can a power supply for a p4 be used in an athlon system?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brett Caton
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Brett Caton

My computer acts like the power has been cut when my new dvd drive gets
up to speed so i thought i might need a different PSU. I have a spare I
was using with my Intel Pentium 4 system, called a "LC-b450E 450 W" and
it came without any documentation, and i can't find a website for the
manufacturer.

I am using an ECS Elitegroup k7vza ver 3.0 motherboard, socket 462. I've
tried contacting ECS but no reply yet, and i suspect they'd refer me to
whoever makes that PSU. Whoever it is seems very quiet about the fact. :P

I called the company that sold it to me and he says it can be used in an
athlon computer, but I'm risking a lot on his word.


Do you know how i can find out if it's usable in my system? I included
the data below if it's relevant.


Program: eSupport.com BIOS Agent Version 3.45
BIOS Date: 05/31/01
BIOS Type: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
BIOS ID: 05/31/2001-8363-686-K7VZAC
OEM Sign-On: K7VZA Ver 3.2d 05/31/2001
Chipset: VIA 82C305 rev 3
Superio: VIA 686 rev 64 found at port 7h
OS: WinXP SP2
CPU: AMD Athlon(tm) 1400 Mhz
 
Sayeth Brett Caton:
My computer acts like the power has been cut when my new dvd drive gets
up to speed so i thought i might need a different PSU. I have a spare I
was using with my Intel Pentium 4 system, called a "LC-b450E 450 W" and
it came without any documentation, and i can't find a website for the
manufacturer.

I am using an ECS Elitegroup k7vza ver 3.0 motherboard, socket 462. I've
tried contacting ECS but no reply yet, and i suspect they'd refer me to
whoever makes that PSU. Whoever it is seems very quiet about the fact. :P

I called the company that sold it to me and he says it can be used in an
athlon computer, but I'm risking a lot on his word.


Do you know how i can find out if it's usable in my system? I included
the data below if it's relevant.
Click to expand...

ATX is a standard that goes much deeper than merely AMD/Intel. There's no
reason it shouldn't work UNLESS it's a crappy power supply or simply
doesn't put out enough voltage. Of course, neither of these issues are
exclusive to either AMD or Intel; it's just a general problem power
supplies can have with all computers.
 
Brett Caton said:
My computer acts like the power has been cut when my new dvd drive gets
up to speed so i thought i might need a different PSU. I have a spare I
was using with my Intel Pentium 4 system, called a "LC-b450E 450 W" and
it came without any documentation, and i can't find a website for the
manufacturer.

I am using an ECS Elitegroup k7vza ver 3.0 motherboard, socket 462. I've
tried contacting ECS but no reply yet, and i suspect they'd refer me to
whoever makes that PSU. Whoever it is seems very quiet about the fact. :P

I called the company that sold it to me and he says it can be used in an
athlon computer, but I'm risking a lot on his word.


Do you know how i can find out if it's usable in my system? I included
the data below if it's relevant.


Program: eSupport.com BIOS Agent Version 3.45
BIOS Date: 05/31/01
BIOS Type: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
BIOS ID: 05/31/2001-8363-686-K7VZAC
OEM Sign-On: K7VZA Ver 3.2d 05/31/2001
Chipset: VIA 82C305 rev 3
Superio: VIA 686 rev 64 found at port 7h
OS: WinXP SP2
CPU: AMD Athlon(tm) 1400 Mhz
Click to expand...

In this picture, I do not see an ATX12V 2x2 power connector.
That suggests to me at least, that the CPU power comes
through the 20 pin connector, and the CPU power is drawn
from the +5V output.

http://www.wedopc.com/image/spimage/zuban/big/k7vza.jpg

There are some image databases you can search. Notice how there
is more than one brand name associated with that power supply
part number. It could be that your supply is a contract design,
with several different distributors (all with "Max" in the
name :-) ).

http://images.google.com/images?q=LC-b450E&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

http://www.altavista.com/image/results?itag=ody&q=LC-b450E&kgs=1&kls=0

Here is a detailed picture of a sample ratings label:

http://www.arrowmax.com/images/popup-maxpsx450m-04_l.jpg

The rating of 5V at 50A is especially imaginative. I would say,
if the motherboard is actually using +5V to run the processor,
there should be enough current. But I doubt that example supply
would make it all the way to 50A.

Your processor uses 65W, and that is about 5V@15A once the Vcore
conversion efficiency is taken into account. The motherboard
could use +5V for some other things, and it is not possible to
give an accurate prediction of the total current. (My 3200+ based
system, uses 5V@21A or so measured, while gaming, to give you
another estimate of a +5V based system.) But I would say, try
that supply, and it could do the job for you. Assuming the
Arrowmax picture above, is for your supply. In the power supply
business, there is a lot of contract design, and changing of brand
names to hide the guilty, and you should never buy a supply
without a ratings label being present on the side of it.

Paul
 
My computer acts like the power has been cut when my new dvd drive gets
up to speed so i thought i might need a different PSU. I have a spare I
was using with my Intel Pentium 4 system, called a "LC-b450E 450 W" and
it came without any documentation, and i can't find a website for the
manufacturer.

I am using an ECS Elitegroup k7vza ver 3.0 motherboard, socket 462. I've
tried contacting ECS but no reply yet, and i suspect they'd refer me to
whoever makes that PSU. Whoever it is seems very quiet about the fact. :P

I called the company that sold it to me and he says it can be used in an
athlon computer, but I'm risking a lot on his word.


Do you know how i can find out if it's usable in my system? I included
the data below if it's relevant.


Program: eSupport.com BIOS Agent Version 3.45
BIOS Date: 05/31/01
BIOS Type: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
BIOS ID: 05/31/2001-8363-686-K7VZAC
OEM Sign-On: K7VZA Ver 3.2d 05/31/2001
Chipset: VIA 82C305 rev 3
Superio: VIA 686 rev 64 found at port 7h
OS: WinXP SP2
CPU: AMD Athlon(tm) 1400 Mhz
Click to expand...

As Paul Mentioned it should need a PSU with a strong 5V
rail. The ideal would be one rated for at least 200W
combined 3V+5V, which yours claims to, but it is suspect.

In short if it were a perfect world we could assume it's
fine for the job. In this world it is worth trying and
taking voltage readings but as with all generics is somewhat
of a gamble. It's more likely suitable enough if you have a
modest video card than a high-end gaming card, though in
that era even the high-end gaming cards were less power
hungry- it's worth a try either way. Along with 5V voltage
readings, note the 12V readings as it will typically raise
the 12V level when it tries to keep 5V high enough.

Your board, K7VZA, is one known to have capacitor failures.
Particularly several of the dozen or so in the vertical rows
to the left of the CPU socket, might vent (leaky swollen,
residue on tops or bottoms). I'd examine the board first,
it would be easily seen without disassembling whole system,
using a flashlight if necessary. IF the capacitors are
failing, you need a new board or to repair that one (usually
not cost effective unless you can DIY), and then only you
can decide if it would be worthwhile to track down an old
(or newer, any socket A board newer should also run that CPU
but most of the newer generations might use DDR memory
instead of PC100/133), -or- a more comprehensive upgrade of
at least CPU/motherboard/memory.
 
Brett said:
My computer acts like the power has been cut when my new dvd drive gets
up to speed so i thought i might need a different PSU. I have a spare I
was using with my Intel Pentium 4 system, called a "LC-b450E 450 W"
Click to expand...
I am using an ECS Elitegroup k7vza ver 3.0 motherboard, socket 462.
AMD Athlon(tm) 1400 Mhz
Click to expand...

Pentium 4 or AMD doesn't matter. Instead what matters is whether the
CPU power is derived from the +12V lines or the +5V lines, and with
your motherboard it's the latter. A power supply rated like yours -
450W total, 230W combined +3.3V and +5V power, should be far more than
adequate, but unfortunately it was made by Deer, as denoted by the "LC"
prefix in the model number, and Deer produces supplies of very low
quality and exaggerated capacity ratings. But unless its electrolytic
capacitors have rotted it should be able to power your system with
ease. Electrolytics can also rot on the motherboard, especially if
they're not Japanese, American, or European brands.
 
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