acer aspire t160 PSU upgrade

[jimmymcma]

Hello guys,

I have had an acer aspire t160 for a couple of years now,

Just got a new 32 inch LCD tv for xmas (yes santa took pity on me ) so i am now using this as my primary monitor for the pc.

The system came with onboard graphics which worked OK, but struggled when playing certain videos on the TV....therefore I rushed out and grabbed a 512 PNY NVIDA Geforce 9500 GT.

All excited, I installed the gfx card and everything seemed to be fine, running windows vista ultimate v smoothly.

but over the past few days the machine has been jumping to the blue screen of death with an INTERNAL_POWER_ERROR ...Its then when i looked at the gfx card box that I realised the card requires a minimum of 350W.

Upon opening up my pc, I can see that my current PSU is only 300W (link below)

http://www.impactcomputers.com/py-30008-009.html

1) I guess this is the cause of the intermittent issues?

2) Am I damaging the gfx card running it at a lower (300w) voltage than the recommended (350w)?

3) Could anyone recommend a suitable replacement PSU that isnt going to damage the rest of my components ? (current voltages shown in spec below)


System spec below :-


Computer:
Computer Type ACPI x64-based PC
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
OS Service Pack Service Pack 1
Internet Explorer 7.0.6001.18000
DirectX DirectX 10.0
Computer Name JIMMYMC-PC
User Name Jimmy Mc
Logon Domain JimmyMc-PC
Date / Time 2009-01-01 / 19:32

Motherboard:
CPU Type AMD Athlon 64, 2200 MHz (11 x 200) 3500+
Motherboard Name Acer FC51GM
Motherboard Chipset nVIDIA GeForce 6100, AMD Hammer
System Memory 4096 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
DIMM1: Micron 16VDDT12864AY40BF2 1 GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (3.0-3-3-8 @ 200 MHz) (2.5-3-3-7 @ 166 MHz) (2.0-2-2-6 @ 133 MHz)
DIMM2: Micron 16VDDT12864AY40BF2 1 GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (3.0-3-3-8 @ 200 MHz) (2.5-3-3-7 @ 166 MHz) (2.0-2-2-6 @ 133 MHz)
DIMM3: Micron 16VDDT12864AY40BF2 1 GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (3.0-3-3-8 @ 200 MHz) (2.5-3-3-7 @ 166 MHz) (2.0-2-2-6 @ 133 MHz)
DIMM4: Micron 16VDDT12864AY40BF2 1 GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (3.0-3-3

[ NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT ]

Video Adapter Properties:
Device Description NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT
Adapter String GeForce 9500 GT
BIOS String Version 62.94.2c.0.52
Chip Type GeForce 9500 GT
DAC Type Integrated RAMDAC
Driver Date 12/11/2008
Driver Version 7.15.11.8048 - nVIDIA ForceWare 180.48
Driver Provider NVIDIA
Memory Size 512 MB

Installed Drivers:
nvd3dumx 7.15.11.8048
nvd3dum 7.15.11.8048 - nVIDIA ForceWare 180.48
nvwgf2umx 7.15.11.8048
nvwgf2um 7.15.11.8048

Video Adapter Manufacturer:
Company Name NVIDIA Corporation
Product Information http://www.nvidia.com/page/products.html
Driver Download http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
Driver Update http://driveragent.com?ref=59

[ NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT ]

Video Adapter Properties:
Device Description NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT
Adapter String GeForce 9500 GT
BIOS String Version 62.94.2c.0.52
Chip Type GeForce 9500 GT
DAC Type Integrated RAMDAC
Driver Date 12/11/2008
Driver Version 7.15.11.8048 - nVIDIA ForceWare 180.48
Driver Provider NVIDIA
Memory Size 512 MB

Installed Drivers:
nvd3dumx 7.15.11.8048
nvd3dum 7.15.11.8048 - nVIDIA ForceWare 180.48
nvwgf2umx 7.15.11.8048
nvwgf2um 7.15.11.8048

Video Adapter Manufacturer:
Company Name NVIDIA Corporation
Product Information http://www.nvidia.com/page/products.html
Driver Download http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
Driver Update http://driveragent.com?ref=59


[ Motherboard ]

Motherboard Properties:
Manufacturer Acer
Product FC51GM
Serial Number 043A61005141

[ Memory Controller ]

Memory Controller Properties:
Error Detection Method 64-bit ECC
Error Correction None
Supported Memory Interleave 1-Way
Current Memory Interleave 1-Way
Supported Memory Speeds 70ns, 60ns, 50ns
Supported Memory Types SPM, DIMM
Supported Memory Voltages 2.9V
Maximum Memory Module Size 4096 MB
Memory Slots 4

[ Processors / AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3400+ ]

Processor Properties:
Manufacturer Unknown
Version AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3400+
External Clock 201 MHz
Maximum Clock 3000 MHz
Current Clock 1005 MHz
Type Central Processor
Voltage 1.1 V
Status Disabled by user
Upgrade Socket 939
Socket Designation Socket 939

[ Caches / Internal Cache ]

Cache Properties:
Type Internal
Status Enabled
Operational Mode Write-Back
Maximum Size 128 KB
Installed Size 128 KB
Supported SRAM Type Synchronous
Current SRAM Type Synchronous
Socket Designation Internal Cache

[ Caches / Internal Cache ]

Cache Properties:
Type Internal
Status Enabled
Operational Mode Write-Back
Maximum Size 128 KB
Installed Size 128 KB
Supported SRAM Type Synchronous
Current SRAM Type Synchronous
Socket Designation Internal Cache

[ Caches / External Cache ]

Cache Properties:
Type Internal
Status Enabled
Operational Mode Write-Back
Maximum Size 512 KB
Installed Size 512 KB
Supported SRAM Type Synchronous
Current SRAM Type Synchronous
Socket Designation External Cache


--------[ Sensor ]------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sensor Properties:
Sensor Type ITE IT8712F (ISA 290h)
GPU Sensor Type Diode (NV-Diode)
Chassis Intrusion Detected Yes

Temperatures:
Motherboard 44 °C (111 °F)
CPU 10 °C (50 °F)
CPU Diode 47 °C (117 °F)
GPU Diode 45 °C (113 °F)

Cooling Fans:
CPU 2280 RPM

Voltage Values:
CPU Core 1.39 V
+2.5 V 1.22 V
+3.3 V 3.30 V
+5 V 4.95 V
+12 V 11.71 V
+5 V Standby 4.97 V
VBAT Battery 2.86 V
Debug Info F 4A 00 FF
Debug Info T 138 44 10
Debug Info V 57 4C CE B8 B7 C4 A0 (35)


--------[ CPU ]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPU Properties:
CPU Type AMD Athlon 64, 2200 MHz (11 x 200) 3500+
CPU Alias Venice S939
CPU Stepping DH-E6
Instruction Set x86, x86-64, MMX, 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE3
Original Clock 2200 MHz
Min / Max CPU Multiplier 4x / 11x
L1 Code Cache 64 KB (Parity)
L1 Data Cache 64 KB (ECC)
L2 Cache 512 KB (On-Die, ECC, Full-Speed)

CPU Physical Info:
Package Type 939 Pin uOPGA
Package Size 4.00 cm x 4.00 cm
Transistors 68.5 million
Process Technology 9Mi, 90 nm, CMOS, Cu, SOI
Die Size 84 mm2
Core Voltage 1.400 - 1.450 V
I/O Voltage 1.2 V + 2.5 V
Maximum Power 67.0 W

CPU Manufacturer:
Company Name Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Product Information http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...30_118,00.html

CPU Utilization:
CPU #1 75 %


If you require any further information please let me know!

Many Many thanks in advance!!

Jimmy

 

[95thrifles]

How much are you looking at spending Jimmy?
You dont need to worry about damaging other components, that wont happen, even if you went for a 1200Watt PSU (you dont need this and shouldnt) it wouldnt damage anything, the system only draws what is needed. Have a look in the shop, Corsair are a good make, and if youre new to fitting things yourself and Im guessing the case isnt top end, you'll be better going for a modular one, they're a bit easier to deal with as you dont have to connect the cables for anything you dont need

 

[jimmymcma]

How much are you looking at spending Jimmy?
You dont need to worry about damaging other components, that wont happen, even if you went for a 1200Watt PSU (you dont need this and shouldnt) it wouldnt damage anything, the system only draws what is needed. Have a look in the shop, Corsair are a good make, and if youre new to fitting things yourself and Im guessing the case isnt top end, you'll be better going for a modular one, they're a bit easier to deal with as you dont have to connect the cables for anything you dont need

thanks for the reply mate! good to see your a fellow yorkshire chap too

not looking to go silly on price as I just splashed out on 4 gig of that overpriced ram and the gfx card...

any suggestions? is it simple enough to connect up...?

also , i notice on the side of my graphics card, there is a little connector that looks like something should be plugged into it...not sure what it is though? is this for extra power? or is it to link another gfx card to it?

PNY NVIDA GEFORCE 9500 GT

Thanks again mate!

 

[95thrifles]

The connector is to connect 2 of the cards together in SLI, so dont worry about it
Unfortunately for a decent PSU, they're not cheap, this one is prob best bet, another good make, Zalman, its modular and 500W will do you, if thats more than you want to spend then have a look at the antec ones, they do lower powered models (380W) which should still suffice you and are again a good make, altough this one isnt modular which means any cables you dont connect you'll have to try and tuck out of the way

 

[jimmymcma]

The connector is to connect 2 of the cards together in SLI, so dont worry about it
Unfortunately for a decent PSU, they're not cheap, this one is prob best bet, another good make, Zalman, its modular and 500W will do you, if thats more than you want to spend then have a look at the antec ones, they do lower powered models (380W) which should still suffice you and are again a good make, altough this one isnt modular which means any cables you dont connect you'll have to try and tuck out of the way

Thanks mate!

I really shouldnt have just ran out and bought a grpahics card without looking inside my machine first!!..

Ive just realised that the graphics card I bought is also DDR2, whereas my board only takes DDR, so im going to be at a loss there aswell arent I ?

I mean ive tested it over the past few days and its fine with handling vista and hi def movie files, but I imagine it will die a slow death if i try to play games etc?

 

[95thrifles]

No, it doesnt matter what RAM setting your mobo is, the gfx card works independently, you could have whacked in a 4870 which uses DDR5 and it would have been fine, dont worry

 

[jimmymcma]

No, it doesnt matter what RAM setting your mobo is, the gfx card works independently, you could have whacked in a 4870 which uses DDR5 and it would have been fine, dont worry

ah thats ok then ....but I take it I wont be getting the fiull potential from my gfx card until I get an extra 50W at least in there...? or doesnt it work like that

 

[95thrifles]

No it should work if it works (sounds irish i know) but if you dont have enough power you'll get frequent errors, like CTD's or BSOD's as whenever it gets to a gfx intensive bit and requires more volts it wont have enough so will prob shut down and restart, maybe, lol, not 100% sure

 

[jimmymcma]

No it should work if it works (sounds irish i know) but if you dont have enough power you'll get frequent errors, like CTD's or BSOD's as whenever it gets to a gfx intensive bit and requires more volts it wont have enough so will prob shut down and restart, maybe, lol, not 100% sure

thanks for all your help mate, much appreciated!

 

[95thrifles]

No worries