I engaged "Dave's Computer" to build a new custom build Windows 11 computer as replacement for the Windows 10 machine. I presented my thoughts and needs to Dave about the new unit and he asked some basic questions as to my needs and want for the new unit. We touched on cost for the unit and I left...
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Power Supply Replacement · Dave's Computers, Somerville NJ
Power Supply Replacement for Desktop PCs in New Jersey: Dell, HP, Lenovo, Gaming Towers and More
When a desktop's power supply dies, the tower goes dark, clicks off, or restarts every time it's asked to work. Replacing it sounds simple until you learn that a lot of Dell, HP and Lenovo desktops don't use a standard supply at all. I find out which one your machine takes, confirm the supply is really what failed, and put the right unit in at my drop-off shop in Somerville, NJ. It's one of the most common jobs in my desktop computer repair work.
⭐ 4.8 Stars · 430+ Google Reviews
🏆 On the Bench Since 2011
📍 Somerville, NJ · Drop-Off Shop
🔧 $75 / $149 Diagnostic, Credited Toward Repair
📞 Call (908) 428-9558
🚗 Directions to the Shop
On this page
- Why the brand of your desktop matters
- Brands and models I replace power supplies in
- Signs the power supply is what failed
- How a power supply replacement works
- What it costs
- When a dead supply took something with it
- What I'll tell you before you spend the money
- What I see on the bench in New Jersey
- Directions to Dave's Computers
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Why the Brand of Your Desktop Matters for a Power Supply Replacement
A custom PC takes a standard part. A lot of store-bought desktops don't.
A custom-built PC or a boutique gaming tower almost always uses a standard ATX power supply: a box of a known size with a 24-pin plug for the motherboard. When one of those fails, the replacement question is mostly about wattage and quality.
Big-brand business and home desktops are a different story. Many Dell, HP and Lenovo towers are designed around a supply built for that chassis, and the plug that feeds the motherboard often isn't the standard 24-pin. Dell's own documentation for the OptiPlex 7090 Tower lists one 6-pin connector for the system board plus two 4-pin connectors for the processor, with supplies ranging from 260 W to 500 W depending on how the machine was ordered. The OptiPlex 7010 small form factor uses an 8-pin system board connector with a 180 W or 300 W supply. HP's Pro Tower 400 G9 ships with a 260 W internal supply. A standard retail ATX supply has a 24-pin motherboard plug, so boards built for 6-pin or 8-pin connectors can't take it, and small form factor cases won't hold the box.
So the first part of the job is identification. Before I quote anything, I confirm the exact model, how it was configured at the factory, what's been added since (a graphics card changes the math), and which supply that machine actually takes. When a standard unit fits, it gets a quality retail supply sized for what's inside. When the machine was built around a model-specific supply, it gets the correct one for that model.
Mini and micro desktops (OptiPlex Micro, HP Elite Mini and Pro Mini, ThinkCentre Tiny) are their own category: most run on an external power adapter, like a brick on the floor, so "the power supply" is often a part you can see and swap in minutes once the right adapter is confirmed.
Brands and Models I Replace Power Supplies In
The models I see most at my Somerville counter. If yours isn't listed, bring it anyway.
| Brand | Common models | Supply type | What replacement involves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell business | OptiPlex 3000, 5000 and 7000 series in tower, small form factor and Micro (3070, 3080, 5080, 7010, 7020, 7080, 7090 and others); Dell Pro Tower, Pro Slim and Pro Micro | Dell-specific supply in most towers and small form factor models; Micro models typically use an external adapter | The correct supply for that model and wattage; small form factor cases have no room for anything else |
| Dell home | Inspiron desktops (3000 and 5000 series), XPS 8930, 8940, 8950 and 8960, Dell Tower and Tower Plus | Dell-specific supply in many models; wattage varies by configuration | Match the model, and confirm the wattage covers any graphics card added after purchase |
| Alienware | Aurora R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15 and R16; Area-51 desktops | Varies by generation; many Aurora models use an Alienware-specific supply | Confirm the generation and installed graphics card on the bench before quoting |
| HP business | ProDesk 400 and 600, EliteDesk 800 (G3 through G8) in tower, small form factor and Mini; HP Pro Tower 400 G9, Elite Tower 800 G9, Elite SFF 800 G9; Pro Mini and Elite Mini | HP-specific supply with a nonstandard motherboard connector in most towers and small form factor models; Mini models typically use an external adapter | The correct HP supply by model and generation |
| HP home and gaming | HP Pavilion desktops, Pavilion Gaming, ENVY desktops, OMEN 25L, 30L, 40L and 45L, Victus 15L, Slimline | Varies by model; Slimline and many Pavilion models use compact HP-specific supplies | Identify the exact model number from the label, then the matching unit |
| Lenovo business | ThinkCentre M70t, M70s, M75t, M75s, M80t, M80s, M90t, M90s, neo 50t and 50s; ThinkCentre Tiny (q) models | Lenovo-specific supply with nonstandard connectors in most towers and small form factor models; Tiny models typically use an external adapter | The correct Lenovo supply for the machine type and generation |
| Lenovo home and gaming | IdeaCentre 3 and 5 towers, Legion Tower 5 and 7 (and older Legion T5 and T7), LOQ Tower | Varies by generation; IdeaCentre towers commonly use Lenovo-specific supplies | Confirm on the bench; gaming models get the wattage the graphics card needs |
| Acer | Aspire TC and XC, Predator Orion 3000, 5000 and 7000, Veriton business desktops | Compact or Acer-specific supplies in many Aspire and Veriton models; Predator Orion varies | Identify the model and matching unit before quoting |
| ASUS | ROG Strix gaming desktops, ExpertCenter business desktops, ASUS S-series home desktops | Varies by model; some standard, some compact or ASUS-specific | Confirm fit and connectors on the bench |
| MSI and Gigabyte | MSI MAG Infinite, MPG Trident, Aegis and Codex; Gigabyte AORUS gaming desktops and BRIX mini PCs | Larger towers often use standard or near-standard supplies; compact models (Trident, BRIX) use small-form or external supplies | Standard swap where it fits; model-specific part where it doesn't |
| Boutique gaming towers | CyberPowerPC, iBUYPOWER, Skytech, NZXT, Origin PC, Digital Storm, Velocity Micro, CLX, Falcon Northwest, AVADirect | Standard ATX in most, SFX in small cases | A quality retail supply sized for the installed graphics card; current cards get an ATX 3.x unit with the 12V-2x6 connector |
| Custom-built PCs | Home-built and shop-built towers of any size | Standard ATX or SFX | Same as boutique towers, with the modular cables matched to the new unit |
Supply types describe what I commonly find in these families; configurations vary by year and factory options, which is why every replacement starts with the machine on my bench. The full brand pages are linked in the first column.
Signs the Power Supply Is What Failed
Several of these also point at other parts. That's why I test before I replace.
| What you see | How often it's the supply |
|---|---|
| Nothing at all: no lights, no fans, no sound | Often, after the outlet and power strip are ruled out. See desktop won't turn on. |
| Fans twitch for a second, then nothing | Common with a failing supply, but also a short on the board or a front-panel fault |
| Restarts or shuts off under load, fine at the desktop | Frequently, especially after a graphics card was added. See why a PC randomly restarts. |
| Dell or HP power light blinking amber in a pattern | Sometimes; both brands use blink codes, and some patterns point at power while others point at memory or the board |
| Died after a storm or power outage | Usually the first casualty. See power surge damage. |
| Burning smell, pop, or buzzing from the back of the tower | Very likely. Unplug it and leave it unplugged. |
Never open a power supply. The capacitors inside can hold a dangerous charge long after the tower is unplugged. The supply gets replaced as a unit, not repaired.
The longer version of these symptoms, including what the paperclip test proves and what it doesn't, is in my guide to the signs of a failing power supply.
How a Power Supply Replacement Works
Drop it off, get a flat quote by phone, pick it up working.
1
Drop off the tower
Just the tower and its power cord. Tell me what happened and when: during a game, after a storm, overnight. If a graphics card or other part was added after you bought it, mention that too.
Moving a heavy gaming tower? How to bring a desktop in covers the car ride.
2
Confirm the supply is the problem
I load test the supply, check the board with a known-good unit, and use the manufacturer's built-in diagnostics where the model has them. A supply that tests fine means the fault is somewhere else, and you'll hear that before any part is ordered.
3
Identify the exact supply the machine takes
Model and service tag or product number, factory wattage, motherboard connector, physical size, and whatever has been added since. For a gaming tower I size the new unit for the graphics card that's actually installed.
4
A flat quote by phone
One number for the supply and the labor, with the diagnostic fee already credited. Nothing is ordered until you say yes.
5
Install, route the cables, test under load
The new supply goes in with the cables routed so airflow and future upgrades aren't blocked. Then the machine runs under sustained load so the fix is proven, not assumed.
What a Power Supply Replacement Costs
The diagnostic is credited toward the work. Prices are a snapshot as of this writing.
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic: Dell, HP, Lenovo or other major-brand desktop | $75 | Credited toward the repair when you approve the work |
| Diagnostic: custom-built PC or boutique prebuilt (CyberPowerPC, iBUYPOWER and similar) | $149 | Credited toward labor when you approve the work |
| Power supply replacement | Flat quote after the diagnostic | Parts plus labor in one number. Model-specific supplies vary a lot in price from one machine to the next. |
| Turnaround | 24 to 48 hours for most | Parts availability permitting; same-day rush available. Older model-specific supplies can take longer to arrive. |
| Warranty | 30 to 90 days on labor | The supply itself carries its manufacturer's warranty |
Replacing a failed supply isn't the same job as upgrading one. This page is for a supply that died or is dying. If yours works and you need more wattage for a new graphics card, that's my power supply upgrade service, and the wattage guide explains the sizing.
When a Dead Power Supply Took Something With It
Most failures are just the supply. Some aren't, and the test after the swap is how you find out.
A supply that fails quietly usually takes nothing else down. A supply that fails badly, or one that spent months delivering unstable power before it quit, can damage the motherboard, a drive, or occasionally a graphics card. Surges from storms do the same thing from the other direction. That's why a replacement at my bench doesn't end when the tower powers on: the board, memory, drives and graphics card all get checked under load with the new supply in place.
If something else is damaged, you get a second flat quote before anything more is done. A failed board becomes a motherboard replacement where parts are still available. A failed graphics card gets tested in a second system and, if it's dead, replaced through my graphics card replacement service. A drive that won't read goes to data recovery before anything else touches it.
✓ The good news: in most of the dead towers I see, the files are fine. A power supply failure rarely erases a drive, even when the machine looks completely lifeless.
What I'll Tell You Before You Spend the Money
A few situations where the honest answer isn't "replace the supply."
The machine isn't worth the part. A ten-year-old office tower with a model-specific supply can cost more to fix than it's worth, especially if it can't run Windows 11. I'll show you the number next to the alternatives, including your Windows 11 options, and you decide.
The supply isn't what failed. Restarts under load can be heat, memory or the graphics card. A bigger supply won't fix any of those, and I won't sell you one to find out.
You're about to upgrade anyway. If the supply died in a gaming tower that was already due for a new graphics card, it can make sense to size the replacement for the card you're planning, so you only open the case once. That becomes a prebuilt desktop upgrade conversation, and it's your call.
The part is hard to get. Model-specific supplies for older machines can be scarce. If the correct unit isn't available, I'll tell you plainly rather than force something that doesn't belong in the case.
What I See on the Bench in New Jersey
Composite examples, built from the kinds of jobs that come across my Somerville counter.
A Bridgewater office's OptiPlex tower that was dead on Monday morning. No lights, no fans. The load test confirmed the supply, and the board's small system board connector meant a standard unit was never an option. The correct Dell supply went in, the machine ran under load for the afternoon, and it went back to the front desk the next day.
A Hillsborough family's HP Pavilion after a July thunderstorm. Plugged straight into the wall, and completely lifeless afterward. The supply had taken the hit and the board, memory and drive all tested clean with a known-good unit. New supply, a conversation about surge protection, and every photo still on the drive.
A Piscataway gamer's CyberPowerPC that shut off twenty minutes into any game. A graphics card had been upgraded two years earlier on the original supply. It held up at the desktop and dropped out under load. A quality ATX 3.x supply sized for the card fixed the shutdowns, and a stress test afterward confirmed nothing else had been harmed.
Bring the tower to Somerville. The diagnostic is $75 for a major-brand desktop or $149 for a custom-built or boutique PC, credited toward the work when you approve it.
📞 Call (908) 428-9558Drop-off shop at 75 N Bridge St, Somerville NJ · Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 9-2
Directions to Dave's Computers in Somerville, NJ
Downtown Somerville, one block off Main Street, behind Bank of America.
Dave's Computers, 75 N Bridge St, Somerville, NJ 08876Drop-off shop, Mon-Fri 10-5 and Sat 9-2. Street and municipal-lot parking around Main Street.
Directions to the ShopFrom Bridgewater
3 miles · about 10 minutes
Route 22 or Route 202/206 to the Somerville Circle, then Route 28 east (West Main Street) into downtown. Left onto N Bridge St.
Open in Google MapsFrom Hillsborough
5 miles · about 12 minutes
Route 206 north into Somerville, right onto West Main Street, then left onto N Bridge St.
Open in Google MapsFrom Bound Brook
4 miles · about 12 minutes
Route 28 west straight into downtown Somerville. Right onto N Bridge St.
Open in Google MapsFrom Piscataway
10 miles · about 20 minutes
I-287 north to Exit 17 (Route 202/206 south), then Route 28 east into downtown Somerville.
Open in Google MapsFrom Flemington
15 miles · about 25 minutes
Route 202 north to the Somerville Circle, then Route 28 east into downtown. Left onto N Bridge St.
Open in Google MapsFrom Princeton
18 miles · about 30 minutes
Route 206 north through Montgomery and Hillsborough into Somerville. Right onto West Main Street, then left onto N Bridge St.
Open in Google MapsTimes are typical drives outside rush hour. Call 908-428-9558 before a long drive if you want to confirm I'm at the counter.
Google Reviews
What Customers Say on Google
Live from the Dave's Computers Google listing. Tap any review to read it on Google Maps.
4.8
★★★★★★★★★★Based on 434 Google reviews
I have been going to Dave's Computers for years because he always fixes my problems. I also use his anti-virus and it is as good as any, if not better, than others that I would have to pay much more for. If you're having problems, go to Dave's. He doesn't break the bank and he solves the problems.
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Over the last decade or so, whenever I had a computer problem, I went to Dave. I recently had a very worrisome crash; the system failed to boot up. (I hadn't needed to use him for about 3 years.) I paid the "rush fee" on Saturday when dropping the machine off with the weekend agent. By Monday...
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"As a Broker of over 40 years in New Jersey I rely on my computer help", which is the artery to my success and business. Thank goodness Dave's is here for me with the messes I get into with scammers, land grabbers and just uneccesary things that I pick up. The most effective virus program have ever...
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I had previously tried to build my own PC to no success. Even though right now it is really tough to get a PC built due to the price increases with RAM’s, GPU’s and other parts because of AI, I still really wanted to get one for myself. I came across Dave’s Computers online and went in for a...
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Power Supply Replacement Questions From New Jersey Customers
What people ask before they bring a dead tower in.
Where can I get a desktop power supply replaced in New Jersey?
Dave's Computers at 75 N Bridge St in Somerville, NJ replaces power supplies in Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, ASUS, MSI, Alienware, boutique gaming and custom-built desktops. It's a drop-off shop, Monday through Friday 10 to 5 and Saturday 9 to 2, no appointment needed, and I'm the technician who tests and replaces the supply.
How much does a power supply replacement cost?
The diagnostic is $75 for a Dell, HP, Lenovo or other major-brand desktop and $149 for a custom-built or boutique PC, credited toward the work when you approve it. The replacement itself is a flat quote for parts and labor after I've confirmed the supply failed and identified the exact unit your machine takes.
Can I put a standard ATX power supply in my Dell, HP or Lenovo desktop?
Often not. Many of their towers and small form factor models use a supply built for that chassis, with a motherboard connector that isn't the standard 24-pin and a body that won't fit a standard unit. I identify what your model takes and install the correct supply rather than forcing a part that doesn't belong.
How do I know it's the power supply and not something else?
You don't until it's tested, which is why the diagnostic comes first. A dead tower can also be a shorted board, a failed front-panel switch or a bad outlet. I load test the supply and try a known-good unit before any part is ordered, so you only pay for the fix that's needed.
How long does a power supply replacement take?
Most are done in 24 to 48 hours once you approve the quote, parts availability permitting, and same-day rush is available. Model-specific supplies for older business desktops can take longer to arrive, and I'll tell you that when I call with the quote.
My computer died after a storm. Is it just the power supply?
Usually the supply takes the hit, but not always. After the new supply goes in, I test the board, memory, drives and graphics card under load. If anything else was damaged, you get a separate flat quote before more work is done, and your files are almost always still on the drive.
Is this the same as a power supply upgrade?
No. This service replaces a supply that failed. If yours works and you need more wattage or newer connectors for a graphics card, that's my power supply upgrade service. If the supply died and a graphics card upgrade was already planned, we can size the replacement for the new card in the same visit.
Sources and further reading
- Dell, OptiPlex 7090 Tower power supply specifications: 260 W to 500 W options with a 6-pin system board connector and two 4-pin processor connectors.
- Dell, OptiPlex 7010 Small Form Factor power supply connectors: 180 W and 300 W units with an 8-pin system board connector.
- HP, HP Pro Tower 400 G9 specifications: 260 W internal power supply.
Power Supply Replacement in New Jersey, Any Desktop Brand
Bring the tower to 75 N Bridge St in Somerville. I'll confirm the supply failed, find the exact unit your machine takes, and call with one flat number. It's part of my desktop computer repair service.
📞 (908) 428-9558Mon-Fri 10am-5pm · Sat 9am-2pm · 75 N Bridge St, Somerville NJ · Drop-Offs Welcome