estimate of the CoolerMaster is accurate, then generic PSUs should cost around S$10, which indeed is roughly what they go for. I guess one does generally get what one pays for. Hint: Top-drawer PSUs should generally be heavier due to the better components used - at least until some crooked manufacturer gets wind of it and lumps scrap metal into the box...

Closing with a feat of hamgineering by my uncle, who had the foresight to forestall a Prison Break from the hammies:




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