PSU Upgrade

GoldenIP · #1 05-09-2007, 04:12 AM

I've currently got a 300W PSU that came with the desktop PC I have. However, I'm concerned this is not providing enough power as my new graphics card alone recommends at least 350W PSU.

I'm competent enough to upgrade RAM and install a graphics card but upgrading a power supply looks like a nightmare. I know this probably sounds naive but is there an easy way of upgrading PSU without having to remove the existing one?

Perhaps an external PSU that I can literally plug in/bolt on to increase the power?

Thanks for the help.

Rhett · #2 05-09-2007, 04:31 AM

Cheap power supplies make your computer crash. 300W is almost certainly enough, but you only need a new power supply if the computer is crashing. A lot of computers have crappy power supplies, so people go way overboard and think they need a 500W power supply or something when they upgrade.

Another reason to upgrade a power supply is if you want a quieter one It sounds like you don't need a power supply.

You have to remove the existing power supply, but it isn't that hard. It's like putting together something from ikea.

kerowo · #3 05-09-2007, 07:57 AM

I'm in the same boat, I have a new vid card for my Vista machine so I can dual monitor but it requires a 350W PSU and the box only has a 300W. I just got finished swapping out the PSU on a different machine and while it isn't rocket science it was a large pain in the butt so I'm going to pay someone to do this one.

buckslayer80 · #4 05-09-2007, 10:48 AM

Disconnect and reconnect. No big deal.

kerowo · #5 05-09-2007, 11:31 AM

On the HP machine it wouldn't come out of the stupid case without removing more crap than I wanted to deal with. On the new case everything is hidden away and I don't even see where the plugs go into HD, DVD, and card readers. I've never been a hardware guy and this is beyond my 'put up with crap' threshold.

buckslayer80 · #6 05-09-2007, 12:51 PM

On small cases they can be a pain. On mid towers and above they're not bad.

SamIAm · #7 05-09-2007, 01:19 PM

[ QUOTE ]
On small cases they can be a pain. On mid towers and above they're not bad.

[/ QUOTE ]
QFT. Just hold the new PSU next to the old PSU and unplug one as you replug the other. Pretty straightforward, just lots of plugs.

kerowo · #8 05-09-2007, 01:41 PM

I agree it isn't hard, it's just a pain. I may end up doing it anyway because getting it to a shop will also be a pain.

Two questions about PSUs. Any way to verify that a replacement PSU has the right plugs to replace my existing one? Or is it safe to assume that a 350 or 400W one will have more plugs than a 300W one? And, for a mid tower is there a generic name for that sized PSU? Like ATX or something? I'm at work and can't find which Pavilion it is to look at the specs.

SamIAm · #9 05-09-2007, 01:47 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Any way to verify that a replacement PSU has the right plugs to replace my existing one? Or is it safe to assume that a 350 or 400W one will have more plugs than a 300W one? And, for a mid tower is there a generic name for that sized PSU? Like ATX or something? I'm at work and can't find which Pavilion it is to look at the specs.

[/ QUOTE ]
I've always found the cables I needed and the normal size by defaul. Maybe I've been lucky.

DQPaulie · #10 05-10-2007, 04:34 PM

This months issue of CPU magazine has a good article on PSU, well worth the $5 or whatever the issue cost. If it is still on the shelves.

Paulie