should i be optimistic?

FixupSellon · 17 Jun 2015 at 01:00

brought an old hp pavilion t000 or something yesterday... original spec with maybe 2 pci cards added? dont know, are as followed:

pentium 4 3.20ghz
512mb pc3200
200gb hdd
x300se pci e x16
opticals
network card
tv card maybe
300w psu

i picked this along with a monitor and keyboard/mouse for a tenner, all but the monitor works(no power cable so cant test) and even though its running xp sp2 and previous owner left some crap on it, doesnt seem that bad, dont know if its HT, but i had a HT plus x300 abd 512mb ram in an old dell years ago and did me well, WOW was playable all bar big crowds and cities, but i dont know what im going to do with this one, i got it to upgrade and sell, but might play around with it...

now what im asking about being optimistic is the hp bestec psu it has 19a on the 12v and says 5.?+12v = 288w which to me sounds like a lot compared to others(even fancy ones) that show like up to 50w left from max to what the 12v rates...

i do feel heat from it, but think thats normal to an extent from old machines and this thing takes 4gb ,max over 4 slots so will see how cheap i can buy the ram to what output i give it, but the x300 needs to go, might put it to some tests, but to have windows 7 i will need a better x series or better still and while that 288w seems promising for decent cards i am being somewhat optimistic about it lasting and being true.

pastymuncher · 17 Jun 2015 at 10:38

That psu must be ancient by now and taking degredation into account I doubt if it could deliver anywhere near the 288w now. It would seem sensible to replace it. maybe stick one of the new Superflower FX 350w units in when they come into stock.

FixupSellon · 17 Jun 2015 at 18:22

ancient but still going, like i say it all seems to be original spec apart from a 2nd dvd drive and i guess what appears to be a tv card(has Arial ports) and a coolermaster heatsink/fan or just fan..

mean i do question it, the psu does generate some heat and the cpu fan does sound like a jet when its really working yet silent at normal like it currently is, but ive had many of these with different boards and other similar aged machines before i even decided to sell them and they rarely failed and certain ones i used to mix with others to make one computer better than all however as i say this x300 wont cut it for windows 7 as i know theres no support and just need something acceptable ideally not a hd 2000 series or a 8400gs as ive had many of them and while good like to try different products..

that superflower you mentioned, was it cheap? if i do go as far as changing the psu then i would obviously want something decent but not too expensive otherwise i couldnt make money off it when i come to sell, anything fancy is going in my acer veriton m221 that im not getting rid of, so that superflower you mentioned would go nicely with my geforce 210(power wise).

FixupSellon · 17 Jun 2015 at 20:13

ADIANCE a cheap brand to avoid? never heard of them, but one on the bay(used) currently on a buy now of £14 and they next town over..

its an EN 60950 350U 480w

its a 20 amper for +12 and 30a for +5, only down side i see is only 1 sata it seems though i got twin adapters, mean im thinking for myself or my missus if its better than liteon and ISO(or whatever) supplies or do you think if it be a good idea for the pavilion and add some appeal when i come to sell? think the case only takes one hdd anyways.

pastymuncher · 17 Jun 2015 at 20:24

Personally I wouldn't touch a psu that I haven't heard of, isn't a decent brand or cannot find any reviews on. It doesn't matter if it's a powerhouse of a pc or a basic pc, if I build it then it's getting a decent psu in it. I appreciate that you are looking at selling it on but if the cheap psu should fail it's going to come back and bite you in the end.

The Superflower FX 350w is £35.

FixupSellon · 17 Jun 2015 at 21:19

ha no thats fair enough and if im honest i dont usually go for things i dont know either unless of course it comes in a system then i do my best..

i do have a tester pc i recently acquired that currently has a old board that supports agp, ive tested some crappy branded psu's i got in a job lot and caused no issues so might tempt and buy that ADIANCE just to put it to the test anyways, see how long its on the bay for..

what sort of power does that superflower produce?

edit: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-173-AN&tool=3

this one good?

ideally for my missus i need something like that, she doesnt use computer much but want long lasting and for myself would have to be 350w - 400w...

i think for this HP i will see whats 2nd hand thats not cheap brand and decide what ill do, im currently installing windows 7 just to see how it does.

pastymuncher · 18 Jun 2015 at 10:21

That Antec has dual 18A 12v rails giving a max of 336w and is built by Delta. It's not even 80+ certified and is not particularly good but at this price it is what it is.

The Superflower FX350 has a single 28A 12v rail with 312w.

Justintime · 18 Jun 2015 at 11:44

Adiance is horrible. Had 2 computer cases come with them free for a cheapo build at work and their claimed 460W psu could possibly be thrown at puppies with nary a yelp from them upon contact. Changed for some older FSP 350W psus we had laying about and they do the job.