A few days ago, my desktop PC just stopped turning on. Pressing the power switch elicits no response altogether.
This is the sum total of the troubleshooting steps I've done:
- Super-newbily switched power supply I/O switch off and on a number of times as recommended in the PSU manual.
- Also very newbily watched a YouTube video about the power supply "paperclip test" and verified that yes, I can jumpstart it with a paperclip.
- Exhausted my entire knowledge of electronics by unplugging all of my PC case's power switch/reset switch/case LED plugs from the motherboard and then tried to test if the case power switch is busted by closing the motherboard power switch circuit by touching a flat-head screwdriver to the two switch pins. Absolutely nothing happened. No PSU startup.
I do not own any testing tools like a multimeter or know much about electronics. I also value my time and would rather not spend hours diagnosing the problem if the balance of probabilities says "replace component X".
Should I just go ahead and buy a new PSU? Or are there some simple tests I can do using what I have around home that would give a clearer picture of whether it's the mobo or the power supply unit?
(FWIW, it's a 350W DiabloTek PSDA350 DA Series 350-Watt ATX Power Supply which I got for like $14.99 off of Amazon.ca one fine day. Always been a noisy bugger. Have a vague recollection of assuring myself it had enough juice to run my simple hardware when I bought it two years ago.)