What Power Supply To Buy as a Replacement

  • Thread starter Thread starter Thomas Collins Jr
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Thomas Collins Jr

My computer is:

HP Pavilion 8710 (Configurable)
Serial Number US04954376
Purchase Date 12/01/2000
System # D7205U
Support ID: 03-7205-U000-0495-4376
MOBO: ASUS MEW-AM Rev 2.01 (FC-PGA 370 Socket)
512MB SDRAM, 810e Chipset, Celeron 667

I am buying the upgrade CPU kit from Stratton Computer to go to a
Celeron 1.3GHz. I also have order a Plextor 612A DVD±R/W Drive.
Installed already is a Plextor CDR/RW drive which I am leaving in and
pulling out the HP Colorado 4/8GB Tape Drive.

My question is, there is no markings on the Power Supply as to the
supplied Wattage. So I want to replace it with a 350W supply. But, I
have no idea if these power supplies are standard plugins or not? Do
I buy a ATX and it will fit and have the proper connections?

I have sent two messages to HP Support over the past two weeks with no
reply. Any help on buying a PS replacement would be appreciated.


Thanks & Regards,
Tom
HP Pavilion 8710 Configurable
MoBo ASUS MEW-AM Rev. 2.01
Intel 810e Chipset
Celeron 667
512MB
250GBHD (Windows 2000/SP4), 40GB (RedHat Linux)
 
I believe that HP uses PROPRIETARY power supply units, so an off-the-shelf
unit from a computer store will probably NOT work with the HP case,
motherboard, etc.
 
DaveW said:
I believe that HP uses PROPRIETARY power supply units, so an off-the-shelf
unit from a computer store will probably NOT work with the HP case,
motherboard, etc.
Click to expand...

All recent Pavilions I've seen use ATX power supplies. In older cases
they are smaller to fit in the cases they use (a micro ATX supply). You
can get small supplies from Antec.

Measure the distance from front to back (as installed in the computer)
for the power supply. Look at how close the CD drives and their
connectors are from the supply. A generic ATX replacement supply may be
too large for your case.

As others will mention, buying a new case and power supply may be easier.

craigm
 
Some older HP units use the ATX power supply with one extra connector to the MB.
This is difference from generic ATX power supply.

Dewaine
 
I'll confirm that HP Pentium 3 and Celeron (and even AMD Duron/Athlon) systems
use power supplies and motherboards with a standard ATX power connector. The
form factors of the HP power supplies are not generic. They are smaller than
the usual, and you are quite unlikely to find a 350w power supply in that size.
You MIGHT be able to find a 200w power supply in a size that fits your HP case.


HP Support is an oxymoron, especially with Pavilion systems and especially with
older systems. HP will do nothing to help you with aftermarket system upgrades.
They'd rather you would replace the system.

You are better off buying a new case with 350w power supply, gutting the HP
case, and putting all the good stuff in the new case. It will cost you less in
the long run, and you will not be wasting your time chasing down a rare
(possibly non-existent) small-sized power supply... Ben Myers
 
My computer is:

HP Pavilion 8710 (Configurable)
Serial Number US04954376
Purchase Date 12/01/2000
System # D7205U
Support ID: 03-7205-U000-0495-4376
MOBO: ASUS MEW-AM Rev 2.01 (FC-PGA 370 Socket)
512MB SDRAM, 810e Chipset, Celeron 667

I am buying the upgrade CPU kit from Stratton Computer to go to a
Celeron 1.3GHz. I also have order a Plextor 612A DVD±R/W Drive.
Installed already is a Plextor CDR/RW drive which I am leaving in and
pulling out the HP Colorado 4/8GB Tape Drive.

My question is, there is no markings on the Power Supply as to the
supplied Wattage. So I want to replace it with a 350W supply.
Click to expand...

OK, but you don't need a 350W supply for the aforementioned
parts. A decent 250W would be sufficient, or a good
180-200W should do the job. However, if the case was
engineered to only provide single-point exaust from the PSU,
then you may have a PSU getting hotter with these upgrades.
But, I
have no idea if these power supplies are standard plugins or not? Do
I buy a ATX and it will fit and have the proper connections?
Click to expand...

Google search for power supply dimensions. Identify/measure
yours and compare. Some HP used full-sized PSU, others
often used a shorter (PS/3?) type that allowed them to make
the case shallower - in such cases a full ATX psu would fit
but it'd block the back of the drive bays. It doesn't help
that HP made almost identical looking cases with either
configuration, I happen to have a couple examples here but
they've already been gutted, I have no idea if either was
your model.

HP did generally use standard wiring pinout for the
motherboard connector, it is most likely electrically ATX
compatible even if a proprietary shape/size casing.
Determining that casing form-factor is the first step if you
really want to replace it. It's probably not actually
"proprietary" but might be less common than full ATX (PS2)
or mATX.

I have sent two messages to HP Support over the past two weeks with no
reply. Any help on buying a PS replacement would be appreciated.


Thanks & Regards,
Tom
HP Pavilion 8710 Configurable
MoBo ASUS MEW-AM Rev. 2.01
Intel 810e Chipset
Celeron 667
512MB
250GBHD (Windows 2000/SP4), 40GB (RedHat Linux)
Click to expand...

If you're using the integrated video rather than an add-on
card, the odds are pretty good that your current PSU will be
sufficient. A Celeron 1.3 is not (relatively speaking) a
very needy CPU when it comes to power. Swapping the tape
drive for the optical is going to be a trival difference.

If you took a good hi-res picture of the side with the cover
off (posted to seperate server, not to the newsgroup) and
linked to it, we could probably figure out what you're
dealing with.
 
Well there is a Computer God after all.... got a reply from HP
Technical and they told me the PS was a standard 185W ATX form one.
Also said any ATX PS will fit into the case I have, even a 380W which
they said was overkill, but it's what I want to use. I ordered a
Coolergiant, 380W ATX Power Supply from Cyberguys.com, Part 162-0625.
If per chance it does't fit ie. HP lied to me I'll send it back and
get a new Case with a larger PS.

Thanks for all the help.


My computer is:

HP Pavilion 8710 (Configurable)
Serial Number US04954376
Purchase Date 12/01/2000
System # D7205U
Support ID: 03-7205-U000-0495-4376
MOBO: ASUS MEW-AM Rev 2.01 (FC-PGA 370 Socket)
512MB SDRAM, 810e Chipset, Celeron 667

I am buying the upgrade CPU kit from Stratton Computer to go to a
Celeron 1.3GHz. I also have order a Plextor 612A DVD±R/W Drive.
Installed already is a Plextor CDR/RW drive which I am leaving in and
pulling out the HP Colorado 4/8GB Tape Drive.

My question is, there is no markings on the Power Supply as to the
supplied Wattage. So I want to replace it with a 350W supply. But, I
have no idea if these power supplies are standard plugins or not? Do
I buy a ATX and it will fit and have the proper connections?

I have sent two messages to HP Support over the past two weeks with no
reply. Any help on buying a PS replacement would be appreciated.


Thanks & Regards,
Tom
HP Pavilion 8710 Configurable
MoBo ASUS MEW-AM Rev. 2.01
Intel 810e Chipset
Celeron 667
512MB
250GBHD (Windows 2000/SP4), 40GB (RedHat Linux)
Click to expand...

Thanks & Regards,
Tom
HP Pavilion 8710 Configurable
MoBo ASUS MEW-AM Rev. 2.01
Intel 810e Chipset
Celeron 667
512MB
250GBHD (Windows 2000/SP4), 40GB (RedHat Linux)
 
Too many hype only wattage and price because that is their
extent of knowledge. However power supplies must include
other essential functions. It is does, then manufacturer will
state them in writing. To provide those functions, a power
supply should retail at about $65. If your Coolergiant does
not, then it may cause future computer damage.

#1 information before selecting any power supply. Does
manufacturer provide a long list of numerical specs? Not a
glossy colored sales brochure. How to dump power supplies
that are missing essential functions but increase profits?
Don't provide numbers that define essential functions. Then
when things fail, many buy UPSes, blame damage on surges,
etc. Where are specs for that Coolergiant? Why are specs not
immediately available?

Why do so many hype 300 and 400 watt power supplies? It and
price are the only two specification numbers some understand.
Then when damage results from those other missing functions,
blame everyone except the human who did not first demand
numerical specs.

The 185 watt supply was large enough - in part probably
because it really was 185 watts. Is that 380 watt supply
really 380 watts? How would you know. Many power supplies
provide so little numbers that the 380 watt supply may only be
a 250 watt supply. How would you know if they did not provide
a full sheet plus of numerical specifications?

More watts does not mean higher quality. Once a supply
provides sufficient wattage, then additional watts provide
nothing useful. But manufacturers will hype watts so they
need not include those other essential functions.
 
w_tom said:
More watts does not mean higher quality. Once a supply
provides sufficient wattage, then additional watts provide
nothing useful. But manufacturers will hype watts so they
need not include those other essential functions.
Click to expand...

Just what features are you talking about? Are these things that go
beyond the specification for an ATX supply?

craigm
 
Let's see:

An ATX connector.
A 12v auxiliary connector for P4, Socket 478 Celeron and high-end AMD systems.
An optional 3-wire lead for thermostatic control of the power supply fan.
One or more connectors for floppy drives and similar devices.
A number (3? 4? 5? 6?) of 4-pin connectors for disk drives, CD-ROM drives and
the like.
A reputation for reliability (e.g. Antec, PC Power & Cooling, Delta, Liteon) to
go with an accurate specification of power supply wattage.
An optional on-off rocker switch on the back of the power supply.

I can't think of anything else in the way of features or essential functions.

.... Ben Myers
 
Thomas Collins Jr:
I ordered a Coolergiant, 380W ATX Power Supply from Cyberguys.com
Click to expand...

Supposed to be an excellent quality PSU, should last you for a while. I
hate to tell you though that Zipzoomfly has them for $68 shipped.
 
Just what features are you talking about? Are these things that go
beyond the specification for an ATX supply?

craigm
Click to expand...

As a quick non scientific check: lift a cheapie and a QUALITY one. The
differance is most likly more and probably parts. nuf said.
 
Just a short list of functions that every power supply must
include and that can be 'forgotten' in discounted supplies:
Acoustics noise 25.8dBA typical at 70w, 30cm
Short circuit protection on all outputs
Over voltage protection
Over power protection
100% hi-pot test
100% burn in, high temperature cycled on/off
PFC harmonics compliance: EN61000-3-2 + A1 + A2
EMI/RFI compliance: CE, CISPR22 & FCC part 15 class B
Safety compliance: VDE, TUV, D, N, S, Fi, UL, C-UL & CB
Hold up time, full load: 16ms. typical
Efficiency; 100-120VAC and full range: >65%
Dielectric withstand, input to frame/ground: 1800VAC, 1sec.
Dielectric withstand, input to output: 1800VAC, 1sec.
Ripple/noise: 1%
MTBF, full load @ 25°C amb.: >100k hrs
Many of these functions are also required by ATX specs but are
often missing is 'so called' ATX power supplies. Good reason
to not provide any numerical specs. How to get the price
below $40? Just forget to include some functions. Most
computer assemblers would never know the difference.

What's in your power supply?
 
Those certainly are useful functions in an ATX power supply. Except for the
well-known name brands, it's like getting a root canal to find out this level of
detailed information from a manufacturer of power supplies. And in a name-brand
computer? Forget about it. All one can do with a name brand computer is to
take on faith that the name brand stands for some level of product quality with
full compliance to industry standards... Ben Myers
 
Brand name computers routinely include those power supply
functions in their products. BTW, those posted spec numbers
are directly from specification sheet provided by one power
supply manufacturer.

Yes specs are difficult to obtain in America because so many
computer assemblers don't even have basic electrical
knowledge. IOW Asian manufacturers have discovered a
profitable well of ignorance. Dumping inferior supplies into
North America is extremely profitable where eyes glaze over as
soon as numbers appear. Asia manufacturers cannot do same to
brand name computer manufacturers who use educated computer
designers.

One reason why so many power supply vendors will not provide
numerical specs? Their products don't meet those industry
standards. Even one replacement power supply sold by CompUSA
was defective. No problem. Those who demand quality are not
their market.

Does a power supply failure damage motherboard and disk
drive? Often heard in newsgroups. What that poster never
learned? A power supply with those necessary functions does
not damage rest of computer. Even during a complete power
supply failure - no damage. A missing function because the
human failed to first demand specs. Instead he blames damage
on power supply. Go figure.

Only one percent of consumers know what all those numbers
really say. But that one percent cannot blow the whistle if
numbers are not provided. One need not be an electrical
expert to select a good supply. No long list of numbers?
Then suspect the worst. There are too many responsible power
supply manufacturers out there to be 'bean counting' a scam
supply.

No numbers provided? Unfortunately too many computer
assemblers are bean counters. Only numbers these MBA types
seek are watts and price. They foolishly associate more watts
with higher quality. That is the joke in Tim Allen's "Home
Improvement". More power. These bean counter types never
understood the joke.

Worse, often an inferior supply does not output those watts.
No problem. They are marketing to computer assemblers with a
bean counter mentality. How common is the problem? Notice
how many power supplies don't provide the numerical
specifications. They are marketing to the so many computer
assemblers who don't even have basic electrical knowledge.
 
usually there standard, and some come with an adapter for certain types of
motherboards power connections. so it shouldn't be a problem for you to
hook up.and if you can go with at least a 400 plus power supply. but if you
have already bought it. well then you will eventually more than likely need
more, and if you decide to upgrade.
 
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