Ever had your PC just crash randomly, smell something strange emanating from your gaming tower, or seen your hard drive acting strangely slow? These can all be symptoms of the same discreet problem—your power supply is aging. Usually the most neglected of all components, your PSU (power supply unit) is in many ways the system’s heart, and like any part that is getting older, it deteriorates. Catching the signs of trouble early on will spare you from costly hardware repairs, lost data, and dreaded frustration. Here are 10 definite indications that your PSU is going out—and how to get in front of the problem.
10. Weird Odors
If you notice a burning plastic, metallic, or acrid chemical smell, shut it down right away and check. That odor can be anything from insulation burning to parts shorting out or on fire. A burning electronics smell is one of the most obvious indications that something within your power supply is overheating or failing. Turn it off and have it serviced—quickly.
9. Constant crashes or freezes
Blue screens of death, random reboots, or programs behaving erratically? It may be many things, but one of the most common culprits is unstable power delivery. A dying PSU can’t keep voltage at a steady level, and your components—particularly your CPU and hard drives—don’t like that. If your system inexplicably starts crashing, your PSU could be the guilty party.
8. Visual Damage Inside the PSU
If you feel comfortable removing the top of your computer (and it’s powered off!), take a glance at the PSU. Bulging caps, dark-colored discoloration on the board, or cracked and brittle cables all signal issues. Heat gets its revenge over time, and any obvious damage means it’s time to begin planning a replacement.
7. Faulty Safety Features
Power supplies are supposed to protect your gear from shorts, spikes, and overloads. But over time, the safety circuits inside can wear out too. If your PC doesn’t shut off during an obvious power fault, or you’re getting weird voltage alerts, your PSU’s built-in protections may no longer be reliable.
6. Loss of Efficiency
An old PSU begins to consume more power to perform the same task, i.e., increased power and electricity bills. If it used to run silently and cool but now heats up even when idle, that’s a hint. Efficiency certifications such as 80 PLUS aren’t permanent—damaged components can bring them down eventually.
5. Strange Interference or Humming
Hearing static over your headphones? Experiencing lag with your wireless mouse? Your power supply may be radiating electrical noise, particularly if its EMI (electromagnetic interference) filters are nearing the end of their life. That static can disrupt nearby electronics or buzz and hiss in your speakers.
4. Trouble Starting Up
If your PC is slow to boot, spontaneously reboots, or clicks and whirrs strangely on startup, your PSU may be having issues. Failing capacitors, worn-out relays, or anemia-inducing startup signals can all lead to power-up problems. If booting is a crapshoot, don’t just hope for the best.
3. Overheating and Dust Buildup
Fans that won’t spin, blocked vents, or heat emitting from your power supply are all indications that cooling isn’t occurring the way it should. Fans clogged by dust, dry bearings, and clogged heat sinks restrict airflow—and the hotter a PSU becomes, the quicker it dies. Cleaning regularly makes a big difference.
2. Voltage Spikes or Drops
Spontaneous power dips or surges can cause major damage. An older PSU may allow those variations to pass through rather than smoothing them out. If you’re experiencing symptoms of hardware errors, corrupted files, or SSD problems, ripple and voltage instability may be the reason. Check with a power monitor or multimeter.
1. Unusual Noises
Listening to high-pitched squealing, popping, or grinding sounds from your PSU? That’s never a good thing. It might be a failing fan motor or internal parts burning out. Electrical sounds, particularly when your PC is under stress, are a good reason to have your power supply diagnosed—or replaced.
What You Can Do About It
Catching a dying PSU early allows you to head off serious damage. Clean it out regularly, ensure the fan spins freely, and replace worn components if you’re knowledgeable. For mission-critical configurations, look into having a spare PSU or real-time voltage monitoring. And when unsure, replace it—since a good power supply is the pillar of every healthy computer.