PSU related questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Justin
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Justin

hi newsgroup:

I have two questions related to PSUs:

1. I'm building an AthlonXP 1700+ system, Ive got an old empty uATX case
with an 230W PSU which im going to use. However I have a feeling that 230W
wont satisfy the hungry Athlon (the PSU originally served a P-III 500), so
should I swop it with a 300W PSU from another comp?

2. my computer (Abit KD-7, AthlonXP 2500+, 512 DDR333, Abit Ti4200 128MB, 3
optical drives and 2 HDDs + 2 FDDs + 5 cooling fans) may be too heavy a load
for my 400W PSU. I recently read a thread somewhere that a slow power on
means the PSU is not powerful enough, is this true? (by power on I mean from
when I press the power switch to the POST screen) Takes about 5~8 seconds
(and sometimes forever) on my comp while on other computers its
instantaneous. I can always unplug 2 fans and one of my CD and FDD drives
since i dont need/use them much, will that help at all or do I have to get
the massive 550W PSUs on offer now?
 
I just changed last weekend my PSU. I was using a 300 watts and now i am
using Antec 400 watts.

I am using a Athlon XP 1900+ with 2 hard drive, 1 zip, 1 burner. 2 fan on
the psu, 1 cpu fan and 1 case fan.

If you find your computer slow and your fan noise, if you can hear them,
play a humming sound and your PC seem to be loaded with drive s and all. Yes
i would suggest to change the PSU for one much more power.
 
hi newsgroup:

I have two questions related to PSUs:

1. I'm building an AthlonXP 1700+ system, Ive got an old empty uATX case
with an 230W PSU which im going to use. However I have a feeling that 230W
wont satisfy the hungry Athlon (the PSU originally served a P-III 500), so
should I swop it with a 300W PSU from another comp?
Click to expand...

230W "can" be enough for a mATX XP1700 system, especially if it uses
an old or integrated video... Depends on the specific power supply.
I'd try the 230W, after all if you use your larger power supplies in
the smallest cases, you have nothing for the larger cases. On the
other hand if it's going to be running a high-performance video card,
go ahead and use the 300W.
2. my computer (Abit KD-7, AthlonXP 2500+, 512 DDR333, Abit Ti4200 128MB, 3
optical drives and 2 HDDs + 2 FDDs + 5 cooling fans) may be too heavy a load
for my 400W PSU. I recently read a thread somewhere that a slow power on
means the PSU is not powerful enough, is this true? (by power on I mean from
when I press the power switch to the POST screen) Takes about 5~8 seconds
(and sometimes forever) on my comp while on other computers its
instantaneous. I can always unplug 2 fans and one of my CD and FDD drives
since i dont need/use them much, will that help at all or do I have to get
the massive 550W PSUs on offer now?
Click to expand...

What brand of power supply?

Slow power-on is more often a symptom of a failing power supply. If
you have a voltage meter you might check voltage levels before and
after power-on attempt, at the power supply motherboard connector
(from the back, where the wires enter, while it's plugged into the
board of course).

400W actual capacity, as would be seen from a decent name-brand unit,
is plenty for that system. It would probably run fine on a good 300W.
On the other hand, most generics, even though labeled as 550W, compare
poorly to a name-brand >300W.



Dave
 
What brand of power supply?
Click to expand...

Its an Antec 380W PSU.
Slow power-on is more often a symptom of a failing power supply. If
you have a voltage meter you might check voltage levels before and
after power-on attempt, at the power supply motherboard connector
(from the back, where the wires enter, while it's plugged into the
board of course).
400W actual capacity, as would be seen from a decent name-brand unit,
is plenty for that system. It would probably run fine on a good 300W.
On the other hand, most generics, even though labeled as 550W, compare
poorly to a name-brand >300W.
Click to expand...

Which brand would you recommend as the best or one of the best PSU makers?
 
Its an Antec 380W PSU.


Which brand would you recommend as the best or one of the best PSU makers?
Click to expand...

That Antec should be able to power the system, but no manufacturer has
a zero defect rate, including Antec. If it were my system I would
carefully inspect the motherboard capacitors, and if they looked OK,
then pull the power supply, let it sit unplugged for a few minutes,
then open it and inspect it as well. This is assuming you had already
checked the voltages if possible.

On the other hand, at this point it's still just a guess that the
power supply may be the problem. Substituting a different power
supply might be telling, but I'd try one you already had first.

PC Power & Cooling and Sparkle/Fortron are both good alternatives,
though Antec power supplies are generally fine too, though I could
understand if you wanted something else, IF it is the power supply
that's the problem. Of the above two alternatives I'd get at least
350W PC Power & Cooling or 400W Sparkle/Fortron for that system, even
though a lower capacity power supply might work you're better off
having more reserve capacity.


Dave
 
I just changed last weekend my PSU. I was using a 300 watts and now i am
using Antec 400 watts.

I am using a Athlon XP 1900+ with 2 hard drive, 1 zip, 1 burner. 2 fan on
the psu, 1 cpu fan and 1 case fan.

If you find your computer slow and your fan noise, if you can hear them,
play a humming sound and your PC seem to be loaded with drive s and all. Yes
i would suggest to change the PSU for one much more power.
Click to expand...

A neigbor ran a 1600 Athlon , burner and cdrom and an HD with a 250
Compusa PS for about a year. No problems. He recently upgraded to a
Antec 300 watt though.

Im running two HDs, 2 burners + DVD reader , two soundcards, TV tuner,
420 mx athlon 1700 with a 400 watt Antec and was using a 400 watt
Compusa - when I had 2 more HDs for awhile.

Im planning to move up to an ATI 9700 soon.
 
Thanks everyone! turns out i didnt have to swop the 230W PSU, it ran the
1700+ CPU fine. I'll find time to take my comp apart and examine the Antec
as youve suggested
 
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