roydotmp3

i have a gm5260 and i plan to change the 300W PSU to something bigger.
i went to newegg.com and saw many different types of power supplies and i was wondering if the size matters too.
if anyone can find a 300+ watt PSU that fits good in a GM5260 please repost.

Tumbleweed36

Do you know what video card that Gateway uses and do you know if a standard ATX supply will work in that case or it is one of those smaller cases?

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roydotmp3

the video card is a
NVIDIA 7300 LE
the card was red.
and on the card in medium sized letters it said IMS.
im guessing that's the manufacture?
its a genuine bestec ATX power supply.
so i'm guessing atx works.

roydotmp3

this is exactly whats in my computer right now.
http://www.affordablesurplus.com/gat...wer-supply.asp

Tumbleweed36

Well, now that I see what is in there, I think you are correct to replace that baby. You need to know that gateway puts just a basic power supply (and that brand name is not a quality supply either) in their rigs. If you hook up anything else, some times they won't work because they put only the bare minimum in there.

If this were mine, I would put something like a good 450 or 500 watt power supply in that rig so you get good consistent power. My suggestion would be maybe an Antec Trio model, an Antec NEO HE model, or even an Antec Earthwatts power supply. Other PSU companies that make excellent supplies are the Silverstone, the PC Power & Cooling supplies, the Seasonics, the Thermaltake "toughpower" series, etc....but, the Antec models I mentioned might be the cheapest you will find in a quality supply. Just be sure you don't buy an off-brand power supply or you might be wasting money big time. Antec does make some supplies that are not so good (as other companies do), so follow the series that I mentioned that we know are good quality.

Let us know if we can help further.

Do yourself one favor....measure your old supply and compare the size to any that you purchase (check specs on the website) so you are certain it will fit in the case. If your supply has some extra room in there with the supply installed, then it is fine to put a little larger one in there, if there is room in the case.

NewEgg.com has some great deals most of the time as does ZipZoomFly.com and some other companies you may know about.

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roydotmp3

I'm looking at this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023
and these are the dimensions 16cm(L)x15cm(W)x8.6cm(H)
and my current one dimensions are 5.9"W (150mm) x 3.4"H (86mm) x 5.5"D (140mm)
and this is what the inside of my computer looks like.
http://images.tigerdirect.com/SkuIma...3-GM5260-l.JPG

Tumbleweed36

The only really good Thermaltake is the "Toughpower" series. The other Thermaltake models are made by another company and are not very good. That is my opinion, but you have to make that choice.

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roydotmp3

but toughpowers are too expensive and i really dont want alot of power.
i just want my computer to be able to use 7600 GT video card.
the 7300 LE is trash, it's worth 10 dollars haha.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371006
this is really exactly what i wanted.
it's the exact same size that's in my current computer and is over 300 watts so i'll be able to use my 7600 GT card.

Tumbleweed36

You have to make that choice, but I can not in good conscience recommend a supply like that which does not put out the power they advertise. I just don't think you are going to help yourself that much with that supply. That is my honest opinion.

I visited NewEgg a few minutes ago and this is about the cheapest decent power supply that is on sale right now:

Earthwatts 500 - $49.99 after Mail in Rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371007

Again, you have to make that choice, but I will not recommend the one you have chosen. You just can't buy a decent power supply for that kind of money. You wanted a professional opinion and that is what I gave. Maybe some other tech might tell you differently, but that is the way I see this one.

Good luck on your purchase and I hope you have good luck with whatever you decide.

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linderman

I will second the advice you have been given !

I have seen many cheap power supplies kill motherboards and video cards when they die. hell; I have a 35 gallon garbage barrell in my shop full of dead, low quality power supplies >>>>> it makes one hellva statement

the barrell is full of Besteq, Hipro, Ultra, smart power, pure power, epower, apevias, raidmax, etc etc

that is no savings when the motherboard or ram ends up in the barrell with the old PSU

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roydotmp3

i think i may just buy the 500 watt power supply because i really dont want to kill the motherboard and such.
Right now the computer has a Bestec and been using it for about 10 months?

This Gateway was designed to be quiet and has an airflow that starts from the front of the computer and let the air flow to the back where the fan fans it out.

Doby

Get the antec 500W, you computer will be much happier, I check the dimensions with the ones you listed and it will fit perfectly.

This bigger supply will not ony give the watts the new card needs but amps too, this is important when upgrading a video card. Plus it gives you a bit of head room the psu won't work as hard and lower case temps. Heck for 20 bucks more its worth the piece of mind

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Tumbleweed36

BTW, that Earthwatts is a very quiet power supply and FYI, most cases and power supplies are designed to have air flow from front to back including this power supply.

Tell you what, you were lucky on that Bestec, because many die before that and it would not have pulled your new video card...no way, because they only put a PSU in their cases that will do the bare minimum they are selling you. Have changed many of those out for that very reason and it looks like linderman and Doby have had the same experience in their shops.

Let us know how it all works out and I am happy that you got some other opinions on this one.

Have a great evening.

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roydotmp3

I plan to buy the PSU this week so I'll tell you how it is after i buy it.

linderman

as soon as you put the bestec in one hand and the antec in the other you will get the drift

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roydotmp3

so if theres a bigger PSU the computer will run smoother?
if so, how?

linderman

same as a car engine / the big motor never breaks a sweat going 70 miles an hour but the four cylinder is really rattling

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roydotmp3

really?
i keep this computer on all day.
hahaha
maybe thats why the computer got a little slow.
haha :D

roydotmp3

I have bought the 500W PSU and the 7600GT video and it's really good. The PSU is quiet and so is the video card and it sounds like the computer isnt even on which is great.
Thanks everyone who replied to this thread!
real nickname - Mari0!