Power supply help

[Fofo]

I have a micro atx board, INTEL D848PMBL. This is what I'm going to put on it,

P4 3.0 GHz 800 FSB
1 GIG PC3200 DDR RAM
2 Hard drives at 250 GB
2 CD DRIVES
Geforce 4 4600 Ti
Sound Card

I'm getting a demon case, http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=DEMON


My question is I want to get a 400+ WATT power supply, can any power supply (ATX) work with my mobo or do I have to get a dinky 160W micro atx power supply???

[elroy]

Most ATX p/s's will work. Just make sure it says that it is ok for pentium 4 cpu's. You do not need a micro p/s.

[Fofo]

Also, my last micro atx board had a 160W power supply, if I put a 450W-550W power supply, will that be ok?

[John Prophet]

ok....the "micro atx" when it refers to a motherboard is just basically the size of the board...meaning its a smallish board as opposed to a full sized ATX board.

"micro atx" when it refers to power supplies means the SIZE of the power supply...the physical size and shape in other words.....they are smaller than a regular atx power supply..and also they usually only have 3 mounting screws as opposed to 4.

The case determines the type of power supply you need......cuz a regular atx power supply and a "micro atx" power supply are NOT interchangeable cuz they simply are different sizes and shapes.


So the CASE is the determining factor..not the motherboard.

Yes, it is no problem to upgrade from a 160w power supply to a 450-550w supply. The only issue I see is that if it was really 160w it was probably a "micro atx" sized supply....so a normal 450ish watt atx supply simply wont fit in the same case as the "micro atx" power supply. The motherboard wont care..but the case will.

If you have the smaller "micro atx" type supply..with the 3 mounting screws....they do make replacement supplies up to like 230 watts...which is a big improvement over 160 watts.

for example http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...alog=58&depa=0


and I think this one also...notice the 3 mounting holes as opposed to the regular atx having 4 http://www.acortech.com/.sc/ms/dd/10...PPLY%20230WATT

usually when you think of micro atx supplies you are thinking of HP Pavillions and E-Machines and some of the Gateways.

JP

[Fofo]

You indeed sir are a prophet, nailed my query on the nose! I had a Gateway with the micro ATX power supply, but I'm getting a new case http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=DEMON
so I will be buying a ATX power supply for this bad boy around 500W. Thanks for the help.

[Fofo]

BTW what is a good power supply. I'm thinkin of this one http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=LED-AP500W

or this one
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=LED-AP500W

?

[RamonGTP]

A 500 watt PSU for <$30 doesn't sound right... I personally wouldn't get either of those, as i've never heard of that company before... You're putting together a pretty nice system, i'd recommend a PSU from Enermax, Antec, Fortron, or Thermaltake. There are other good ones too, those are a few popular ones. You may spend a bit more, but its well worth it. I have an Enermax in my box.

[John Prophet]

yeah, the name brand supplies are usually better. A lot of times the cheapo supplies dont live up to their ratings.

I use cheapo ones myself but I dont build gaming machines...I built basic machines.

When I go to build a decent gaming machine I wont throw one of the cheapo supplies in it.

That being said I dont know any particular ones to recommend, lol.

if you havent already ordered the case..you could get the case here http://3btech.net/nepodecaw3fr.html

its $48 shipped....and they also have some PowMax power supplies....like a 500W one for like $39ish http://3btech.net/blpo50alposu.html


I dont know that Powmax is the BEST brand but Id trust it a bit more than something I have never heard of.

If all else fails..bite the bullet and get an Antex or Enermax etc.

(they say you can skimp any anything except power supplies and ram...but never skimp on those)

JP

[Fofo]

I already order the case from Compgeeks and the A POWER power supply as well. We'll see how it turns out, if worse comes to worse I can always get a new PS, but maybe I'll be lucky and this one will suffice......hopefully.

[RamonGTP]

Hopefully you'll be ok.... If worse comes to worse though, you'll have to do more than just buy a new PSU... Manytimes when the generic ones fail, the can take the rest of the system with it too. Not saying that's gonna happen, just an FYI.