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Thread ID: 58616 2005-06-06 08:33:00 PSU help Mantis (3703) Press F1
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361663 2005-06-06 08:33:00 I currently have a Soltek SL-KT400-C/KT400-A4C motherboard with a dvd writer and another cd writer... A 120gb hdd and a couple of pci cards (network and modem).

This is all in a case with a 300w power supply....

I am looking into getting a Exertnal soundcard which will be either powered by usb (mbox) or firewire(m-audio firewire).

I realise that I will have to upgrade my psu so it can run everything, but I am not sure to what kind of psu to get.... will a 400w psu be sufficient or will I be better off with a 500w psu.

Do I need to get a specific make of psu to go with my motherboard?

Can anyone make any recomendations on makes or models and/or vndors?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

M.
Mantis (3703)
361664 2005-06-06 08:37:00 400w should be ok but if there is not much of a diference in price between 400 and 500 I would go with 500w Overdrive_5000 (4950)
361665 2005-06-06 10:16:00 What CPU and Video?

What monitor, printer and peripherels do you run off the computer (& could therefore be swapped off to a power strip).

What brand and model is your current PSU? A good 300W PSU, will carry more load than a cruddy 400W+ PSU, it may not be necessary to splash out for a new one. By the same token, buying a crap 400W doesn't necessarilly boost your rateable draw.
Murray P (44)
361666 2005-06-06 10:37:00 What CPU and Video?

What monitor, printer and peripherels do you run off the computer (& could therefore be swapped off to a power strip).

What brand and model is your current PSU? A good 300W PSU, will carry more load than a cruddy 400W+ PSU, it may not be necessary to splash out for a new one. By the same token, buying a crap 400W doesn't necessarilly boost your rateable draw.


CPU = Athlon xp 2500+
Video = NVIDIA GeForce2 MX200 64MB Video Card (I think from memory)

I have a crt monitor which has its own power cable... and a printr that is connected via usb but powered by its own power cable as well...

I was looking at the ENERMAX 485W NOISETAKER SPEED ADJUSTABLE, ATX 2.0, PCI EPRESS psu.... here at www.computerlounge.co.nz

I don't do any 3d gaming or the like on my machine....

btw what is a power strip?

thanks.

M.
Mantis (3703)
361667 2005-06-06 12:40:00 Power strip = multi box.

Enermax is a good brand. What's your current PSU?
Murray P (44)
361668 2005-06-06 13:10:00 I would plug the new sound card into your computer and see if you have any problems with the current PSU. An extra USB device won't draw that much power.

If you have no problems then no need to upgrade the PSU.
E|im (87)
361669 2005-06-08 09:56:00 I would plug the new sound card into your computer and see if you have any problems with the current PSU . An extra USB device won't draw that much power .

If you have no problems then no need to upgrade the PSU .

Does the same apply for Firewire? I also thought that an Mbox that has microphone preamps for recording built in might drain quite a bit more power then the average usb powered device, but agian I am unsure . . . .

Also if I were to plug in either the usb powered mbox or the firewire powered m-audio card would I be likely to damage anything if there was insufficient power?



Power strip = multi box .

Enermax is a good brand . What's your current PSU?

I am not quite sure what brand it is . . . when I last had my case open I looked for a sticker or something to check the brand but I couldn't fine anything . . . Is there any other way to check what brand it is?

Is it very easy to swap over a psu or am I better off taking it to a shop to install???

Thanks .

M .
Mantis (3703)
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