Are barebone PSUs of a standard form factor?

[Matt]

Are the power supplies that come in today's barebone systems of a
standard form factor?

Are they practically interchangable among the several brands of barebone
systems? Where can you buy them? What do you do when one goes out?

Reading the newegg customer reviews of one of the popular Shuttle boxes,
I get the idea that the PSUs are unreliable.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...6-101-217&catalog=3&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...6-101-410&catalog=3&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...6-115-003&catalog=3&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...6-115-005&catalog=3&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0

 

[John McGaw]

Are the power supplies that come in today's barebone systems of a
standard form factor?

Are they practically interchangable among the several brands of barebone
systems? Where can you buy them? What do you do when one goes out?

Reading the newegg customer reviews of one of the popular Shuttle boxes,
I get the idea that the PSUs are unreliable.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...6-101-217&catalog=3&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...6-101-410&catalog=3&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...6-115-003&catalog=3&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...6-115-005&catalog=3&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0

The little Shuttle units you cite aren't really "standard" unless you
consider one manufacturer's design to constitute a standard. I've not heard
of any serious problems with Shuttle's little systems' PSs (I just built one
myself!) but anything is possible. The PS units in these system are long
thin cases which extend most of the length of the enclosure on the right
side. I don't know of any second-source PSs that will fit the tiny Shuttle
systems. But maybe I should start looking for one myself.

 

[Al Dykes]

The little Shuttle units you cite aren't really "standard" unless you
consider one manufacturer's design to constitute a standard. I've
of any serious problems with Shuttle's little systems' PSs (I just
myself!) but anything is possible. The PS units in these system are long
thin cases which extend most of the length of the enclosure on the right
side. I don't know of any second-source PSs that will fit the tiny
systems. But maybe I should start looking for one myself.

Isn't part of the mini-itx form factor spec the shape of the power
supply ? I thnk it is. The fact that it's a standard doesn't mean
that they are for sale as seperate components. A base case is cheap
enough. If I need a replacement I'll just buy another case.

I don't trust these power supplies, either. Specifically I don't like
tiny fans, in general. Not enough spare torque to start after they
have a year's dust has accumulated.

 

[JT]

Isn't part of the mini-itx form factor spec the shape of the power
supply ? I thnk it is. The fact that it's a standard doesn't mean
that they are for sale as seperate components. A base case is cheap
enough. If I need a replacement I'll just buy another case.

I don't trust these power supplies, either. Specifically I don't like
tiny fans, in general. Not enough spare torque to start after they
have a year's dust has accumulated.

Problem is: Those Shuttles are not mini-itx. They are "xpc", which is a
Shuttle creation. Mini-ITX is different. They are both derived from
ATX/Micro-ATX, but they are similar but not the same thing.

JT

 

[Matt]

I don't know of any second-source PSs that will fit the tiny Shuttle
systems. But maybe I should start looking for one myself.

Maybe. See the reviews for:

Shuttle XPC Barebone System for Socket A at 333/400MHz FSB AMD CPU,
Model SN45G

At:

http://secure.newegg.com/app/CustratingReview.asp?item=56-101-410