Guide for Selecting a Power Supply

[DjPhaze]

Sweet. so it looks promising with this corsair. im planning to buy it this coming thurs.  Do you have any tips when removing my psu. i took 4 screws out that hold it to the tower but it still seems like its attached to something else. i didnt want to mess with it to much. So i put the screws back.  Also if you have any tips when installing the new psu. Thanks!

[rdopso]

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@DjPhaze wrote:

Sweet. so it looks promising with this corsair. im planning to buy it this coming thurs.  Do you have any tips when removing my psu. i took 4 screws out that hold it to the tower but it still seems like its attached to something else. i didnt want to mess with it to much. So i put the screws back.  Also if you have any tips when installing the new psu. Thanks!

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I don't remember anything else holding the PSU in place other than the four screws you mention -- I suspect it's simply just a tight fit and the power cables on the PSU are probably holding it in place.  I mentioned a few important tips in my previous email.  The only other thing I can say is it would be a good idea to buy and install the new graphics card before you do the PSU swap; and mainly because I have two internal HDDs and two optical drives, I had to remove the cage holding the HDDs so I could attach the new SATA power cables, ditto for the opitcal drives -- but I doubt you will need to do that in your case since it appears you have only on each of those drives. 

 Don't sweat the PSU swap nor installation of the new graphics card because they are both no big deal so long as you make sure to get all the power cables correctly reconnected and you are gentle when working on and around the MB.  And also be careful with connecting the SATA power cables (and all others as well -- especially those that plug into the MB and graphics card) because attempting to force them on upside down or backwards will often damage the connections on the drives, MB, or cards -- they are all designed to fit only one way so simply check the orientation of the connectors twice before connecting.

[Big_Dave]

How to replace a power supply.

[DjPhaze]

Thank you all very much for your help. i ll will keep you posted on how it goes. I plan to first buy an hd monitor then get the video card and finally the Psu.

[capitol-m]

Hi, could someone please clarify for me:

I am about to purchase a 8100 elite convertible minitower, and i would like to upgrade the graphics card, i will need a new power supply for that, and i have heard two stories:

Either: nearly all supplies will fit, just measure the dimensions.

or: this motherboard has a specific connector, general ATX power supplies will NOT fit...

Which is it?

[Big_Dave]

Capitol-m,

You should open up your PC and measure the physical dimensions of your power supply.  Here is a list of things to consider:

1. Specifications
2. Total wattage - important
3. 12+ volt amperage rating - important
4. Modular - not mandatory but I like the flexibility
5. Warranty
6. i7 and SLI ready
7. Efficiency rating
8. Cost
9. Physical size -- standard ATX PSU is 5.5" by 5.9" by 3.4" give or take a few tenths

www.newegg.com has lots of PSUs choices.  Corsair, OCZ, Rosewill, Thermaltake.....

[capitol-m]

thanks for the help, but that was not exactly my question.

I dont have the pc here yet, and was wondering if someone could verify whether it actually uses standard ATX connectivity.

Most reports seem to indicate It does not. (using a 6 pinned main power connector in stead)

[Big_Dave]

Capital-m,

Go to HP Partsufer and enter the desired model PC. Then you will have to choose a specific model build.  There are over 100 different build models. I checked one build model and it had a 320 watt PSU.  Once you have the specific build model then find the PSU part number and do an internet search on it.

[mikk311]

Replacement on a HP 8100 Elite Minitower does not seem straight forward. The PSU connects to the mainboard with a cable marked "PWR CMD" at the socket. Does anyone know what the pinout is, or if HP has an upgrade? I cannot seem to find one.

Thanks

Mikkel

[Big_Dave]

Mikk311,

Did you look at this manual?  Also look at this manual.