235W power supply - maximum loading?

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Currently looking to upgrade a 1k Celeron system to a 2.6k Celeron.

After the new MB/Processor is installed, the system would retain the
following existing components;

1x 56k modem
1x nVidia Vanta 16 chipset AGP card
1x CDRW
1x DVD-ROM
1x 5400rpm HDD
1x 7200rpm HDD

Will the existing 235 watt PSU be sufficient to power the system, or would
I need to consider dropping a few items?
 
| Currently looking to upgrade a 1k Celeron system to a 2.6k Celeron.
|
| After the new MB/Processor is installed, the system would retain the
| following existing components;
|
| 1x 56k modem
| 1x nVidia Vanta 16 chipset AGP card
| 1x CDRW
| 1x DVD-ROM
| 1x 5400rpm HDD
| 1x 7200rpm HDD
|
| Will the existing 235 watt PSU be sufficient to power the system, or would
| I need to consider dropping a few items?

Consider getting a new, quality PSU of at least 300w, as 235w on today's
hardware is marginal at best. Run this test:

http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

I don't know how valid it is, but it might give you an idea of about where
you stand.
Then go buy an Antec Truepower or other high-quality PSU that'll fit your
present needs plus more to grow on.
 
Currently looking to upgrade a 1k Celeron system to a 2.6k Celeron.

After the new MB/Processor is installed, the system would retain the
following existing components;

1x 56k modem
1x nVidia Vanta 16 chipset AGP card
1x CDRW
1x DVD-ROM
1x 5400rpm HDD
1x 7200rpm HDD

Will the existing 235 watt PSU be sufficient to power the system, or would
I need to consider dropping a few items?
Click to expand...

Your proposed upgrade will significantly change the amperage
distribution, shifting to more 12V amps. Typically an old
235W PSU will not have sufficient 12V capacity but a newer
one, spec'd to ATX2.03 (has the P4, 4-pin 12V connector)
DOES have higher capacity and would be sufficient for those
parts, providing the power supply is accurately rated which
is much more likely if it's manufacturer's name-brand.

The new motherboard would need the 4-pin connector whether
it be a feature of a power supply or from an adapter bought
separately.
 
news:[email protected]...
Click to expand...
| Will the existing 235 watt PSU be sufficient to power the system, or would
| I need to consider dropping a few items?

Consider getting a new, quality PSU of at least 300w, as 235w on today's
hardware is marginal at best. Run this test:

http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

I don't know how valid it is, but it might give you an idea of about where
you stand.
Then go buy an Antec Truepower or other high-quality PSU that'll fit your
present needs plus more to grow on.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that.

My main concern was the effect of the change to the Northwood 478, so it
looks like I'll need to drop one each of the optical and hard drives (not a
biggie, but would have been preferable) to maintain most of the existing
configuration and components.

This is designed a minimum cost interim upgrade, intended to see it through
for another 2 years or so, before spec-building an all new system.

300/350W would definitely be the minimum spec that I would be looking at in
normal circumstances ie a new system.
 
Your proposed upgrade will significantly change the amperage
distribution, shifting to more 12V amps. Typically an old
235W PSU will not have sufficient 12V capacity but a newer
one, spec'd to ATX2.03 (has the P4, 4-pin 12V connector)
DOES have higher capacity and would be sufficient for those
parts, providing the power supply is accurately rated which
is much more likely if it's manufacturer's name-brand.
Click to expand...

Some useful information here.
The new motherboard would need the 4-pin connector whether
it be a feature of a power supply or from an adapter bought
separately.
Click to expand...

Fortunately the motherboard in question is an end-of-line transitional
(ASRock) which just uses the 20pin, so the existing pre-P4 ATX PSU will be
usable.

At this stage, it looks like I'll be leaving the 5400rpm and the DVD
unplugged...
 
Your proposed upgrade will significantly change the amperage
distribution, shifting to more 12V amps. Typically an old
235W PSU will not have sufficient 12V capacity but a newer
one, spec'd to ATX2.03 (has the P4, 4-pin 12V connector)
DOES have higher capacity and would be sufficient for those
parts, providing the power supply is accurately rated which
is much more likely if it's manufacturer's name-brand.
Click to expand...

Your reply prompted me to have a closer look at the specs of the PSU.

It would appear that it is fact a 250W PSU (most units I have come across
like this tend to be 235), with the following voltage profile:

+3.3V 16A
+5V 25A
+12V 9A
+5VSB 2A
-5V 0.5A
-12V 0.8A

This would indicate a theoretical design maximum of ~108W on the 12V line.
Would this be correct?
 
Your reply prompted me to have a closer look at the specs of the PSU.

It would appear that it is fact a 250W PSU (most units I have come across
like this tend to be 235), with the following voltage profile:

+3.3V 16A
+5V 25A
+12V 9A
+5VSB 2A
-5V 0.5A
-12V 0.8A

This would indicate a theoretical design maximum of ~108W on the 12V line.
Would this be correct?
Click to expand...

Theoretically, yes, except for the aforementioned isssue of
ratings-accuracy,generics are often not worth their labeled
amperage, wattage... in practice, you can only try it and
see. Taking voltage readings would be a good idea. The
optical drive is not much of a load, neither is hard drive
except when spinning up, you "might" be fine with current
PSU though an aging PSU might be less viable simply due to
age.

If the board does not use 4-pin connector, does not power
CPU VRM via 12V rail then the above PSU specs are sufficient
for powering the described system. I've not seen many
boards that power Celeron/P4 with the 4 pin connector
though, make sure it doesn't have one.
 
# said:
Currently looking to upgrade a 1k Celeron system to a 2.6k Celeron.

After the new MB/Processor is installed, the system would retain the
following existing components;

1x 56k modem
1x nVidia Vanta 16 chipset AGP card
1x CDRW
1x DVD-ROM
1x 5400rpm HDD
1x 7200rpm HDD
Click to expand...
the motherboard in question is an end-of-line transitional
(ASRock) which just uses the 20pin, so the existing pre-P4
ATX PSU will be usable.
Click to expand...
It would appear that it is fact a 250W PSU
Click to expand...
+3.3V 16A
+5V 25A
+12V 9A
+5VSB 2A
-5V 0.5A
-12V 0.8A

This would indicate a theoretical design maximum of ~108W on
the 12V line. Would this be correct?
Click to expand...

The best power needs estimator is probably at
http://takaman.jp/D/?english , and unlike others it gives not only the
total watts (and doesn't seem to overstate them nearly as much as some
estimators do) but also the amps per voltage, although I've found that
its +3.3V estimates can be way too low, usually by a factor of three.

Because your mobo uses only a 20-pin connector, almost all the power
will come from the +3.3V and +5.0V, and the combined power from these
could be as much as 180W, but most 250W PSUs are rated for only
125-150W combined power.

What brand is your PSU? Some are a lot worse than others. For
example, I had a 250W PSU (PC Power & Cooling used the 300W version it
as an example of a bad PSU -
www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/insidestory/img/mast.jpg)
that it couldn't run a 1.3 GHz Duron with only a low-power graphics
card for more than 30 seconds at a time.
 
... I've not seen many
boards that power Celeron/P4 with the 4 pin connector
though, ...
Click to expand...

Should've read:

I've not seen many boards that power Celeron/P4 withOUT the
4 pin connector though,
 
It's more than adequate:

Intel Celeron 2.6G Socket 478
ECS l4s8a2
512 MB RAM
ATI Rage 128 AGP
120 GB Hard Drive
Samsung DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive
Floppy Drive
Power Supply: TTGI TT-340SS
Power (CPU 0 - 1 %): 63 Watts; PF: .67
(CPU 100 %): 108 Watts; PF: .68
 
I had a similar system except 1 DVD-RW and no CD-R toast a 200W supply,
assuming you have a sound card. I was lucky the PS can take other things
with it.
Good Luck
 
Will the existing 235 watt PSU be sufficient to power the system, or would
I need to consider dropping a few items?
Click to expand...

No chance. My old 235W was seriously underpowered for my AMD 2600+ upgrade
and crashed frequently when heavy disk access was made. It had fewer drives,
too.

Don't drop items, get a bigger PSU. You can get them without the case if you
like your existing one.

Christian.
 
No chance. My old 235W was seriously underpowered for my AMD 2600+ upgrade
and crashed frequently when heavy disk access was made. It had fewer drives,
too.

Don't drop items, get a bigger PSU. You can get them without the case if you
like your existing one.

Christian.
Click to expand...

Well there definitely IS a chance, SFF systems power similar
with 180-200W PSU.
 
kony said:
Well there definitely IS a chance, SFF systems power similar
with 180-200W PSU.
Click to expand...

I had a 195W supply(for a P4) in a MATX case. The system started with P4
2.4GHZ, AIW 128Pro, Audigy2, 1HD, and a floppy. Used a USB2 CD burner. Then
I replaced the floppy with another HD. OK so far. Then I put in an internal
DVD burner. Lasted about a week. The supply was marginal at best for a P4
system. Still had 2 empty PCI slots.

Yes it might work but he's on the edge. If it goes it might take other
components with it. It could lead to losing data on the drives. He won't be
able to use the computer till he gets another PS. His call. When I had to
replace the PS in the MATX case I couldn't find a bigger supply to fit it so
had to buy a bigger case. It came with a 250W supply which was still just
enough. I learned my lesson so when I replaced the old AIW with a AIW9600
and HDTV Wonder the computer also got a 350W supply. Still have the 250 for
a less hungry system. YMMV
 
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