psu change

**MIG-31** · Aug 4, 2003, 10:11 PM

im planning on changing my jeantech 300w psu can anyone recomend a decent 350w minimum psu for p4.having a few problems with current one.

Necrosis · Aug 4, 2003, 10:15 PM

Antec True/Smart Power 350 sold almost everywhere.

kinetic · Aug 4, 2003, 10:18 PM

I have an Antec True Power 430 Watt but Enermax or Sparkle also make good PSU's. Take a look at Overclockers Johnny, they have a wide range.

Matth · Aug 4, 2003, 10:19 PM

A really GOOD PSU is expensive - but something like a 365W Enermax will quite likely outdo no-name 400, 450 or even 550 units.

Keep a lookout on www.scan.co.uk/todayonly - they usually feature power supplies at least once a week - and a bit off their usual prices.

If you go "no-name", go for WAY more power than you think you need!
Watch the combined load rating for 3.3/5v - some cheaper units can be rather weak in this area, building their rating on the 12v - or even by having far larger -V power than is needed.

kinetic · Aug 4, 2003, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Matth
Keep a lookout on www.scan.co.uk/todayonly - they usually feature power supplies at least once a week - and a bit off their usual prices.

.

Good call Matth, I use Scan a lot also!

~~craig588~~ · Aug 4, 2003, 10:23 PM

If you can afford it get a PC Power and Cooling PSU. I got a 550watt one and its stock voltages were locked in at 3.3,5 and 12. It also has 3 dials that you can manually increase the voltage with. I have mine giving out 3.5,5.2 and 12.3. Not only that, but they rate their power supplies with much harder tests. A competitors 550watt PSU could only rate like 270watts in their tests.

Hmm, I sound like an advertisement.

toddsmack2k · Aug 5, 2003, 04:40 AM

Dont forget about Sparkle PSU's. Rock solid baby!

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 5, 2003, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnybravo
im planning on changing my jeantech 300w psu can anyone recomend a decent 350w minimum psu for p4.having a few problems with current one.

get a duel fan psu and i'd reccomnd getting 400w due to the small price diffrene and the fact that most psu are Overrated...

i have been useing this one... i've bult hundreds ot systems one best i have found "bang for the buck wise"

A1 Electronics

400W ATXswitching Dual Fan Power Supply Pentium 4 /AMD Approved Retail Box

http://www.dealsonic.com/a140pe4atxsw.html

cost $33

watch out for overated psu's !!!!!

look here ...

Inadequate and Deceptive Product Labeling:Comparison of 21 Power Supplies
http://www17.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/index.html

brazilian · Aug 5, 2003, 06:13 AM

Hello ;-)

To understand a little bit more, read this veeeery nice article... it's easy to understand.
PSU is a very overlooked topic, which brings ya lots of problems....

http://firingsquad.gamers.com/guides...ly/default.asp

cheers

**MIG-31** · Aug 5, 2003, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kinetic
I have an Antec True Power 430 Watt but Enermax or Sparkle also make good PSU's. Take a look at Overclockers Johnny, they have a wide range.

allready have looked at o/c site.theres 1 or 2 of theres im looking at.often use d o/c site a few times previous,just ordered a sapphire 9600pro from them yesterday thats partly why i want a change of psu.

thanx

Judas · Aug 5, 2003, 07:01 AM

I got a taste of Enermax.... i must say, they make the best damn Dual Fan systems... EXCELLENT.... wattage range is amazing as well.... 300/350/400/450/500's

**MIG-31** · Aug 5, 2003, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Judas
I got a taste of Enermax.... i must say, they make the best damn Dual Fan systems... EXCELLENT.... wattage range is amazing as well.... 300/350/400/450/500's

thats the most likely the brand i going for.are they relativly silent.dont want it to sound like a jet!

Matth · Aug 5, 2003, 10:09 PM

Some interesting info - such as the power DISTRIBUTION as well as the outright max being important.

A PSU can be weak on one rail, while adequate on others - and the balence often favours what is easier to points-score with.

My new 400w to go in (un-named LPG2-40 model)
+3.3v 22A (same on 450w / 25A on 520w)
+5v 30A (35, 40)
+12v 15A (18, 18)
-5v 0.5
-12v 0.8
5vSB 3A

Combined 3.3/5 power - 180w (220, 250)

Dual fan, gold colour case, power out but no switch
WIRE fan guards on both fans (usually less noise / more airflow than more restrictive punched openings)

Necrosis · Aug 6, 2003, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnybravo
allready have looked at o/c site.theres 1 or 2 of theres im looking at.often use d o/c site a few times previous,just ordered a sapphire 9600pro from them yesterday thats partly why i want a change of psu.

thanx

I'd still say get the new PSU just for peace of mind and future proofing but your Geforce 4 consumes more than your 9600 will.

brazilian · Aug 6, 2003, 02:11 AM

Hey Matth... your specification @ +5v rail is VERY poor, and at +12v it could be at the bottleneck.... I saw 300w psu with the same description as you said.

**MIG-31** · Aug 6, 2003, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Necrosis
I'd still say get the new PSU just for peace of mind and future proofing but your Geforce 4 consumes more than your 9600 will.

thanx for thay advice didnt know the power consumption were greater on the ti.

Matth · Aug 6, 2003, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brazilian
Hey Matth... your specification @ +5v rail is VERY poor, and at +12v it could be at the bottleneck.... I saw 300w psu with the same description as you said.

And that's the new one - in it at the moment, is a generic 300w (that survived a cooking when the fan failed) - replaced the fan and it worked, but I'm worried it may have taken a bit too much punishment - and I want the dual fan setup to improve cooling

http://www.dealsonic.com/a140pe4atxsw.html
Compared to this one mentioned earlier, it's actually:

Better on 3.3, same on 5, but a bit worse on combined power
And the same on 12

It's not a huge system, only one HD, plus DVD-ROM, CD-RW and an old Iomega Ditto tape.
Athlon 1200 / 384Mb SDRAM.

BUS load may be a shade high though.
Geforce 2MX (I might put something a bit faster in later, but it's only AGP1 / 3.3v)
SB Live
Ethernet (Intel 82558)
Modem (Intel HaM)
SCSI (Adaptec 2940U/UW) - for scanner
Ditto dash tape controller

Plus (at the moment) One 500mA and One 100mA USB load - and a couple of no-power

Maybe I should have bit the bullet and gone for a big-name! - or the 550w QTEC - though my experience with a 400w QTEC with drastically out of spec -v rails put me off them

Judas · Aug 6, 2003, 07:19 PM

My enermax fans are relitively quite.... .the fans can be auto adjusted or manually... (mines a dual 350)... the psu came with everything i needed and then some.... some of the main connectors were wrapped with nylon to keep the mess of wires neat and tidy..... And the length of them is a bit to much if you have a mini sized atx where the psu has to be mounted sideways.. if you have a standard case to a huge tower...the cables will reach easily.... And i've found my enermax to feal clean in the sence that when i've check some reviews... (like the latest one posted here on dh's news), i'm a little happier...

Aug 4, 2003, 10:11 PM	#1
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,821 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	psu change im planning on changing my jeantech 300w psu can anyone recomend a decent 350w minimum psu for p4.having a few problems with current one. __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Aug 5, 2003, 04:40 AM	#7
toddsmack2k It Never..... Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,173 Rep Power: 0	Dont forget about Sparkle PSU's. Rock solid baby! __________________ [color=blue]*Bleeding From the Inside Pouring Out, The* *DriverHeaven* Spiral, We Shall Never Let Go Of.[/color]

Aug 5, 2003, 06:13 AM	#9
brazilian DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brazil - Sâo Paulo Posts: 77 Rep Power: 0	Hello ;-) To understand a little bit more, read this veeeery nice article... it's easy to understand. PSU is a very overlooked topic, which brings ya lots of problems.... http://firingsquad.gamers.com/guides...ly/default.asp cheers __________________ A7V133 Rev 1.05 BrazilianTech 1010b Expert Bios 2200+ Tbred-b @ 2.26Ghz \| Vcore-1.7 \| 134x17 - most stable setting so far Thermaltake Volcano 7+ @ Medium ATI Radeon 9500 128mb SoftModed to 9700 @ 310mem/350clock Micron 768mb PC133 SoundBlaster Live! Value @ pci#3 Maxtor 30Gb 7200rpm 2mb cache ATA100 Troni FullTower Case with 500W Power suply + 3 80mm Case fans Slackware 8.1 & Windows Xp Pro Sp1

Aug 6, 2003, 02:11 AM	#15
brazilian DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brazil - Sâo Paulo Posts: 77 Rep Power: 0	Hey Matth... your specification @ +5v rail is VERY poor, and at +12v it could be at the bottleneck.... I saw 300w psu with the same description as you said. __________________ A7V133 Rev 1.05 BrazilianTech 1010b Expert Bios 2200+ Tbred-b @ 2.26Ghz \| Vcore-1.7 \| 134x17 - most stable setting so far Thermaltake Volcano 7+ @ Medium ATI Radeon 9500 128mb SoftModed to 9700 @ 310mem/350clock Micron 768mb PC133 SoundBlaster Live! Value @ pci#3 Maxtor 30Gb 7200rpm 2mb cache ATA100 Troni FullTower Case with 500W Power suply + 3 80mm Case fans Slackware 8.1 & Windows Xp Pro Sp1

Aug 4, 2003, 10:15 PM	#2
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Antec True/Smart Power 350 sold almost everywhere.

Aug 4, 2003, 10:18 PM	#3
kinetic DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester England Posts: 2,559 Rep Power: 0	I have an Antec True Power 430 Watt but Enermax or Sparkle also make good PSU's. Take a look at Overclockers Johnny, they have a wide range.

Aug 4, 2003, 10:19 PM	#4
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	A really GOOD PSU is expensive - but something like a 365W Enermax will quite likely outdo no-name 400, 450 or even 550 units. Keep a lookout on www.scan.co.uk/todayonly - they usually feature power supplies at least once a week - and a bit off their usual prices. If you go "no-name", go for WAY more power than you think you need! Watch the combined load rating for 3.3/5v - some cheaper units can be rather weak in this area, building their rating on the 12v - or even by having far larger -V power than is needed.

Aug 4, 2003, 10:23 PM	#6
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	If you can afford it get a PC Power and Cooling PSU. I got a 550watt one and its stock voltages were locked in at 3.3,5 and 12. It also has 3 dials that you can manually increase the voltage with. I have mine giving out 3.5,5.2 and 12.3. Not only that, but they rate their power supplies with much harder tests. A competitors 550watt PSU could only rate like 270watts in their tests. Hmm, I sound like an advertisement.

Aug 5, 2003, 10:09 PM	#13
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Some interesting info - such as the power DISTRIBUTION as well as the outright max being important. A PSU can be weak on one rail, while adequate on others - and the balence often favours what is easier to points-score with. My new 400w to go in (un-named LPG2-40 model) +3.3v 22A (same on 450w / 25A on 520w) +5v 30A (35, 40) +12v 15A (18, 18) -5v 0.5 -12v 0.8 5vSB 3A Combined 3.3/5 power - 180w (220, 250) Dual fan, gold colour case, power out but no switch WIRE fan guards on both fans (usually less noise / more airflow than more restrictive punched openings)