One last one then I'll go away;
Iraq?
You will need to constantly clean out the inside of your computer, AND the inside of the Power Supply.
How often?
As often as it is required. Only you will know, as you are there, I'm not.
(Yeah I know. "No Duh, joecoolvette")
Dust, dirt, lint(?), makes an electrical path. Both for Static electricity, and electrical power inside your computer.
It also clogs the cooling components of the computer, and drops the cooling capacity tremendously.
After all, the hardware components inside the computer ARE cooled by air.
Your power supply's hardware is cooled by air also. Has an internal small fan, you can see from the back of it's case, and uses Heatsinks inside,
Switched-mode power supply - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Click on the photo to the upper right, of the exposed Switched-Mode Power Supply. (SMPS)
The shiny rectangular looking objects, that are in a column, and connected one above each other by a long flat piece of metal, are Heatsinks.
(In-between B and C, plus C and D)
The shiny rectangular looking objects are actually aluminum fins, in a rectangular shape.
If they get clogged, and the fan's blades, center hub, and shroud, get clogged; the cooling capacity of the Power Supply drops tremendously
The internal hardware components of the Power Supply overheat.
Heat = Wasted energy
The Power Supply strains to keep up with the call for power, but eventually cannot, and components inside the Power Supply fail. (Electrolytic Capacitors are usually the first to go)
Point? Keep the inside of the Power Supply clean. Folks tend to clean out the inside of a desktop computer, but forget about the Power Supply.
Use a can of compressed air for computers, and attach the plastic 'straw'.
Power supply unplugged from power, start at one of the top ventilation holes, on the inside of the computer case, and spray air in a semi-downward fashion.
(Note*
HOLD ONTO the straw with one hand, and the can of air with the other hand. The straw has a tendency to shoot off the nozzle, and land inside the Power Supply. This = No)
Keep going across the ventilation holes at top, then middle, then bottom.
Come around to the back of the Power Supply, and use Q-tips on the area in-between the Fan's blades, and center hub. Also along the blade's surfaces, and especially the tips.
You are NOT trying to remove the 'Gunk', just stir it around so the compressed air can remove it. ('Break the crust')
DO NOT spin the fan too fast, when using the can of compressed air. (And straw)
The fan is only designed to spin so fast. Spinning it faster than it was designed for, can lead to premature failure of the fan's bearings.
(I would hate to be sitting in Iraq, waiting on a new Power Supply. Especially at those prices!
{$200 bucks, huh?)
The motherboard is mounted to a Support Plate. The support plate can be a separate unit, or part of the computer case.
People often forget that dust, dirt, hair, etc. can accumulate under the motherboard.
The motherboard has exposed solder joints on the bottom.
See why it's a good idea to remove the motherboard once in a while, clean it, and the support plate area?
Post back if none of this gibberish made any sense, and you would like clarification.
Or if you have any questions about the subject.
Regards,
joecoolvette