Hook up new power supply

A good power supply serves as the cornerstone for a low-maintenance and highly reliable computer. But more often than not, boxed, pre-built desktops ship with the cheapest power supplies that meet the criteria of their product warranties. This means that two or three years after buying your computer, you may find yourself with a perfectly functional desktop that one day decides either not to power on or to emit a puff of black smoke.

This guide was developed to instruct readers on the proper procedures for installing a power supply unit PSU into a desktop computer case.

Troubleshooting computer power issues can be difficult, as the problem could originate with the power supply unit, or PSU, or the motherboard. Testing each component separately helps narrow down where the problem lies. Although PSUs are designed to only work while connected to a motherboard, you can bypass this by using a small length of wire. Commonly known as the paper clip test, this shortcut offers you the ability to check that the PSU is receiving power without using the motherboard.