Best PS Tester

R

RJ3301

New Member

Joined

Jun 18, 2009

• Jun 18, 2009

• #1

I'm looking for a good all around tester and would like some opinions. I'm leaning toward this Rexus:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899705003

I've also heard good things about Antec and Coolmax as well.

Thanks in advance

 

Automata

Destroyer of Empires and Use

​

Joined

May 15, 2006

• Jun 19, 2009

• #2

All those "testers" do is see if the voltage is within spec. That is with no load at all, making the test practically worthless. It would only tell you if the PSU is completely dead.

The real way to test it, is to hook it to a system, put it under load and test the voltages with a good multimeter; no software.

 

trents

Senior Member

​

Joined

Dec 27, 2008

• Jun 19, 2009

• #3

Are you using this as a professional's tool or just want to check for DOA and that all the rails are putting out juice? The reason I ask is because you can get the ones that just light up with LED's for half that.

 

OP

R

RJ3301

New Member

Joined

Jun 18, 2009

• Jun 19, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #4

I am just trying to nail down the reason for a dead system and have it down to the mobo or ps. I suspect the ps and want to save the aggravation of tearing out my board. Something to check the mobo for power would be nice. Maybe a multimeter would be the way to go?

 

Last edited: Jun 19, 2009

hokiealumnus

Water Cooled Moderator

​

Joined

Oct 14, 2007

• Jun 19, 2009

• #5

A multimeter will do anything that will do and a lot more. If you already have one, don't waste the money on this. If you don't, spend it on a multimeter instead. If you need to know how to start up & quickly test a PSU, have a look here.

 

CrystalMethod

Senior Band Wagon Jumper

​

Joined

Jun 9, 2001

Location

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

• Jun 19, 2009

• #6

RJ3301 said:

I'm looking for a good all around tester and would like some opinions. I'm leaning toward this Rexus:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899705003

I've also heard good things about Antec and Coolmax as well.

Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

From experience, with a distributor that sent one over for me to try. It's pretty useless. All it really does is read the voltages on the lines. Like thideras said, without a load across them, you may as well get a multimeter and test like in the article hokiealumnus linked. Seasonic does manufacture a power test kit that has a load simulator. Review of the kit. They do mention in the review that the kit is not availible to consumers.

 

OP

R

RJ3301

New Member

Joined

Jun 18, 2009

• Jun 19, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #7

Thanks you all for the great advice. I will definitely be looking for a multimeter.
Are they all pretty much created equal?

 

hokiealumnus

Water Cooled Moderator

​

Joined

Oct 14, 2007

• Jun 19, 2009

• #8

Some are better than others, but for the most part for your purposes, yes. I've got one of these, one similar to this and one similar to this ($6, $6 & $22, respectively). They all read the same.

If you're really interested in testing one out, it will take an electronic load bank. I'm in the process of building one to begin PSU reviews, if you fancy checking it out. Keep in mind that schematic is VERY basic and doesn't contain all components, just what was used in the functioning prototype.