Powers supply

[John]

My computer had a 150W power supply.It went kaput. I have come across
a 250w power supply.

Is it ok to use 250W where I originally had 150W.

Also how does one know?

 

[gerry]

My computer had a 150W power supply.It went kaput. I have come across
a 250w power supply.

Is it ok to use 250W where I originally had 150W.

Also how does one know?

The numbers seem pretty small. I use a 350 and a 500 in my two
computers. I'd suggest a good 300w minimum.

Bigger won't hurt. Smaller will choke.

 

[David Maynard]

The numbers seem pretty small. I use a 350 and a 500 in my two
computers. I'd suggest a good 300w minimum.

And on what basis do you arrive at this power estimate when there's not one
clue as to what comprises his system?

Bigger won't hurt. Smaller will choke.

Bigger will 'hurt' if it don't fit in the hole and at 150 Watt it very well
could be a SFX form factor micro-ATX PSU as found in gaggles of E-Machines
and HP mini-towers.

 

[ric]

Bigger will 'hurt' if it don't fit in the hole and at 150 Watt it very well
could be a SFX form factor micro-ATX PSU as found in gaggles of E-Machines
and HP mini-towers.

Then I suggest you reply to the OP warning him of the size difference
between SFX and ATX form factor supplies, and how to recognize the two.

The answer given was correct in answering the OP's question about *power*,
not form factor.

 

[Al Smith]

My computer had a 150W power supply.It went kaput. I have come across

a 250w power supply.

Is it ok to use 250W where I originally had 150W.

Also how does one know?

Just check out the plugs on the old power supply, and make sure
that match the shape of the plugs on the new power supply. As long
as it plugs into your motherboard, you should be fine. Bigger is
better, when it comes to watts.

 

[Phisherman]

My computer had a 150W power supply.It went kaput. I have come across
a 250w power supply.

Is it ok to use 250W where I originally had 150W.

Also how does one know?

It is perfectly fine to change the P/S wattage. What is very
important is that there is enough power for all your peripherals. A
150W power supply is quite small in today's computer. A higher
wattage P/S does not mean it will burn out your components--it must
still provide the correct voltages.

 

[David Maynard]

David Maynard wrote:




Then I suggest you reply to the OP warning him of the size difference
between SFX and ATX form factor supplies, and how to recognize the two.

The answer given was correct in answering the OP's question about *power*,
not form factor.

Actually, no, the *whole* 'answer given', which you snipped out, was not
'correct' with respect to power.

 

[Mac Cool]

John:

Is it ok to use 250W where I originally had 150W.

Yes.

Despite what some people claim, bigger is not better in the power supply
department. There are different sizes of power supplies and it would be
pointless to buy a power supply that will not fit in your case. It would
also be pointless to spend the extra money on a power supply that is way
too powerful for your machine. If the original only required 150W and you
haven't significantly altered the machine, the 250W will be fine.

 

[Al Smith]

Despite what some people claim, bigger is not better in the power supply

department. There are different sizes of power supplies and it would be
pointless to buy a power supply that will not fit in your case. It would
also be pointless to spend the extra money on a power supply that is way
too powerful for your machine. If the original only required 150W and you
haven't significantly altered the machine, the 250W will be fine.

Everybody's a critic. A few weeks ago, I posted saying that it was
foolish to over-power your computer, because a larger power supply
will run hotter and noiser. I got jumped on and told in no
uncertain terms that a larger power supply would run cooler and
quieter. This being so, why not over-power your box up the wazoo?
If you make the power supply large enough, maybe it will be
completely cold and dead silent.

 

[ric]

Actually, no, the *whole* 'answer given', which you snipped out, was not
'correct' with respect to power.

If part of it was so incorrect (in regards to the OP's question of power)
why didn't you address it, along with the size issue?

 

[David Maynard]

David Maynard wrote:




If part of it was so incorrect (in regards to the OP's question of power)
why didn't you address it, along with the size issue?

I did. What's up there is only what was left of my post after the snip job.

 

[Zotin Khuma]

Just check out the plugs on the old power supply, and make sure
that match the shape of the plugs on the new power supply. As long
as it plugs into your motherboard, you should be fine. Bigger is
better, when it comes to watts.

Yep. A common misconception is that a PSU or a battery with a higher
current/power rating will force that power into the load and damage
it. That's not true. The PSU rating is simply the maximum power that
can be drawn by the load without overloading the PSU. Using a 250W PSU
in your system will be like carrying a 6-ton load in a truck that can
carry 10 tons.

To expand a bit on Al's reply, judging from the PSU rating, your
computer may be an older AT system. In that case, standard modern ATX
PSUs have different connectors which will not fit to your motherboard.
Here in India, AT PSUs are still easily available. Like Al said, just
make sure the connectors are the same as the old one's.

AT PSUs have two 6-pin plugs in a single line whereas an ATX connector
has 20 pins in two rows of 10.

 

[ric]

I did. What's up there is only what was left of my post after the snip job.

You asked how the respondent could give power recommendations (300w
minimum) without knowing the system particulars. Hardly makes it incorrect,
does it?

 

[Matt]

Then I suggest you reply to the OP warning him of the size difference
between SFX and ATX form factor supplies, and how to recognize the two.

You do it.

 

[Ken]

AT PSUs have two 6-pin plugs in a single line

This is the AT connectors to the motherboard
http://w1.857.telia.com/~u85710476/docs/image/example/powerconn_01.jpg

whereas an ATX connector has 20 pins in two rows of 10.

This is the ATX connector to the motherboard
http://w1.857.telia.com/~u85710476/docs/image/example/powerconn_11.png

 

[Mac Cool]

Al Smith:

Everybody's a critic. A few weeks ago, I posted saying that it was
foolish to over-power your computer, because a larger power supply
will run hotter and noiser. I got jumped on and told in no

There are always people who believe that if 1 is good, 2 are better and 3
are best; if a little bit works, a whole lot works better. It's why many
people drive grocery getters with 250 HP that get 14 MPG and fill them up
with high octane gas under the belief the engine will last longer and they
will get better mileage.

 

[David Maynard]

David Maynard wrote:




You asked how the respondent could give power recommendations (300w
minimum) without knowing the system particulars. Hardly makes it incorrect,
does it?

Yes, it does make it incorrect.

 

[David Maynard]

This is the AT connectors to the motherboard
http://w1.857.telia.com/~u85710476/docs/image/example/powerconn_01.jpg





This is the ATX connector to the motherboard
http://w1.857.telia.com/~u85710476/docs/image/example/powerconn_11.png

The problem is that just 'AT' or 'ATX' isn't enough as they come in
different form factors; especially 'ATX'.

The red flag here is the PSU being rated 150 Watts as that's commonly for
micro-ATX or flex cases and it's likely one that looks like a 'standard'
ATX, but is shorter, or an SFX form factor. Could even be a proprietary
design if it's a 'slim' or 'book' case.

 

[ric]

You do it.

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/dimensions/dim_sfx-l.htm
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/dimensions/dim_sfx-s.htm
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/dimensions/dim_2atx.htm

 

[ric]

Yes, it does make it incorrect.

Incomplete? Sure. Foolhardy? Perhaps. Incorrect? No.