How To Check A Power Supply?

you can test the PSU by connecting some hdd / dvd / cd drives / fans then "jump start" the PSU by simulating the "power_on" motherboard signal by shunting the "PS_ON" green wire to ground via a paper clip or something - then plugging the unit in and powering the rear switch on...

Here is an example of the atx jumper:



It should fire up the PSU and stay on, the drives should be spinning and the cd/dvd should be able to eject. You *have* to have at least one hdd or cd/dvd drive connected to act as a "pull-up" load to power the unit on. The drives should spin up and the cd tray should be ejectable and it should stay on. If you have a voltmeter you can test voltages, but they may be out-of-spec some PSUs are like that in a low-load or no-load scenario

lol we were all noobs once... yea the mobo acts as the middle-man between the power-on switch on the case and the psu itself, no harm in fooling it as long as it's done correctly. Nice PSU by the way 8)

You can leave the twist-ties on if you like to help out with the cable organizing, but some use a metal insert like a garbage tie and for some reason I am paranoid of keeping those around since it is possible for the metal to wear out from constant twisting and may break off and cause a short on the mobo or worse a bottom-mounted psu 8O

I removed all the black twist ties but theres still those 2 white ones near and going into the PSU I guess they are supporting the wires but they're hard plastic. Plastic + electricity + Heat = Hmm should i be leaving them there?

Again thanks for the advice and quick reply i appreciate it!

Will do, now the hard part.... waiting! Looking forward to the build but from reading the forums i need alot more tools, there was me thinking i'd be ok with a phillips screwdriver! LOL.

Do i really need things like a static band? etc...

Thanks for your patience doolittle. Choosing parts, worrying about compatability issues etc.... can get a little over whelming to those of us just starting out