Ahhhh! Help!!Power supply over heating?

deathfather · 02-27-2009, 05:50 PM

Hi, my power supply gets hot really fast, especially when i play games. sometimes if its really hot computer will freeze. My friend told me its because of the dust. so he said to buy a air compressor and clean my comp. If that IS the problem how do i open the power supplier?
specs:3 gb ram
video card: Via Unichrome Pro IGP(intergated graphics) (64 BIT)
Processor: Intel dual core 3.0 Ghz
2 fans in my comp
power supply about 400 w
"12v on i 17 rail i think" (<--dont know what im saying but i recall seeing something like that)
thats about it!

thanks for all your thoughtful asnwers!!

**wrench97** · 02-27-2009, 06:19 PM

How do you know the power supply is overheating?

Is the fan running faster then normal?

Is this a branded system like a HP, Dell, Gateway?

If so what brand and model?

deathfather · 02-27-2009, 07:08 PM

O.0 umm well on my pc the power supplier is quite hot, and im sorry i dont recall what brand it was, but i dont think its a comon brand. Im sure its about 400W.

Tumbleweed36 · 02-27-2009, 07:33 PM

First of all, we don't recommend that you ever open a power supply to work in it unless you are a trained profession. Those power supplies (even when off and unplugged) can hold a dangerous electrical charge that can be dangerous.

To find out what brand name it is and the watts, take the side of the computer case off and it will be right there on the side of the power supply so you can view what it is to report back for Wrench97's request for that information.

deathfather · 02-27-2009, 07:45 PM

k ty for the tip but im downloading sumething i shall check that later. but can this be cause of the dust?

Tumbleweed36 · 02-27-2009, 07:58 PM

The cause of dust is just being in the computer (any part, especially heatsinks and fans) and having air blow through there to cool the computer components.

Dust is always in the environment (anyplace in a room), but the fan pulls it through the computer in the cooling process and it has a way of being attracted to fans and nearby components. The dust collection then causes fans to slow down and other less ventilated areas like a heatsink to get hotter. It is a never ending process so one has to clean out the case at least one time per month.

02-27-2009, 05:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
deathfather Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 25 OS: windows xp service pack 2	Ahhhh! Help!!Power supply over heating? Hi, my power supply gets hot really fast, especially when i play games. sometimes if its really hot computer will freeze. My friend told me its because of the dust. so he said to buy a air compressor and clean my comp. If that IS the problem how do i open the power supplier? specs:3 gb ram video card: Via Unichrome Pro IGP(intergated graphics) (64 BIT) Processor: Intel dual core 3.0 Ghz 2 fans in my comp power supply about 400 w "12v on i 17 rail i think" (<--dont know what im saying but i recall seeing something like that) thats about it! thanks for all your thoughtful asnwers!!

02-27-2009, 06:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,402 OS: Win7	Re: Ahhhh! Help!!Power supply over heating? How do you know the power supply is overheating? Is the fan running faster then normal? Is this a branded system like a HP, Dell, Gateway? If so what brand and model? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-27-2009, 07:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
deathfather Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 25 OS: windows xp service pack 2	Re: Ahhhh! Help!!Power supply over heating? O.0 umm well on my pc the power supplier is quite hot, and im sorry i dont recall what brand it was, but i dont think its a comon brand. Im sure its about 400W.

02-27-2009, 07:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,626 OS: XP Professional	Re: Ahhhh! Help!!Power supply over heating? First of all, we don't recommend that you ever open a power supply to work in it unless you are a trained profession. Those power supplies (even when off and unplugged) can hold a dangerous electrical charge that can be dangerous. To find out what brand name it is and the watts, take the side of the computer case off and it will be right there on the side of the power supply so you can view what it is to report back for Wrench97's request for that information. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

02-27-2009, 07:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
deathfather Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 25 OS: windows xp service pack 2	Re: Ahhhh! Help!!Power supply over heating? k ty for the tip but im downloading sumething i shall check that later. but can this be cause of the dust?

02-27-2009, 07:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,626 OS: XP Professional	Re: Ahhhh! Help!!Power supply over heating? The cause of dust is just being in the computer (any part, especially heatsinks and fans) and having air blow through there to cool the computer components. Dust is always in the environment (anyplace in a room), but the fan pulls it through the computer in the cooling process and it has a way of being attracted to fans and nearby components. The dust collection then causes fans to slow down and other less ventilated areas like a heatsink to get hotter. It is a never ending process so one has to clean out the case at least one time per month. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.