22nd June 2001

PCs can live without CD-ROM drives, they can live without a floppy, and they can even live without the latest (90GHz) CPU -- but they can't possibly hope to survive on shoddy power. Crack open that case and find the square metal box with big warning stickers on it -- that's the power supply. This is absolutely the most important component in your system; it must perform reliably and correctly for your computer to function properly over a period of years. Early warning signs can accompany a failing unit, so being cognizant of how your PC normally functions is key to picking up fluctuations. Spontaneous reboots are one of the most common red flags, assuming the lights aren't flickering around you at the same time, of course... that could spell larger problems (especially if you live in California). Excess heat from your computer isn't healthy either; check those fans to ensure they're still spinning. Nothing will cook a power supply faster than a seized-up fan.

System lockups are on the list of suspicious activities, too, though there are other reasons for lockups (to which any long-time Windows user will attest). If no system changes have taken place and things suddenly stop on a dime, raise an eyebrow toward electricity flow issues. Hard drives draw power as they spin up during a cold boot, so if you should hear odd noises emanating from within the case, such as the hard drive not spinning up as it normally would, the power supply could be at fault due to the inability to provide adequate power levels. This can result in other oddball behavior as various system components have to claw for enough juice to keep themselves running. Multiple hardware device failures are yet another way that power problems manifest themselves; too much or inconsistent power is quite unhealthy, often killing RAM, hard disks, CD-ROM drives or other pieces and parts. Give her all she needs, captain!