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General discussion

PSU

Feb 16, 2004 12:22PM PST

Does anyone have a reccomendation for a good 450W ATX power supply, I blew mine and am wondering if anyone has any ideas on a good quality PSU over a cheap one that will last for about 2 weeks and then blow up.

Discussion is locked

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Re:PSU
Feb 16, 2004 1:09PM PST

There are a lot of choices, even lower priced ATX power supplies like the Sparkle brand will last years. You would be hard pressed to find one that won't last a couple of years at least.

Now you want to go high end get something like a Power and Cooling supply from http://www.pcpowercooling.com/

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What are you connecting it to?
Feb 16, 2004 9:57PM PST

Let me share that a batch of PX4266 motherboards starting eating 400 and 450 Watt power supplies at the office. At first I thought it was faulty power supplies. A closer look after the fifth unit expired found the motherboard had the bad motherboard capacitor syndrome. Here's a link with more on that and pictures:
http://www.badcaps.net/ident/

There are many more web sites about this issue.

The problem here was the failing capacitors were creating a much higher load on the PSU and eventual failure of the PSU. We've exchanged those out and the generic 450W PSUs are doing fine now plus those units are no longer doubling as space heaters.

Bob

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Re:What are you connecting it to?
Feb 21, 2004 4:48AM PST

I'm Connecting it to an AthlonXP 2600 + (266 FSB)*
an 80 GB hard disk (7200 RPM)
a DVD Drive
a CD-ROM (not RW) drive
a DFI LanParty KT400A mother board w/ integrated RAID 0,1,1.5 controller
a GeForce FX 5200*
a Modem
1536 MB of PC2700 RAM
a Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum (with front unit using 2nd floppy connector)
a 1.44mb Floppy disk drive
1 CPU Fan
1 Case Fan
a USB Keyboard
a USB Optical Mouse
and that is all that it has to run
i had a 450 Watt unit in there, when I looked through the vents it looked as if a Capacitor had opened in the unit itself (does white junk coming out of it constitute bursting?) and there were no black marks looking like it had lit up.
so I dont know why blew it up I really don't think it should have.
So any suggestions on adding more power

the * on the Graphics Card and CPU was intentional
I am wondering if I upgrade to the AthlonXP 3000+ (333 FSB) and a GeForce FX 5900se (with its fan) will a 450 Watt run all that with the above listed? I am personally sure it should but I figure if the above config blew the machine then what will that upgraded CPU and GPU do to it?
Thanks

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The bad cap issue also extended to some power supplies too!
Feb 21, 2004 5:26AM PST

The bad cap link I supplied noted this. There's also some issue with power supplies that FIBBED about their ratings. Review this link, but mind that outside of http:/www.pcpowerandcooling.com units which are top drawer, I just use the generics and rarely see any issue.

Link about "Inadequate and Deceptive Product Labeling:
Comparison of 21 Power Supplies"

http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/

Bob

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Re:PSU
Feb 16, 2004 10:49PM PST

Lookee here at: http://pcpowerandcooling.com for top shelp p/s. Also, consider Antax(sp) and Enermax p/s units. If you had a hi-watt unit and it blew up, make sure any jumpers for voltages of the cpu, etc. are proper unless "auto-config" option is used. A power hungary system will place start-up demand to a high level until booted, so if you have a stuffed system go as high a wattage as can be stuffed in there for best results. Also, cheaper mtrbds. with very basic voltage regulater module(VRM) can fail and place a replacement p/s to quickly fail too, so alot has to be checked. A ATX power checker in place of actual p/s can help, so look at the p/s websites for that too.

good luck -----Willy

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Light reading about power and power supplies.
Feb 16, 2004 11:09PM PST
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Re:PSU
Feb 18, 2004 5:01AM PST

Nothing wrong IMO of low cost power units. I purchased one couple years ago (350W) for $22 and it still performs great.

Check http://www.compgeeks.com/products.asp?cat=CAS#Power%20Supplies
scroll down to 'Power Supplies'
Even the A-Power 400-Watt ATX $12.95 unit has a 1 year warranty.

Newegg has a good and big selection:
Nice 450W for $30 & up:

http://www.newegg.com/app/manufactory.asp?catalog=58&DEPA=1

I haven't noticed even in the other forums you post in anything on the specs of your computer. Perhaps I missed it. Would be nice to know.

JR