Best PSU Tester?

[Cerulean]

Need to buy a PSU tester. What's the best one out there that will do everything, do it right, and is rock solid quality?

 

[cyclone3d]

You want one that will just let you know if the PSU will power on and is providing voltage/correct voltage through all the rails, or you want one that is a PSU load tester?

 

[Cerulean]

Providing correct voltage/correct voltage through all the rails. Benching isn't the need. Just need to find out which PSUs are dead / can be thrown away and replaced.

 

[punisher]

Well, if you want to go the economy route, a Sunmoon SM8800 is ~$6K now. To really be the envy of the neighborhood, a Chroma 8000 will do fine.

The cheapie testers tell you if you have voltage (3.3/5/12V). It doesn't tell you a thing about that voltage when the PSU is loaded, or anything about current ripple. Cheap home route: a good DVOM to check the 12V/5V rails with the system running/loaded. Really good home system: the DVOM plus a cheap oscilliscope (ebay special) to ck ripple/fluctuation as well.

 

[cyclone3d]

Providing correct voltage/correct voltage through all the rails. Benching isn't the need. Just need to find out which PSUs are dead / can be thrown away and replaced.

This:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...61023&cm_re=psu_tester-_-99-261-023-_-Product

Or choose from another similiar one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...on=psu tester&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

 

[aaronearles]

Not that this is a conclusive way to test, but it gives a general idea of which ones are dead for sure, I've used this method for years.

http://www.overclock.net/faqs/96712-how-jump-start-power-supply-psu.html

 

[plugwash]

The thing is a cheap PSU tester will apply no or at best minimal load. Therefore it won't really tell you anything you couldn't find out with a paperclip and a multimeter.

Mind you I think if you got creative you could make a reasonable PSU tester pretty cheap. Just go down to the DIY store and pick up some 12V halogen spotlight bars....

 

[Zero82z]

Need to buy a PSU tester. What's the best one out there that will do everything, do it right, and is rock solid quality?

None. They're all worthless. Get a decent digital multimeter instead.

 

[Tsumi]

Multimeter is your best bet. Along with manually jump-starting your power supply with the paperclip trick. Unless you want to spend thousands on an actual PSU tester...