Power supply running a little warm

[Aggressor 0]

Hello,

I installed a new video card two days ago and I just noticed that my psu is "warmer" than usual. I'm just wondering if this is normal or not. I have no temp. sensors or anything like that and to check temp i have to go to BIOS.

The vid card is an ATI Radeon 7500 64 MB DDR PCI. I flipped through the manual that came with the HP Pavilion PC and noticed this:

"Warning: do not overload the system by installing add in cards that draw excessive current. The system is designed to provide 2 amps (average) of +5V power for each board/card in the computer. The total +5V current draw in a fully loaded system (one with all add in card slots filled) must not exceed the total number of slots multiplied by 2 amps."

Can someone explain what that means. There are three pci slots on the mobo and I'm currently using two of them (vid card and modem). Am I overloading the system?

I do not know how much power the vid card uses and I checked ATI's website but could not find anything.

When I asked whether the card would work with a 115 watt PSU, the sales person said that the pci card only supplies a certain amount of power, no more no less. The vid card is working great (50-73 fps, after tweaking Direct 3D settings). I haven't noticed any "wierd" things happening or any abrupt shutdowns.

I haven't asked HP tech support since they will probably give me the usual "contact the manufacturer or technician who performed the install, etc" and I'm not sure if this voids my warranty in any way.

Thanks

Aggressor

[Dark Ranger 0]

This is one thing I do not understand about Pre-Fab companies:

Why not include a decent PSU for future upgrades...say A VIDEO CARD!

If you have a 115Watt PSU, I'd um...look at replacing it. Yea, it would be a little warm.(and that's only a PCI GFX card... )

This is the main concern with upgrading the PSU - It may not fit the case, and if it does, the chances are high you will have to "MOD" the case. I had an old Gateway PC with 200Watt ATX PSU, and I go a GF4 Ti card. Well, the PSU actually fit the case, but the screw holes didn't line up with the proprietary PSU. So I got out my *ahem - Saber Saw and Drill - cough* and "MODDED" the case so the PSU would fit.

If you can, check the PSU label for the "size". Example: ATX, AT, etc. If it is an ATX, you should be able to get just about any after-market PSU.

Don't forget to take out EVERYTHING in the case before you start. Don't want the steel shavings to short out a vital component.

Stupid Pre-Fabs...

Would post more, but I gotta go to work...

[Stinger 0]

Hey Aggressor, your PSU should get warmer. IIRC that video card should take up ~40 watts of juice. And to be running what you have on a 115 Watt PSU is a joke, I dont know how that would work but I guess it does. You can get a new PSU for a decent price. And to find out if your computer will take an ATX PSU go to Google and type in ATX PSU Dimensions and it will tell you what the size of the PSU is, then go and measure the room in your case.

[Aggressor 0]

I've been checking some of the HP user forums online and found this:

200 watt psu

I have read that 4 people have used this with their Pavilion PC's and everything was aligned and no need for holes, drilling, etc

Has anyone bought anything from this site/manufacturer? Is it reliable?

I have almost reached the end of possible upgrades for this PC, well maybe a DVD drive or new HD and a cpu fan (Volcano??) in the next six months or so. Will this 200 watt psu be able to handle everything I have now plus a DVD drive, etc?

[Stinger 0]

Well thats not a bad price, but I've never actually heard of the brand name. 200 Watts isn't really gonna last you, it'd be better if you just saved your $ a little longer and bought a nice new Antec one.

[Aggressor 0]

:stupid:I learned something new again today I found this over at one of the HP Pavilion user forums:

April 13, 2003 23:42 PM GMT [ 7 pts ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not sure where you got the infoi that you PSU is a 115 Watt. This info is incorrect you have the following...

About System Power for 7900 series Pavilion

AC Input

200W max

Input Frequency: 43/66 Hz

Voltage: 120V - 230V

Power Supply Output

DC Voltage Current

+12V

4.0 A

+5V

25.0 A

+3.3V

16.0 A

-5V

0.3 A

-12V

0.5 A

WARNING

To avoid damage to the system board or power supply, do NOT exceed a total of 120 watts power draw.

The 115 on the red tab would be the volts required to run the power supply, not the watts it produces.

Its a 200 watt PSU.

Edited April 14, 2003 by Aggressor

[Dark Ranger 0]

To avoid damage to the system board or power supply, do NOT exceed a total of 120 watts power draw.

The 115 on the red tab would be the volts required to run the power supply, not the watts it produces.

Its a 200 watt PSU.

I'm not going to say anything...

Well, on the upside, it is a better thing that you have the "200Watt" unit. Since you can't upgrade to the PSU you found in the link for obvious reasons, you are really just left with a two options:

1. Keep your PC for another 6-9 months, or until you want to upgrade.

2. Or upgrade now. I am NOT recommending this option unless you want to. It all depends on cash availability/computer use. If all you do is internet browsing, business apps(low processor/memory use), and an occasional game, there is really no need to.