Finally fixed a flaky PSU with a $9 multimeter after ignoring it for months

Linda Gonzalez · 2026-09-08T03:00:54.203482+00:00

I had this old Dell OptiPlex that kept randomly restarting under load, drove me nuts for like 4 months. Kept blaming drivers or Windows updates until I grabbed a cheap multimeter from Harbor Freight last Tuesday. Checked the 12V rail while running Prime95 and saw it drop to 11.2V, way out of spec. Swapped in a used 500W unit from a scrap build for $25 and it's been rock solid for 6 straight days now. Anyone else ever catch a dying power supply with basic voltage testing before assuming it's software? lol

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Finally fixed a flaky PSU with a $9 multimeter after ignoring it for months | Computer Technicians - Guest Forum