New PSU

[awelsh]

I think I might have found the problem with my new GFX card :) after reading the box it tells me "minimum requirements 400w PSU"

Just opened up the PC and I only have 250w, I am pretty sure this is why the GFX card keeps on failing to work.

However, ive been looking on ebay and found some 500w PSU's (to be on the safe side and after some googling I have found out that apparently they are not always the watts they say they are)

Will the 500w one work with my PC?

Also, I am pretty sure my MOBO is ATX but im not 100%, it has 4 PCI slots and one AGP, and im sure mATX only has around 2 PCI slots.

Heres is the PSU im looking at, yes I know its dirt cheap but ive spent more than I wanted to on this PC anyway so im just scraping it together now.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/500-Watt-ATX-Silent-PC-Power-Supply-Unit-PSU-500W_W0QQitemZ200384390584QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Co mputing_PowerSupplies_EH?hash=item2ea7d725b8&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

and

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-500-Watt-ATX-Silent-PC-Power-Supply-Unit-PSU-500W_W0QQitemZ310172108951QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Co mputing_PowerSupplies_EH?hash=item4837b2c897&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

BTW, I contacted the one seller and asked if it will work with my IDE hard drive as the listing states SATA, is this the case for all PSU's? I don't have a clue because ive never looked at buying new PSU's before :P

Thanks

[Robbie]

Go for a trusted brand PSU such as Antec, CoolerMaster etc

[N!ck]

IDE hard drives use normal molex plugs, and I guess your graphics card will probably need one. Those PSUs are horrifically cheap. If you must get one of those then probably the first one, but personally I'd buy neither.

[awelsh]

Go for a trusted brand PSU such as Antec, CoolerMaster etc


IDE hard drives use normal molex plugs, and I guess your graphics card will probably need one. Those PSUs are horrifically cheap. If you must get one of those then probably the first one, but personally I'd buy neither.

Ok, thanks, yeah the GFX card needs a connector too, but it plugs in and adds another adapter anyway so thats no problem.

Ive looked at this from ebuyer, is it any good? - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151780#

[awelsh]

Sorry for double post but I also want to know this:

Would adding the extra power to the computer cause any damange? As it was previously 250w and will soon be 500w or more will this cause any problems?

Thanks

[N!ck]

No. That's the power the PSU (in theory) is capable of delivering. Your computer only draws as much power as it needs.

[awelsh]

No. That's the power the PSU (in theory) is capable of delivering. Your computer only draws as much power as it needs.

I thought that buy my step dad thought otherwise.

Thanks.

Also looked at: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STORM-SILENT-500-WATT-ATX-PC-POWER-SUPPLY-UNIT-PSU-500W_W0QQitemZ370245859234QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Co mputing_PowerSupplies_EH?hash=item56345f77a2&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

and it seems pretty decent.

[Stephen!]

Please, try to avoid eBay.

And I have never seen that brand of PSU before.

[Tomm]

Here are some suggestions of high quality PSUs around 500w:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-014-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-149-CM&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

[N!ck]

Here are some suggestions of high quality PSUs around 500w:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-014-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-149-CM&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

Yes, and putting a Corsair or Coolermaster PSU in an extremely dated system like this really is not justified.

[Tomm]

How old it the computer? All the post says is that he has a graphics card that needs 400w.

Anyway, it would allow him to use the PSU again if he decides to build a new computer.


Yes, and putting a Corsair or Coolermaster PSU in an extremely dated system like this really is not justified.

[Agnostic Bear]

I think I might have found the problem with my new GFX card :) after reading the box it tells me "minimum requirements 400w PSU"

That's an extremely conservative estimate, you'll need around ~350, not 400, they give you the minimum for what they think the full load of the system will take up. Mine takes up something like 500w and I have some pretty boss requirements.

This should work just dandy for you:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-006-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1084

[awelsh]

Thanks for the recommendations, but I am on a very tight budget now. Ended up going for Winpower silent 550w - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370143407851&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

12Month warranty and the seller has good feedback too :)

PC is roughly 5/6 years old.

[The Professor]

Please, try to avoid eBay.


Go for a trusted brand PSU such as Antec, CoolerMaster etc


Thanks for the recommendations, but I am on a very tight budget now. Ended up going for Winpower silent 550w - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370143407851&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

12Month warranty and the seller has good feedback too :)

PC is roughly 5/6 years old.

There's no telling some people! :P

[Robbie]

See:
http://corsair.com/cinema/movie.aspx?id=622747

[Tomm]

Now lets not go scaring him thinking his PSU is going to blow up in a spectacular fashion :P

The most obvious disadvantages of buying a cheap PSU are that its efficiency will be rather low (i.e it provides 450w to your PC components but might draw something like 600w from your socket), it will suffer from power fluctuations on the rails causing a unstable system and its MTTF will be low.


See:
http://corsair.com/cinema/movie.aspx?id=622747

[awelsh]

There's no telling some people! :P

I was on a budget :P


See:
http://corsair.com/cinema/movie.aspx?id=622747


Now lets not go scaring him thinking his PSU is going to blow up in a spectacular fashion :P

The most obvious disadvantages of buying a cheap PSU are that its efficiency will be rather low (i.e it provides 450w to your PC components but might draw something like 600w from your socket), it will suffer from power fluctuations on the rails causing a unstable system and its MTTF will be low.

Knowing my luck it will somehow explode lol, hopefully not thought because otherwise people would have complained to the ebay guy by now :)

[The Professor]

Knowing my luck it will somehow explode lol, hopefully not thought because otherwise people would have complained to the ebay guy by now :)

People usually leave feedback when they've received the item and plugged it in to check it works. The inevitable blowup a week later doesn't affect the feedback :P

[awelsh]

People usually leave feedback when they've received the item and plugged it in to check it works. The inevitable blowup a week later doesn't affect the feedback :P

Good point :P hopefully this wont be the case :)

It said is had passed certain tests etc on the listing too, could be complete crap though just to seel it but maybe its true :)

[Markeh]

If it works, bargain of the century.
If it doesn't, get a branded PSU. Maybe even a used branded PSU?

[awelsh]

If it works, bargain of the century.
If it doesn't, get a branded PSU. Maybe even a used branded PSU?

If it doesnt work ill just put the old one back in and not use the new graphics card :P

BTW, if the PSU does blow could that break anything inside the PC?

[Jamesy]

it could possibly fry components, yes.

[Markeh]

It could fry stuff, yeah. If your that worried about it possibly frying stuff, backup your data.

However, if this new PSU doesn't work, you may as well hunt through ads in stuff like Micro Mart magazine, and the like, as you may find a used PSU that works well there for less.