I need a new power supply

Prometheus870 · 01-21-2006, 11:04 PM

I got a new video card, over a year ago now. An nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra. However I had the 220 watt power supply that came with my computer.

I don't know if this is the right place to ask for this kind of help, but I need recommendations for a new power supply.

I bought one before for $50, 550w Diablo brand. That was working fine for a while, then durring the summer my computer started to shut down for some reason. When I start again, it says that the previous shut down is due to a "thermal event".

Now, there is no way that it could have been overheating because the thing was off for hours and hours before then. So lo and behold I put the old power supply in, it stopped "overheating", and my videocard's power is cut by 2/3 (averageing 2/3 lower FPS in most games).

So, I don't know if I can just fix the power supply I already got, or if I should get a whole new one.

System specs:

Windows XP Pro
Dell Dimension 8300
80GB Western Digital Hard drive (new, two previous hard drives have already crashed, why I don't know, each lasting for only 2-3 years)
1GB RAM

If you need any other specs, tell me how to find them and I'll post.

Oh, and I can spend 50-75 dollors (us), and I want at least a 550w (recommended for my video card).

Prometheus870 · 01-22-2006, 08:34 AM

Can anybody recommend a peticular brand or powersupply that would be compatable with my computer?

ebackhus · 01-22-2006, 09:05 AM

If it's a Dell then you may be limited to what they provide. All the Dells I'd worked on used stupid proprietary (they modded it) PSUs that couldn't be replaced by off-the-shelf parts.

01-21-2006, 11:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Prometheus870 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 20 OS: XP	I need a new power supply I got a new video card, over a year ago now. An nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra. However I had the 220 watt power supply that came with my computer. I don't know if this is the right place to ask for this kind of help, but I need recommendations for a new power supply. I bought one before for $50, 550w Diablo brand. That was working fine for a while, then durring the summer my computer started to shut down for some reason. When I start again, it says that the previous shut down is due to a "thermal event". Now, there is no way that it could have been overheating because the thing was off for hours and hours before then. So lo and behold I put the old power supply in, it stopped "overheating", and my videocard's power is cut by 2/3 (averageing 2/3 lower FPS in most games). So, I don't know if I can just fix the power supply I already got, or if I should get a whole new one. System specs: Windows XP Pro Dell Dimension 8300 80GB Western Digital Hard drive (new, two previous hard drives have already crashed, why I don't know, each lasting for only 2-3 years) 1GB RAM If you need any other specs, tell me how to find them and I'll post. Oh, and I can spend 50-75 dollors (us), and I want at least a 550w (recommended for my video card).

01-22-2006, 09:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,284 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	If it's a Dell then you may be limited to what they provide. All the Dells I'd worked on used stupid proprietary (they modded it) PSUs that couldn't be replaced by off-the-shelf parts. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

01-22-2006, 08:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Prometheus870 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Can anybody recommend a peticular brand or powersupply that would be compatable with my computer?