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do I need a new PSU?

I

imz

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 7, 2006
Messages
83
I'm getting the x800xl most likely and my current PSU is 250W, someone on the video card forum section linked me to a manual by ATI recommending a 300W, how I'm thinking I might be able to run this with the stock PSU (250W) for I have made no mods to my pc except adding some ram and a dvd writer (which replaced a cd-rw writer). Someone also said due to my mobo, the consumption is already low thus I might be able to run it with my current PSU.

I have a P4, 2.4ghz, 1gig of ram, compaq brand

Will I be able to run the x800xl or do I need a new power supply?
 
It's very recommended that you get new PSU. To be on the safe side, get one that's at least 400W, for other upgrades and whatnot. SeaSonic is good, I hear.

But if you have the money, PC Power & Cooling is the way to go.
 
PC P&C is so expensive that most users won't spring for that. Seasonic, Fortron, OCZ, Enermax, Tagan, Antec, and a few others make solid PSUs. I'd spring for one of those in 400W+ configurations.
 
You may be stuck. Does you Compaq have a standard size PSU? If it's one of those compact PSU that HP (the owners of Compaq) was so keen on using for a while there, then you may be limited to what you can get.
 
ryan_975 said:
You may be stuck. Does you Compaq have a standard size PSU? If it's one of those compact PSU that HP (the owners of Compaq) was so keen on using for a while there, then you may be limited to what you can get.
Click to expand...

Good point. Last week, I had a guy with a dead PSU in an HP Pavilion. The damn power supply looked like an ATX power supply turned sideways. Really weird. I had to put all of his stuff in another case. :(
 
...I don't think I'm ever buying "over the shelf" PCs again. Nobody seems to follow accepted standards...odd sized this, proprietary that...my rant for the day.
 
coachjohn said:
...I don't think I'm ever buying "over the shelf" PCs again. Nobody seems to follow accepted standards...odd sized this, proprietary that...my rant for the day.
Click to expand...

I don't know, Dell seems to have learned their lesson from the motherboard/PSU fiasco from a few years back. and the eMachines I bought two years ago was great as far as standards go. Upgraded everything in that case and am now passing it on to my cousin.

Hell, I'vve bought "ATX" cases that had problems having things fit right. The problem usually consiste of a screw hole drilled in the wrong place, a drive bay too wide, motherboard standoff welded 1/32" off center. or the expansion slots too far one direction or another to where the cards either didn't fit or I couldn't screw them down without bending the bracket.
 
ryan_975 said:
...and the eMachines I bought two years ago was great as far as standards go.
Click to expand...

I'll tell you what, eMachine has been fan-freaking-tastic since Gateway bought them up. I bought two for my in-laws. All standard parts. Standard ATX PSU, standard FIC micro-ATX motherboard. I got some refurbs from Tiger for only $300 and they had Sempron 3400+, 512MB of RAM, 120GB SATA hard drive, DVD/CDRW... I couldn't build one for that cheap. When my wife's PC went on the fritz, instead of doing shotgun troubleshooting, I bought a refurb eMachine and stripped it for parts! I still have a legal copy of XP Home sitting here because of it. :D
 
One of my friends did tell me that I probably won't be able to find a PSU for my comp, I bought this from futureshop, "over the shelf" now I really wish I had built one..

He said that the PSU in HP and compaq computers can't be replaced because they are unique, and the compaq and HP wanted people to have to upgrade whole PCs and not just certain parts here and there..

So I may be stuck..I'm going to try and run this card seeing how I really have no other mods in my PC and am gonna play with case open..if anything I'll look for another PSU if my comp starts acting wierd.

Thanks for the help guys.
 
Not to sound mean, but you need a new computer in my opinion. Your current rig is really out of date for modern games and this is only compounded by the fact that upgrading it will be a pain in the ass.
Eg. Buy a new psu, you need to buy a new case. Buy a new case, you need to buy a new motherboard (might not be standard atx mobo). Buy a new motherboard, you need to buy a new cpu (do they still sell socket 478 mobos?). Buy a new cpu, you need to buy a new aftermarket cooler (stock hsf might have screws/dimensions out of whack. Not to mention, your rig has the power of a 105lbs girly man compared to my arnold schwarzzenegar rig.
 
imz said:
One of my friends did tell me that I probably won't be able to find a PSU for my comp, I bought this from futureshop, "over the shelf" now I really wish I had built one..

He said that the PSU in HP and compaq computers can't be replaced because they are unique, and the compaq and HP wanted people to have to upgrade whole PCs and not just certain parts here and there..

So I may be stuck..I'm going to try and run this card seeing how I really have no other mods in my PC and am gonna play with case open..if anything I'll look for another PSU if my comp starts acting wierd.

Thanks for the help guys.
Click to expand...

If you can take measurements of the power supply. (LxWxH) and post them on here. We'll let you know if it's a standard size or not. And his computer wiill do just fine in most games.


To the post above. The motherboard is a standard matx motherboard, it has a standard powersupply pinout, the only thing not standard is possibly the PSU's size, depending on how old his system is. Yes they still sell s478 MBs. I have never heard of a stock cooler not fitting, but I have heard plenty of stories about aftermarket coolers not lining up to all the holes before. And I have several friends that are still gaming with that class of machine.
 
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