Upgrading PSU...
 

Seems me and Cheddar Bob are coming across a few issues with upgrading to a 9800 Pro.

It looks like my PSU is only 180 watts :( Its a chieftec atx 12v with pfc (whatever that is :rolleyes: ) I can't see what else it says as its obstructed by the frame of the case.

What I want to know is what the hell do I replace it with lol

Some psu's come with fans. Surely I don't need these as the two fans I have currently work fine. Or do the fans have to upgraded with the psu :confused:

Are there different types of psu's and does it matter if the power switch/kettle lead are on the different side to what my current one is?

Do I want 400 watts, 500 watts, 600 watts???? (its a p4 2.4 512mb ram, 60gb and 40gb hard drives, 40x cdrw and a dvdrw and soon to have 9800 pro installed)

Very p!ssed off I don't know this stuff as there was a time when I did, thats the difference working for a company who has no lock down and the support guys do everything (what I used to do) and then work for a massive bank where you don't get to play with sh!t like this as pcs turn up get built with an image and dumped on desks, if they break they get swapped out and not fixed but just returned :rolleyes: so have become completely out of touch with hardware advances and the internals :(

Any other info I need to give tell me as I need advice on this asap so I can order the right power supply ready for when the video card turns up!

TIA :)

Hi mate, I think I might be able to help.

You need a minimum of 300Watts but a 400 would suit it better and give you some room to play with in the future. you won't need any extra fans as they come built in to the PSU's, you do need one in it because they get warm being in the top of the case.

This is all assuming you have a standard size case + PSU. Is your PC an off the shelf PCWorld, Dixons,tiny,time........ if it is you might need to change the case.
If you'r not sure send me some piccys)inside + out and i'll tell you.

Lastly you should also consider heat. If your case is a small item (i.e around a foot tall with one or two CD bays) you might want to change it for a larger one around 16 -18" tall with at least 3 bays (4 ideally), the 9800 can cick out some heat.

A PSU should cost you a maximum of £25
But a standard case will only cost you an extra tenner with a 400W PSU (silly isn't it)

P.S. I Manage a computer shop in Bangor N.Wales, I really do know what I'm talking about

Hi

cheers for the reply. I bought the pc through my sister who works for a company that makes pc's and sells them mainly to companies and educational institutions. Basically I only wanted a base unit and at the time I got the box for a very good price. Its a midi tower (3 x 5 1/4 bays and 2 x 3.5 bays).

Would pics make it easier as I can do that no problem?

I got the box with just the standard bits, ie case, psu, cpu, memory, motherboard, floppy disk and cables. I added hard drives, cd/dvd drives and video card as I already had bits in mind that I either already owned or wanted to buiy that the place didn't supply.

Its been a fantastic box and had it for 18 months now and am only upgrading the psu purely for the 9800 pro as everything else has worked fine.

send me a picture or two of the PSU and i'll tell you if it's standard or not.

PS I edited the last post if you want to read it

grab a 450W antec - usually £65 per PSU..

price may seem a little over the top but 450W wold be good

Check out www.microdirect.co.uk they got deecent prices + good service.

300W PSU = 11.16 inc VAT
550W Dual Fan Quiet PSU = 28.20 inc vat

can't go wrong there

Cheers, just sorting out uploading the pics after one of the mrs's fcukin rabbits has chewed through the mouse and keyboard cables on the pc I use for my camera downloads :mad: lol Now got to install the software on another pc :rolleyes:

Bloody gonna do some DIY dentistry me thinks ;)

Pics to follow soon :D

Enermax do good PSUs too :)

I think what matters is the current rating on the 5v leg of the PSU output. Long time ago since I had had GPU issues due to lack of available power but I ended up with a PSU that supported around 40A on the 5V leg. My previous one supported around 10A :eek:

Oh and this is what I had been looking at replacing it with

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=30288

Is that ok?

Depends if the 25A on the 5V is enough for your CPU and a power hungry GPU. Might be OK, but hard to say. Would be interesting to know the power figures for your current CPU (current ratings).

In fact reading the reviews you got one of two brands, one being ****e apparently so now looking at this 500watt one http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=61308

Oh and gonna get this http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=62046

The units you have seen have unknown factors

Iv'e seen this one true 500W with the best reviews iv'e seen and it's only 15notes
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=61310

DOnt order the graphics card cooler yet - three reasons
1. might not fit due to memory needing cooling
2. the 9800PRO might be too powerful for the cooler therefore the stock cooler might be better
3. It's got a fan - if you want to upgrade the cooler and there are little or no space limitations, go for the Zalman fanless(big orange things) option, seen and installed these many times, they are verry effective. I will find a link for you now

Pics:

http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/...*****/psu4.jpg

http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/...*****/psu3.jpg

http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/...*****/psu2.jpg

Done in a bit of a rush ;)

It's fine - U got standard fittings for an ATX power supply (any power)

Heres the link for the Graphics cooler i mentioned

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...oolers_57.html

look for

Zalman ZM-80D-HP Silent VGA Dual-Heatpipe Cooler (HS-009-ZA

That £15 is good, I take it doesn't have any bearing that the switch/power input is on the opposite side to my current one? Haven't ordered anything yet, only the video card.

Off to hit the sack now before the mrs goes mental waiting up for me so will be back on to read this in the morning.

Cheers for the help :)

It's all standard stuff, it will fit fine. Thats why the have a names standard (ATX) although some do not follow it your case is ATX and the new PSU would be 2


See you later
Sion

That's the one, I may buy this when I order the 9800 Pro (will also check out that heatpipe - cooler sometime), Suppose to do a good job even though it's slightly bigger than the standard one, have to be careful with the card when fitting it also.

I have tried to get some answers from the dell forum as a suitable PSU upgrade for under $149.00 that fits my backwards machine....

too much time spent researching this tonight :freak3:, must go to bed....... work in 6hrs

600 watts? Fook me what have you got a Cray? :eek:

Just remember that fitting the heatpipe cooler will invalidate the 9800's warranty.


M

LOL Daz thats why I was asking. I can't believe to be honest I have to change my psu just to get a better graphics card, the 9800 must be something special to require a psu to be upgraded - perhaps its time for me to take out shares in my electicity supplier :D

Simon thanks for your help, much appreciated. I will order that psu you have linked to today :) I will leave the card cooling for now and see what my monitors show up for the temperature once the card is and and running.

Just been informed that Dell offered the 9800Pro with another system that has the same PSU as mine. Also someone from the forum said that my stock 250Watt (Average)/345Watt (Peak) will be enough and that's good enough for me.

So I will order the card the weekend and hope my machine doesn't fry to bits...

LOL, I have ordered the 500 watt one above, totally over the top and gonna kill my electricity bill but at least I shouldn't have power issues in the pc ever again :D

hmm with a 2.4 Ghz pentium and a 9800 pro i would say 300W is a BARE minimum - those gpus are pretty chunky you know...

I know people who run them in Shuttle boxes with the base 200W PSU (but don't try it with an All-in-Wonder!). As I said elsewhere, try it forst, THEN decide if you need the upgrade PSU.

And as a serial overclocker, can I just say 600W is defined by us as "just about adequate"?


M

m8 you really need to clean out your heat-sync & fan's. . . .

LOL err, yeah I know :D Will put the hoover on them when the new psu turns up tomorrow, card's already here and I can't use it till postie brings the psu.

My order has just been cancelled for a Connect3d Retial one as they were out of stock. Let us know how it performs when it's been installed and tested (don't want to hear that all your lights were dimming while playing a game though :lol1: )

They bloody shouldn't do with a 500 watt psu :eek: :D How much was the connect3d one?

Also will have to mess about with cleaning the drivers off my machine as moving from Nvidia to Ati could be problematic from somne of the comments I have read from people.