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Author I was wondering
mike wheelock

2005-03-30, 7:49 pm

When I bought my computer, HP Pavilion xt938. It came with everything
on board; sound, video, network card. I replaced everything except
video. Since I didn't have to many expansion slots they are full. I'm
also running four usb devices. I don't really know how much power my
power supply puts out but would I benefit from a bigger one?

Thanks
Mike
Carl Frisk

2005-03-30, 7:49 pm

Not knowing the rating of your current one (look at it physically) it's hard to honestly answer that question.

--
....Carl Frisk
Anger is a brief madness.
- Horace, 20 B.C.
http://www.carlfrisk.com


"mike wheelock" <wheels2@twmi.rr.com> wrote in message news:_3p1e.17759$rL3.13905@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
quote:

> When I bought my computer, HP Pavilion xt938. It came with everything
> on board; sound, video, network card. I replaced everything except
> video. Since I didn't have to many expansion slots they are full. I'm
> also running four usb devices. I don't really know how much power my
> power supply puts out but would I benefit from a bigger one?
>
> Thanks
> Mike

Dallas

2005-03-30, 7:49 pm


"mike wheelock"
.. I don't really know how much power my
quote:

> power supply puts out but would I benefit from a bigger one?


If everything is running without a problem, No.... if it ain't broke don't
fix it.

If you want to add a graphics card or anything else you are likely in
trouble and off the shelf computers tend to have crappy power supplies.

If you really want to calculate you will need to find out your power
supply's rating. How? Open the case up and look for the sticker on the
side of the power supply.

You can use the following formula to get a pretty good idea of your total
watts. Multiply each component by watts and total it up:
Watts
IDE Hard Drive 28.00
AMD Athlon XP 3200+, 1.75 V 89.88
RAM Modules (128 DDR) 10.00
AGP Graphics Card 36.50
Motherboard 23.50
DVD-ROM 19.20
CD-RW 15.60
IEEE 1394 8.00
USB Devices 2.50
PCI Sound 4.15
Floppy 4.00
PCI-LAN 3.32
System Fan 3.00
Processor Fan 3.00
PCI Modem 2.50
Keyboard 1.25
Mouse 1.25


Dallas


mike wheelock

2005-03-30, 7:49 pm

Dallas wrote:
quote:

> "mike wheelock"
> . I don't really know how much power my
>
>
>
> If everything is running without a problem, No.... if it ain't broke don't
> fix it.
>
> If you want to add a graphics card or anything else you are likely in
> trouble and off the shelf computers tend to have crappy power supplies.
>
> If you really want to calculate you will need to find out your power
> supply's rating. How? Open the case up and look for the sticker on the
> side of the power supply.
>
> You can use the following formula to get a pretty good idea of your total
> watts. Multiply each component by watts and total it up:
> Watts
> IDE Hard Drive 28.00
> AMD Athlon XP 3200+, 1.75 V 89.88
> RAM Modules (128 DDR) 10.00
> AGP Graphics Card 36.50
> Motherboard 23.50
> DVD-ROM 19.20
> CD-RW 15.60
> IEEE 1394 8.00
> USB Devices 2.50
> PCI Sound 4.15
> Floppy 4.00
> PCI-LAN 3.32
> System Fan 3.00
> Processor Fan 3.00
> PCI Modem 2.50
> Keyboard 1.25
> Mouse 1.25
>
>
> Dallas
>
>

thanks
Carl Frisk

2005-03-30, 7:49 pm

That's 255.65 Watts

--
....Carl Frisk
Anger is a brief madness.
- Horace, 20 B.C.
http://www.carlfrisk.com


"mike wheelock" <wheels2@twmi.rr.com> wrote in message news:GSq1e.17794$rL3.1734@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
quote:

> Dallas wrote:
> thanks

Carl Frisk

2005-03-30, 7:49 pm

Well if I remember correctly Power = Voltage * Current i.e. P=VI
Power supplies typically deliver 3,5 and 12 Volts to your system.
3V & 5V for digital components.
12V for things like hard disk motors etc.

3.3V * 15.7A = 55.11 Watts.
5V * 16A = 80 Watts.
12V * 10A = 120 Watts.
TOTAL: 255.11 Watts.
or
A 250 Watt power supply.

Yes that's low! Especially since you've added all those peripherals. And any added USB ports without their own power
supply are drawing from that also.

5vsb (standby to allow your switch to turn the computer back on) * 2A = 10 Watts.
(-12)V * .3A = 3.6 Watts. I believe this is drawn on a different phase so is not added into the above mix same as the
standby power.
--
....Carl Frisk
Anger is a brief madness.
- Horace, 20 B.C.
http://www.carlfrisk.com


"mike wheelock" <wheels2@twmi.rr.com> wrote in message news:noq1e.17775$rL3.10744@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
quote:

> Carl Frisk wrote:
>
> I opened the case and while not seeing a specific power rating I copied down the part number. Looking that up I came
> up with these specs.
>
> PS-HP-PAVILION SPECIFICATIONS:
> Dimensions 4.9 W x 2.5 H x 3.9 D - Inches
> 125 W x 64 H x 100 D - Millimeters
>
> AC Input 115/230, 6A/3A, 47Hz-63Hz
> Max Load +3.3@16.7A / +5@16A / -5V@NA / +12@10A / -12@0.3A / +5vsb@2A
> MTBF >100K hrs at 25°C ambient conditions
> Safety UL, CSA, TUV, NEMKO, CB, CE
>
>
> I did see a reference to 200 W on the page but I could have been talking about something else.
>
> Hope this helps my question.
> Mike


Carl Frisk

2005-03-30, 7:49 pm

You wouldn't happen to know which device uses what volts would you?

--
....Carl Frisk
Anger is a brief madness.
- Horace, 20 B.C.
http://www.carlfrisk.com


"Dallas" <Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> wrote in message news:mHq1e.5725$H06.2811@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
quote:

>
> "mike wheelock"
> . I don't really know how much power my
>
> If everything is running without a problem, No.... if it ain't broke don't
> fix it.
>
> If you want to add a graphics card or anything else you are likely in
> trouble and off the shelf computers tend to have crappy power supplies.
>
> If you really want to calculate you will need to find out your power
> supply's rating. How? Open the case up and look for the sticker on the
> side of the power supply.
>
> You can use the following formula to get a pretty good idea of your total
> watts. Multiply each component by watts and total it up:
> Watts
> IDE Hard Drive 28.00
> AMD Athlon XP 3200+, 1.75 V 89.88
> RAM Modules (128 DDR) 10.00
> AGP Graphics Card 36.50
> Motherboard 23.50
> DVD-ROM 19.20
> CD-RW 15.60
> IEEE 1394 8.00
> USB Devices 2.50
> PCI Sound 4.15
> Floppy 4.00
> PCI-LAN 3.32
> System Fan 3.00
> Processor Fan 3.00
> PCI Modem 2.50
> Keyboard 1.25
> Mouse 1.25
>
>
> Dallas
>
>


mike wheelock

2005-03-30, 7:49 pm

Thanks that could account for my many lockups.
Mike

Carl Frisk wrote:
quote:

> Well if I remember correctly Power = Voltage * Current i.e. P=VI
> Power supplies typically deliver 3,5 and 12 Volts to your system.
> 3V & 5V for digital components.
> 12V for things like hard disk motors etc.
>
> 3.3V * 15.7A = 55.11 Watts.
> 5V * 16A = 80 Watts.
> 12V * 10A = 120 Watts.
> TOTAL: 255.11 Watts.
> or
> A 250 Watt power supply.
>
> Yes that's low! Especially since you've added all those peripherals.
> And any added USB ports without their own power supply are drawing from
> that also.
>
> 5vsb (standby to allow your switch to turn the computer back on) * 2A =
> 10 Watts.
> (-12)V * .3A = 3.6 Watts. I believe this is drawn on a different phase
> so is not added into the above mix same as the standby power.

Dallas

2005-03-30, 7:49 pm


"mike wheelock"
quote:

> Thanks that could account for my many lockups.


Ah, you didn't say lockups... Yup... that'll do it.

To add to the confusion most power supply manufacturing companies lie like
crazy about their ratings. Toms Hardware did a piece testing power supplies
actual wattage versus the marketing department's rating on the label. Some
of the big name manufactures told the truth, the rest didn't. Advice:
Overbuy the rating

The bad news: Mass market computers often have proprietary power supplies
and connectors. Keep your fingers crossed you don't.


Dallas


Dallas

2005-03-30, 7:49 pm


"Carl Frisk"
quote:

> You wouldn't happen to know which device uses what volts would you?


Nope.


Dallas


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