PSU Question

[brgriffi]

Can one run the powersupply independently of the motherboard? That is can I just plug it into the wall before installing it and turn it on to see if it works?
Or does it have to be connected to the motherboard in order to function?

Any advice from the big dogs would be appreciated!

[diurnal]

No you cant, but there are ways to test your powersupply without the motherboard.. One is buy a powersupply tester.

The other is get a paper clip, which i have done before but be very careful. Heres the instructions:

You unplug all the power supply's power leads. Then you pull the power plug from the back of the unit. Turn off the power supply's power button on the back if it has one. Then you grab a paper clip. Bend the paper clip into a U shape. Find pin 14 (the green wire) and connect it to any of the ground wires (black). Make sure the paper clip is far from anything that it can short out. Plug the power supply back in. If necessary, throw the power switch in the back.

If the fan starts, the power supply is good and the problem is something else.

[Sylvander]

See "Powering an ATX PSU without a Mobo" (http://www.virtual-hideout.net/guides/atx_psu_mods/index.shtml), but also see "ATX Power/Cooling" (http://www.compute-aid.com/atxspec.html), particularly where it says "At any event, do not try to manually jump-start the power supply without attaching motherboard. Since the power supply is expecting certain sensing circuit feedback to regulate the output voltage, munaully starting it without attaching it to the motherboard could cause damage to the power supply".

At least one person I know has said he does this regularly! [with no ill effects]

See also http://www.epanorama.net/links/psu_computer.html
and ATX Power Supply Tester by Antec (http://www.provantage.com/buy-22069418-antec-power-supplies-cables-atx-supply-tester-shopping.htm).

[brgriffi]

I believe I will wait to test the PSU until I get the motherboard installed!

When installing case fans. (stupid newbie question) How do you tell which direction the fan will blow?