ATX Power Supply

Attach a hard disk or CD rom to the 4 pin connector to give the PSU a load. Bridge pins 17 and 19 on the ATX connector (17 is PWROK, 19 is 5vSB) and then apply the mains to the input.

Momentarily short pins 8 and 10 on the ATX connector (PSON to Gnd) to start up the supply. To turn off again, remove the power or remove the link between 17 and 19.

Most AT supplies need a 'power good' signal too. On AT, loading the supply with a hard drive (or even a 12v light bulb from the car across 12v and Gnd) may or may not work. Some cheaper AT supplies don't monitor the power good line, but ALL switch mode supplies (AT/ATX) won't normally work unloaded. Just a simple test....even without a mobo or any load, on applying AC power the fan in an ATX supply should kick over for about a quarter of a second if it is serviceable. This is the simple test! If a PSU back from repair doesn't do this on applying mains, I'm very wary of putting it in an important system!

Is trying to say here is to use a power supply tester he has given you a web adress for one example but there are lots of different brands out there and they arn't that expensive for example my latest one cost $35.00 AU.

The Antec tester, like most inexpensive power supply testers, allows for only limited testing.

It only loads 1 voltage (+5) with only 1 current.

It would be good enough to verify that the supply does operate, and does not have high output voltages.

You will not know how the supply operates with a normal load.
Or, if the supply has problems with the current surges of digital electronics.

That said, 90% of the time, if the supply starts up, and all voltages are within limits at no load, the power supply is fine.

Chas