• Your computer crashes (BSOD) randomly, for no apparent reason; and crashes more frequently when gaming, watching movies, editing pictures etc.

• Your computer turns on, then shuts off shortly after without booting successfully.

• Your computer restarts often, for no apparent reason.

• Your computer powers on, but sometimes fails to boot successfully. This can include constant "Bad Checksum" errors after booting.

• You smell "burnt" smells coming from your computer. (which could spell burnt or burning PSU circuitry)

• Your computer screen has strange "artifacts" such as pixelation, lines, colors, or any other visual effect not belonging on the screen. (i.e. video card power issue)

• You press the Power button, and nothing happens. Your computer doesn't power on, no lights, no fans spin...nothing.

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The above symptoms, are not the only signs of a bad computer power supply. Many times it is difficult to pinpoint the culprits of a "random" computer problem. Usually the best way to narrow an issue down to a power supply, is to swap hardware components, until the problem is solved. For most "average" computer users, swapping components isn't an option, so there has to be a better way!! Or is there?

YES THERE IS!

Choosing the correct computer power supply in the beginning, will prevent many headaches in the future, and we will show you how to do that in a different article. Taking proper care of your computer involves taking care of your power supply as well, since a computer power supply has a limited life span. We recommend doing the following:

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 1.) ALWAYS use a surge protector.
 Lighting, power outages, power spikes etc, can cause your   power supply to fail prematurely, if a surge protector is not  used at all times.

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2.) Keep your power supply clean.  
It helps to keep a can of compressed air and blow air through the back of your PSU fan.This will prevent dust, lint and other particles from collecting in your power supply, that prevent cooling and create more heat; which will contribute to power supply failure. See the picture below, of a clean power supply fan.

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3.) Make sure your computer case is properly ventilated. 
A major cause of computer hardware failure is HEAT! Heat is responsible for a great deal of computer power supply failure, and should be kept at a minimum. Ensure all fans are running on the computer, and that no dust is collecting within the fins - disrupting air flow.

Sometimes it helps to have a professional inspect your computer, to confirm proper airflow and "safe" case temperatures. See the picture below for an example of a well ventilated case.

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4.) Never buy "cheap" computer power supplies!
A low cost power supply is usually NEVER worth the cost. Many people that purchase a PSU after having theirs' fail, decide to buy a low cost unit to replace the failed unit. Computer power supplies that are "cheap" will actually cause other hardware components in your computer, to fail prematurely.

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  **Specifications such as: Efficiency, 12V rail amperage, Wattage, Peak Output, Fan Size, are all very important factors when purchasing the correct computer power supply for your system. **  We will explain how to choose the correct power supply in a later issue. See picture below for an example of power supply specifications. This information is present on the side of all computer power supplies.

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5.) Depending on the AGE of your computer...
It may be time to purchase a new power supply. Power supplies have a certain amount of "life-hours", and eventually fail. WHEN will your PSU fail, is the question. Better, more expensive power supplies have longer life spans, and could outlive your computer!

Generic or "cheap" power supplies (shown above), are many times unpredictable, and can fail anytime between the day that they are created and sold, up to several years later. If you experience any of the above listed PSU problem symptoms, have your computer checked out by a professional. Many mediocre power supplies fail and destroy motherboards, CPUs, and other hardware simultaneously.

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 Hopefully you are now armed with the knowledge to maintain your computer power supply, allowing your computer more "up-time", instead of preventable "downtime."

Stay tuned for the next post: "How to choose the best computer power supply for you!"  We will discuss specifications and what they mean, as well as good brands to choose from, and suggested price ranges.