[Q] power supply upgrade

[crazymonkey05]

hello all i have a emachines w3619 with a ecs 945gct-m3 mobo and was wanting a power supply upgrade.....my mobo is weird though because as you can see in the picture i have two spots for the extra 4-pin connector or so i think....anyways i was wanting to upgrade the psu for a new powerful graphics card so any advice to upgrade will be appriciated

 

[DocBrown]

I would get a download copy of the manual for this MB from the ECS website to verify what all the connections are used for. Plus some MFG computer cases do not always fit the standard replacement PSU's.

 

[bobkn]

Your motherboard has a 24 pin ATX power connector, plus a 4 pin +12V CPU power connector.

It looks like your system may have been built using a 20 pin ATX power plug, leaving 4 disused pins in the connector. (That's OK, as long as the system is getting enough power.)

An industry standard ATX power supply, with 24 pin ATX (often 20+4, for native use in either 20 or 24 pin ATX boards) and a 4 pin +12V connector, ought to be OK electrically.

I can't find whether one would fit in the eMachines case, but from some eBay listings, looks like it ought to.

Just out of curiosity, why are you upgrading the PSU?

 

[crazymonkey05]

Your motherboard has a 24 pin ATX power connector, plus a 4 pin +12V CPU power connector.

It looks like your system may have been built using a 20 pin ATX power plug, leaving 4 disused pins in the connector. (That's OK, as long as the system is getting enough power.)

An industry standard ATX power supply, with 24 pin ATX (often 20+4, for native use in either 20 or 24 pin ATX boards) and a 4 pin +12V connector, ought to be OK electrically.

I can't find whether one would fit in the eMachines case, but from some eBay listings, looks like it ought to.

Just out of curiosity, why are you upgrading the PSU?

Well I want a better PSU because I want a graphics card so I can play games on my PC but most recommend a good 400 watt supply and I have like a 180 watt supply, so yea that's why

 

[crazymonkey05]

I would get a download copy of the manual for this MB from the ECS website to verify what all the connections are used for. Plus some MFG computer cases do not always fit the standard replacement PSU's.

And I looked for a manual but could not find a free one

 

[DocBrown]

Can you measure the outside dimensions of your current PSU case ?


Here is the basic
Dimensions 5.9" x 3.39" x 5.51" of a standard PSU

 

[GeneO]

Do you have any idea what graphics card you are thinking about? That would help.

How many auxiliary PCI-E power connectors will the graphics card need? I expect 2 so you will want to get a PSU that has 2 PCI-E power connector. Usually than means more power - around 500W.

With 1 graphics card you probably will not need more than 450W on the 12V. Especially if you don't overclock.

Here are some good ones:

If only 1 6 pin PCI-E connector is needed, 430W:

CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Newegg.com

If 1 six pin + 1 6+2 pin:

430W:
SeaSonic S12II 430B 430W ATX12V V2.3/EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Newegg.com
520W:
SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Newegg.com

2 6+2 pin:
450W
Rosewill CAPSTONE Series CAPSTONE-450 450W Continuous @ 50°C, 80 PLUS GOLD Certified, Single +12V Rail, ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92, SLI Ready, CrossFire Ready, Active - PFC Power Supply - Retail - Newegg.com

 

[bobkn]

Well I want a better PSU because I want a graphics card so I can play games on my PC but most recommend a good 400 watt supply and I have like a 180 watt supply, so yea that's why

Do you have a particular graphics card in mind?

 

[crazymonkey05]

Well I want a better PSU because I want a graphics card so I can play games on my PC but most recommend a good 400 watt supply and I have like a 180 watt supply, so yea that's why

Do you have a particular graphics card in mind?

Well I was hopeing on this one would be good to stick in my pc

 

[GeneO]

Any of the PSU I listed above should do. I don't think that card even requires a PCI-E auxiliary power. But you won't be able to play many modern games with it if that is what you are looking for.

 

[crazymonkey05]

Well I can play games like mine craft with minimal lag already so yea I don't plan on being a big PC gamer that's what my Xbox is for I just plan on playing small inde games like slender man and amnesia

 

[bobkn]

Well I want a better PSU because I want a graphics card so I can play games on my PC but most recommend a good 400 watt supply and I have like a 180 watt supply, so yea that's why

Do you have a particular graphics card in mind?

Well I was hopeing on this one would be good to stick in my pc

The 5450 is a low-end, low power card. 2GB of onboard memory may be a waste on it. If you can live with 1GB, and you're in the US or Canada, you can get cards for $35 or less.

A 6450 would be better, for about $5 more. They are similar, except the 6450 has twice the number of stream processors as the 5450.

I doubt that you really need a good 400W power supply with either. They are very low power cards, and they are available at half-height for small form factor systems. (You can use a half-height card, but buy one that includes a full-height bracket.)