New PSU for Compaq Presario

[Yuggs]

Hello,

I have a Compaq Presario SR1053WM. Right now I have a 250 watt power supply but I need at least a 350 watt PSU to power an Nvidia 6800GT videocard.

I've been looking into getting a new power supply but Compaq customer support tells me that I shouldn't upgrade because 250 watts is their "tested limit" and that an upgrade could damage my system. Then I've heard from various tech sites that it should be safe to upgrade my PSU. I don't know whether to make heads or tails of this and that's why I need your help.

Has anyone ever heard of someone successfully upgrading a Compaq Presario's power supply? Also, what power supplies would you suggest for my system?

Here are some specs for my system:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c00069442#doc

Here are some actual images of my current PSU:

http://img262.echo.cx/img262/9819/10025863bt.jpg

http://img262.echo.cx/img262/6725/10025875ry.jpg

http://img262.echo.cx/img262/9629/10025882gy.jpg

http://img262.echo.cx/img262/9962/10025936zo.jpg

 

[thematrixhazuneo]

You should have no issues at all upgrading your PSU w/ more power. The only problem you will find is finding one that will fit those proprietary cases (sp?) Meaning your 250watt PSU is most likely Physicaly small.

 

[Yuggs]

Well I've measured it and it seems to be about the same as this PC Power and Cooling PSU:

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=T42DX

I'm just not sure if or how this PSU will work with my computer. There is a 20 pin connector on that PSU and that's what my motherboard has, and it seems to have enough 4-pin connectors, but I have no clue if my system will actually accept it.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by yuggs on 06/30/05 03:19 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Crashman]

Modern Compaqs use standard power. No, there is no such thing as "too much power", power supplies only output as much as drawn.

Here's an analogy: You use the same power socket in your house to power a 1.5W LED nightlight and an 1800W microwave! So are you going to blow the 1.5w night light by putting 1800W to it? NO, the nightlight doesn't DRAW that much current. The same is true of your power supply.

Or you can do the math, V=IR, Volts equals Amps (I) times Resistance in Ohms. It's easy to see that with V and R constant, amps cannot go up.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Yuggs]

Yeah Crashman, I understand how the drawing of power works (for the most part). I think my only problem is knowing whether or not this PSU will work with my system:

Main page:

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=T42DX

Manual:

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/support/docs/T42DX.htm

Specs:

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/assets/T42DX/specs.pdf

My system:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c00069442#doc

Also, what are Serial ATA connectors used for? Will I need them and should they affect my purchase?

 

[Crashman]

That's a standard board (well, substandard, but using standard power). That power supply will work, so as long as it fits, you're good to go.

Your case probably uses either that size or a shorter version (same backplate, reduced depth). The shorter version is MUCH shorter, so you'd know simply by looking.

The next power supply size down looks nothing like this, so yes you can go by looks.

I wouldn't spend that much on a power supply, but feel free!

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Yuggs]

Crashman, do you have any suggestions for a cheaper, but still high quality PSU that would fit my system right?

 

[Guest]

Crash really like Fortron Source. Unexpensive and under-rated (a 350W might output 380 or so...)

Asus P4P800DX, P4C 2.6ghz@3.25ghz, 2X512 OCZ PC4000 3-4-4-8, MSI 6800Ultra stock, 2X30gig Raid0

 

[Crashman]

350~410W

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

With HP and Compaq, if you find out the power supply is standard size, the other consideration is the location of the power plug and switch, because the hole in the back of the case is too small for mismatched locations. However, Newegg has GOOD pictures to go by, so I'd look there.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>