When do you replace a power supply?

[LOST TALE]

These things age right? 

 

I think something yellow melted on those spring looking things.

 

It's 8 years old now. 

 

[svmlegacy]

3 minutes ago, LOST TALE said:

These things age right? 

 

I think something yellow melted on those spring looking things.

 

It's 8 years old now.

While PSU's do age, It depends on the quality of the unit. High end PSU's tend to come with a 10 year warranty. I'll be replacing my 12 year old OCZ unit (Which will remain as a testing PSU) with a newer Seasonic Focus PX when it comes in.

 

The yellow melted stuff comes from the factory, to protect the inductors (The round coiled objects) from vibration.

 

If it's a cheap PSU, 8 years is a contender for replacement. If it's a high quality unit, you may have time left, yet.

[Gorilla Warfare]

What make and model?

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, LOST TALE said:

I think something yellow melted on those spring looking things.

 

Pretty sure it's always been there.  Surprised it took you 8 years to notice. 

 

It's RTV.  Nothing more.

 

15 minutes ago, LOST TALE said:

These things age right? 

Yes.  Of course.  But it depends on the PSU.

 

I can tell you have an Antec.  Which one?

 

[LOST TALE]

4 minutes ago, jonnyGURU said:

Pretty sure it's always been there.  Surprised it took you 8 years to notice. 

 

It's RTV.  Nothing more.

 

Yes.  Of course.  But it depends on the PSU.

 

I can tell you have an Antec.  Which one?

 

oups I thought I had it in my signature. HCG620M

 

My first guess would be to wait until the system starts crashing when stuff is at stock. However, if it crashes rarely enough, I would lower my overclocks for nothing, thinking its my gpu or something thats aging.

[Guest]

29 minutes ago, LOST TALE said:

oups I thought I had it in my signature. HCG620M

 

My first guess would be to wait until the system starts crashing when stuff is at stock. However, if it crashes rarely enough, I would lower my overclocks for nothing, thinking its my gpu or something thats aging.

Eight year old double forward,group regulated PSU.  I'd go ahead and replace it.

 

[LOST TALE]

4 minutes ago, jonnyGURU said:

Eight year old double forward,group regulated PSU.  I'd go ahead and replace it.

 

What's that? does it matter which of the 4 8pin power plugs I use?

[Guest]

40 minutes ago, LOST TALE said:

What's that? does it matter which of the 4 8pin power plugs I use?

Means it's an antique by today's standards.  Go ahead and replace it. 

[artuc]

On any half decent PSU the thing that will age the most is the fan.

 

Electrolytic caps do age as well but tends to be the lower tier manufacturers and/or lower rated series that go earlier. Even see that in fairly bulletproof linear supplies every so often.