Changing parts in a prebuilt PC?
- Thread starter EamoDee
- Start date
Cdog042501
Honorable
- Mar 14, 2017
- 1,043
- 5
- 11,865
What is the company, as well as make/model?
Often companies use proprietary sized PSUs, or even if they use standard sized PSUs, they don't use the standard ATX cables to connect to the motherboard. Either of these design decisions make updating the PSUs in these builds basically impossible.
But if they have just used a standard ATX (or SFX) PSU with the standard ATX mobo connector + 4/8 PIN CPU power connector, then there should be no reason why you can't replace it.
Often companies use proprietary sized PSUs, or even if they use standard sized PSUs, they don't use the standard ATX cables to connect to the motherboard. Either of these design decisions make updating the PSUs in these builds basically impossible.
But if they have just used a standard ATX (or SFX) PSU with the standard ATX mobo connector + 4/8 PIN CPU power connector, then there should be no reason why you can't replace it.
maestro0428
Splendid
- Apr 3, 2009
- 2,866
- 40
- 22,090
maestro0428
Splendid
- Apr 3, 2009
- 2,866
- 40
- 22,090
Yeah, thats not ATX. Probably SFX. Wait, is it a full tower, the images I am getting are both tower and desktop...
That was my question too... OP - "desktop" (tower) version, or SFF (small form factor) version?
I believe the tower version takes a standard ATX PSU, so you should be good to go (though warranty and support will be sacrificed). But SFF is going to be very difficult... probably impossible.
The good news is that the motherboard seems to use a standard 24Pin ATX connector and 4 Pin CPU power... which helps.
I'm basing that on this thread - which is hardly the most reputable source in the world, but it **seems** to be the case: https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkCentre-A-E-M-S-Series/M91p-SFF-power-supply-upgrade-what-do-I-need-to-know/td-p/3603332
The bad news is that the SFF units use a TFX power supply, which while still standard (good news), aren't really built for what you want to do.
Here's a Newegg list limited to TFX PSUs with 400W or more and one 6 Pin PCIe connector: https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=TFX+power+supply&ignorear=0&N=600479293%20600036427&isNodeId=1
There's about 10 of them, but none have an 80Plus certification, and I don't know the actual manufacturer for any of them. They might be fine, they might not, I really don't know.
Also, if you read the thread above you'll see that the person who managed the upgrade had problems with the standard SATA power connectors, the original were 90 degree ones, and having straight connectors were too long. You could probably rig something up, but 90 degree connectors would help.
Finally - are you sure you can fit a 1060 in that SFF case? You'd want to do some very careful measuring before laying out all your money. It doesn't look tall enough for a full sized card from the photo I saw, and while using a riser cable is fine in theory, it I can't see how there's going to be enough space for a full sized card in there. You've obviously got a 750ti... but is that single slot? Or half height?
Anyway, measure carefully!
OK - I did a bit more digging for you. According to this your PCIe slot is low profile only: https://support.lenovo.com/au/en/solutions/pd008634
I'm guessing you have a low-profile 750ti? Is that right?
In that case, the best GPU upgrade you can get right now is a 1050ti. Unless I'm badly mistaken there are no low profile GTX 1060s, and I don't expect that to change much. 120W + is asking a lot of a low profile cooler.
The good news is that a low profile 1050ti can be run on your current PSU. So no PSU upgrade required.
Again - just make sure you measure carefully before buying, but the 750ti and 1050ti need similar power, and a low profile 750ti must be dual slot (I'm guessing!), so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a compatible low profile 1050ti.
The bad news, of course, is that a 1050ti is nowhere near as powerful as a 1060. But it is a significant upgrade from your current card and should be able to run just about any game with respectable settings and frame rates. Unfortunately, that's about as much as you can get from that custom SFF build.
I'm guessing you have a low-profile 750ti? Is that right?
In that case, the best GPU upgrade you can get right now is a 1050ti. Unless I'm badly mistaken there are no low profile GTX 1060s, and I don't expect that to change much. 120W + is asking a lot of a low profile cooler.
The good news is that a low profile 1050ti can be run on your current PSU. So no PSU upgrade required.
Again - just make sure you measure carefully before buying, but the 750ti and 1050ti need similar power, and a low profile 750ti must be dual slot (I'm guessing!), so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a compatible low profile 1050ti.
The bad news, of course, is that a 1050ti is nowhere near as powerful as a 1060. But it is a significant upgrade from your current card and should be able to run just about any game with respectable settings and frame rates. Unfortunately, that's about as much as you can get from that custom SFF build.
Oh dear. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the only way you can use that graphics card is to buy a new computer.
I assume the 1060 hasn't arrived yet? You'll see as soon as it does that it's way too big for your machine. The full height PCIe brackets are 120mm, and your entire PC is only 100mm high... that before it's got anything in it. While some designs do support riser cables which can allow you to mount cards sideways, I just don't think there's the volume in your case for a full sized card.
Can you return the 1060? You really need to, unless you can afford a replacement computer.
In answer to your other question, a quality 400W PSU is enough for your machine. But, look on any PC building site and you'll see people begging builders to make sure they use decent quality power supplies. The problem with those 400W units is that we don't really know who makes them and whether they're any good.
Anyway - it's all a moot point now. You can't run a full sized card in that system anyway.
Return the 1060, buy a 1050ti **low profile**... **after** carefully measuring how much space you have in your case and making sure the replacement card is going to fit. Even some low profile cards may be too long, or too high for your case.
Actually mate... hang on.
There's one last bit of hope, worth checking... I'll post back in a sec.
**Updated**
- If your motherboard is a standard mATX or ITX design, then you can just move everything into a standard, off the shelf case.
Lenovo makes is really difficult to know whether that is in fact a standard, or whether they've build their own proprietary motherboard.
You would need to take some time and do some careful measurements.
The mATX standard determines several key things - all of which you need to be identical if you want to move the components to a new case:
1) Where the mounting points for the screws are on the motherboard (without these being in the right place, your motherboard can't be screwed into the standoffs on a standard case)
2) Where the expansion slots go (if these aren't standard, the PCIe slot for you graphics card won't be positioned correctly for the slot and mounting bracket on a standard case
3) Where the IO shield goes - that's the bit with all the sockets on the rear of the PC (if that doesn't line up, then you can't access your IO.
You'd have to do the research yourself. Either find out from forums or whatever, whether your mobo is a standard mITX or mATX. Or, do the measurements and try and figure out whether everything is positioned to spec. While complex, there's no reason, even as a 14 year old, that you couldn't do that if you were prepared to put the time and research in yourself. I'd be happy to help as I can, but that's a fair bit of work... it's on you really!
So I guess you have two options as I see it:
1) return the 1060 and find a low profile 1050ti (measure things carefully first this time!!)
2) Do the research to determine whether your board is standard, and if so, buy a new case and PSU, then you can use your 1060.
There's one last bit of hope, worth checking... I'll post back in a sec.
**Updated**
- If your motherboard is a standard mATX or ITX design, then you can just move everything into a standard, off the shelf case.
Lenovo makes is really difficult to know whether that is in fact a standard, or whether they've build their own proprietary motherboard.
You would need to take some time and do some careful measurements.
The mATX standard determines several key things - all of which you need to be identical if you want to move the components to a new case:
1) Where the mounting points for the screws are on the motherboard (without these being in the right place, your motherboard can't be screwed into the standoffs on a standard case)
2) Where the expansion slots go (if these aren't standard, the PCIe slot for you graphics card won't be positioned correctly for the slot and mounting bracket on a standard case
3) Where the IO shield goes - that's the bit with all the sockets on the rear of the PC (if that doesn't line up, then you can't access your IO.
You'd have to do the research yourself. Either find out from forums or whatever, whether your mobo is a standard mITX or mATX. Or, do the measurements and try and figure out whether everything is positioned to spec. While complex, there's no reason, even as a 14 year old, that you couldn't do that if you were prepared to put the time and research in yourself. I'd be happy to help as I can, but that's a fair bit of work... it's on you really!
So I guess you have two options as I see it:
1) return the 1060 and find a low profile 1050ti (measure things carefully first this time!!)
2) Do the research to determine whether your board is standard, and if so, buy a new case and PSU, then you can use your 1060.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Question No POST on new AM5 build - - - and the CPU & DRAM lights are on ?
- Started by Uknownflowet
- Replies: 13
-
-
-
Question Will a 120 watt inverter power my gaming laptop?
- Started by nelska
- Replies: 39
-
Question Slow BIOS Boot on MSI PRO Z790-A WIFI – Over 60 Seconds Before Windows Loads- Started by Hardestware
- Replies: 22
-
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram