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Author Topic: Power Supply  (Read 522 times)

Offline puller

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Power Supply
« on: March 25, 2016, 10:19:15 AM »
Oh gurus of the PSUs please let me know....

...I have an old HP computer...I took it apart last night to try to change the fan in the PSU...its locked up...I've said in other threads about upgrades and such that I am NO computer guru...after much cussing and gnashing of the teeth I freed the PSU from my old trusty box...only to be unable to get the fan out of it...

So...being the poor Okie I am...I have found a 500W PSU that I am going to buy...its a good deal...the one I am getting COULD fit in the box...the fan is on top though...

So my plan is this...I'm gonna buy it...I'm gonna try to make it fit in box...if it does, I'm gonna cut a hole in the top of the box for the fan to vent out...if it doesn't fit...I'm gonna set the SOB on top of the box and use it anyway...

How bad of an idea is this???...I don't want to buy replacement 365W PSU...I want a 500W one...It's made for AMD and Intel processors...mine is a Pentium 4...it was on the list of compatibles...If the PSU isn't mounted in the box is it not grounded???  How fast is it going to burn my computer up???
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Offline Bizman

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Re: Power Supply
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2016, 10:33:28 AM »
No, you don't have to cut anything. I suppose HP use the standard PSU sizing in their towers nowadays. There might be a latch keeping the PSU in place, though, and for some reason I've noticed a replacement PSU may be just half a millimeter too long to fit behind the latch. Don't worry, most cases rely on the four screws to hold the PSU safely.

If I understood you correctly, your old PSU has an 8 cm fan facing back and the new one has the fan on the large side, with a mesh facing back. The fan should face down because one of its tasks is to blow warm air out of the case.
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Offline TequilaChaser

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Re: Power Supply
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2016, 10:34:05 AM »
I recommend that you post your computer brand/model and the brand/model of the PSU

So people could help advise you better

TC
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Offline TequilaChaser

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Re: Power Supply
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2016, 10:38:36 AM »
If what Bizman has described about your existing PSU and the PSU you are wanting to get...

The existing PSU fan blows heat/air out the back (exhaust fan), to where the new PSU draws air in to the PSU housing ( intake fan )


TC
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"When one considers just what they should say to a new pilot who is logging in Aces High, the mind becomes confused in the complex maze of info it is necessary for the new player to know. All of it is important; most of it vital; and all of it just too much for one brain to absorb in 1-2 lessons" TC

Offline Bizman

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Re: Power Supply
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2016, 10:41:22 AM »
TC, with all due respect I think that would be overkill in this question. That old HP would die sooner or later anyway, so anything that will get it up and running should do. I got the expression that it's not the main gaming rig.

However, puller, if I'm wrong and you'd like to beef it up for playing AH3 for some years, please send more details.

Edit: All PSU's I've seen blow air/heat out the back, no matter where the fan is. The only difference is that the older design made negative pressure inside the PSU by drawing air through it, the new design blows air into the PSU from the inside of the case. Or from the bottom of the case where the PSU is in the bottom. The latter will keep the PSU cooler since it gets fresh air under the computer. It's also more prone to get clogged by dust.
« Last Edit: March 25, 2016, 10:46:56 AM by Bizman »
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Offline TequilaChaser

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Re: Power Supply
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2016, 10:50:24 AM »
I was referring to where puller was thinking he needed to cut a hole in the top of his PC case Top, so to blow air out....

I was posting/and am agreement with you, that the PSU with the bigger fan/mesh grill is actually pulling air in, should be installed with the fan facing down/on the bottom side...

I hope this explains my previous posts better...

TC
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"When one considers just what they should say to a new pilot who is logging in Aces High, the mind becomes confused in the complex maze of info it is necessary for the new player to know. All of it is important; most of it vital; and all of it just too much for one brain to absorb in 1-2 lessons" TC

Offline Bizman

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Re: Power Supply
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2016, 10:54:50 AM »
Understood. My post was mostly because it seemed that Puller hadn't figured out that the PSU plays a major role in keeping the case cool. Older computers often had no other exhaust fan than that inside the PSU.  :salute
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Offline puller

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Re: Power Supply
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2016, 12:12:40 PM »
It is my main gaming rig...and yes I'm trying to extend its life a little longer as the fan in the back of the PSU is froze up...

It has one other fan in back for cooling that is not froze and I have it turned on in bios to about 75% all the time...I have a desk fan pinned in-between the wall and the froze up PSU fan...it works to let it not overheat...but its getting warmer  :rofl

The computer is a HP DC7600 CMT (convertible mini-tower)...was top of the line in 2005...I traded a car for it...

I need the bigger power supply for a new video card I bought several months ago that the original 365W PSU cant handle...the HD6540 1gb that's in it now (that's new as well) only needs like a 300W PSU...but the new new card I bought a R7 240 2gb needs a 400W PSU hence getting a 500W

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Offline Bizman

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Re: Power Supply
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2016, 12:52:19 PM »
Now we're talking. Is it this: http://setstore.bg/en/product/59/hp-compaq-dc7600-cmt.html? Based on the pictures the original power supply is a little narrower and a little higher than the standard ones so you'd have to do some metal work. As you know the case is heavy, the walls are double the average thickness and maybe even some high density steel.

As for good quality power supplies Seasonic seems to have the most reliable quality. Unlike others they both design and build their PSU's. They also build for other brands, so you might find a good one under some other name. This list is a couple of years old but still valid: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-psu-brands,3762-5.html. I recommend reading the introduction, too, to get a grasp of what you should be looking for.

Also, I suppose you won't like this comparison, between your new card and the one that has been said to be the minimum: http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-R7-240-vs-GeForce-GT-9800. Truth to be said, you'd need a new computer to enjoy AH3 even with all eye candy disabled. You might like to think this as a slow upgrade project, building a new computer part by part as your budget allows. Sort of a purchase on the instalment plan.
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