BleepingComputer.com: Determining New PSU Replacement

I have a motherboard from Intel whose power supply went bad - the machine won't turn on. No fans, no nothing. I'm going to pick up a new PSU tomorrow, and wanted to make 100% I get an appropriate one.

Motherboard model: D946GZIS
Original PDF Documentation
Spec Update PDF Documentation

The model PSU I had was a Sparkle Power ATX-300PN. I've searched for documentation, but found several models in google. None of which quite match the one I have. I may be looking in the wrong places, though.

It has P1 connectior with a 4-spot labeled "24," and an extra P4 with only yellow and black cables. One string contains 2 drive power adapters and a floppy power adapter at the end. Another string has a single drive power adapter on the end. One string with 2 drive power adapters on it. There is a final strand with two SATA power adapters on it.

Can someone point me to the kind of power supply I need to install for this board? It will be doing gaming (Sims 3, specifically) and general word processing and multimedia internet surfing. It's 5 7/8" (14.9225 cm) across the back, and was in a standard ATX case (if I haven't gotten my form factors mixed up). Most off the shelf PSUs should fit, no?

My problem has been in understanding how much power I can get in a PSU and not put too much through the board. Or putting too little into it. I've glanced through the documentation a number of times, and just keep reading important information about the +5 line into the board, but no specific power requirements for it. (Unless I've totally passed it every time, which is possible.) As far as components that will be demanding power, it has 2 SATA hard drives, 1 DVD-RW drive, and an e-GeForce 8600 GT graphics card. I'll probably be upgrading the RAM from 1 to 4 gigs (I know XP can only recognize 3 and change, but it looks like it might be better to buy a pair and max it out than buying a single 1g stick to bring it to a 2gb system total).

That shouldn't be a (comparatively) large power-draw, right? Or am I looking at ordering something special to handle those components?

DnDer, on 14 November 2010 - 10:42 PM, said:

I am no expert on the subject; just a user, but what you said just about covers it.

Forget the penny-pinching when buying a PSU and stick with quality. I have been very impressed with the Corsair VX450, and have been buying them exclusively (for any 'puter that needed a PSU) in the last few years. My needs are basic like yours, and there is scope for adding more devices without suffering from a lack of power (or cables and connectors).

This post has been edited by AustrAlien: 14 November 2010 - 11:39 PM

A larger PSU doesn't equate to more voltage, only more wattage and current. The rail voltages are regulated, if the PSU is working properly there should only be a variance of +/- 5%.

Graphic cards, especially those being used by serious gamers, will have the largest draw of any of your components. For this reason you should check to see what the manufacturer's web site suggests for wattage in the system requirements section. In your case, the graphics card requires a minimum of 350W.

Efficiency is one specification that you should look at. Example: A PSU with an efficiency rating of 80% pulling 500W from the line voltage of your house will only produce 400W. A good PSU will have an efficiency rating of 80%.

This post has been edited by dc3: 15 November 2010 - 12:56 AM

Check also this nice PSU power calculator http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp. List your computer's components and the calc will show you how many watts your PSU must provide. Next try picking a good quality ATX PSU like corsair and you will be fine . Good luck!