Preparing to Install new PSU

Deyvid · 11-02-2009, 11:00 AM

Greetings,

I am preparing to install a new PSU, which I have already purchased. I started wondering what precautions I would need to be aware of before starting the process so I came here and read the "Power Supply Information and Selection" post.

Now I'm starting to wonder if the PSU is fully compatible with my system.

This is the PSU I purchased:
Corsair VX550W 550W ATX Power Supply

This is the computer I'm using:
eMachines T3656

I also purchased this video card (which will be installed after the PSU is successfully installed):
EVGA GeForce 9500 GT

The system currently has a 250Watt PSU. Here's a pic of the label on the side of the: Pic Link.

I'm not sure of the exact specs of my CPU, only that it is a Intel Pentium 440, 64-bit processor, 2.0 GHz, 512 KB L2 cache, 800 MHz front side bus.

The computer currently does not have a video card, only integrated on-board video; so that GeForce 9500 GT will be the only additional component added after the new PSU is installed.

When I open up this computer and start the process, what should I be looking for as a red flag that this PSU would not be compatible?

What should I make sure to do, and not do?

Any help would be appreciated.

**greenbrucelee** · 11-02-2009, 11:14 AM

yes it will fit your mobo is atx and so is the psu

second make sure the power is switched of and you take appropriate ESD precautions (by touch the metal of case often or wearing an anti static wriststrap.

**greenbrucelee** · 11-02-2009, 11:15 AM

yes that card will be ok to use

Deyvid · 11-09-2009, 03:40 PM

Greetings again,

Well it turns out the PSU listed above is not compatible with my system, because it does not have one of the required connectors, which I believe I determined is the "P4 MB" connector according to TigerDirect's chart.

I started to install the PSU today and discovered it didn't have this connector, so I went to the TigerDirect product page again and noticed it does list that the PSU in question does not have a P4 MB connector. Ugh. Now I have to return that PSU and look for one with a P4 MB connector.

In the past I asked about PSU's (for a previous computer) and was given a list of PSU companies to look for:

Seasonic - any model
Corsair - any model
Thermaltake - "Toughpower" series only
Coolermaster - "Real Power Pro" series only
PC Power & Cooling - any model
Silverstone - any model

And was told that I should get at least a 550watt when using a PCI-e video card.

I did not see any PSUs from the above companies/series that were 550watt on TigerDirect (only found a 400watt Silverstone with a P4 MB connector); but on NewEgg I found this:

SILVERSTONE ST56F 560W ATX 12V 2.01 & EPS 12V SLI Ready CrossFire Certified Active PFC Power Supply

This one lists "1 x 12V (P4)"... That's the same as a P4 MB right?

Is a P4 MB connector the same thing as "4-Pin ATX 12V"?

That Silverstone 560W has dual +12V rails, but if I don't need that would it be a waste or hindrance to get a PSU that has it?

**wrench97** · 11-09-2009, 03:47 PM

The corsair has a 4+4 CPU power connector that will slide apart into 2, 4pin connectors one of them will be what you need.

**greenbrucelee** · 11-09-2009, 03:50 PM

yes it has a 4+4 you will be able to unclip it so it will fit, do not get a silverstone psu and have you thought about buying stiff from other places instead of Tiger?

it would be a waste to get a silverstone but you can get a good one that has already been mentioned to you and they will have 4 pin connectors or like better models ones that split.

If a psu is an ATX one then it will work on any ATX motherboard.

Deyvid · 11-09-2009, 04:02 PM

Okay, so you guys are saying the Corsair I already have, has a 4+4 connector that I can separate in two 4-pin connectors that I would be able to use as that P4 MB?

Is this the one you're talking about?

Listed as the 8-pin

Deyvid · 11-09-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenbrucelee

yes it has a 4+4 you will be able to unclip it so it will fit, do not get a silverstone psu and have you thought about buying stiff from other places instead of Tiger?

it would be a waste to get a silverstone but you can get a good one that has already been mentioned to you and they will have 4 pin connectors or like better models ones that split.

If a psu is an ATX one then it will work on any ATX motherboard.

I have purchased RAM from crucial.com, and would be willing to purchase stuff from newegg (if were to find whatever I needed at newegg, and it was affordable). Lately I have been comparing TigerDirect and newegg and have usually found what I needed at Tiger. What are the other good sites with good prices aside from TigerDirect and Newegg?

I only looked up Silverstone because it was on that list of "good" PSU companies/series that was given to me here in the past. And I wouldn't need to get another PSU if this Corsair I already have will work with that pin splitting you mentioned.

**wrench97** · 11-09-2009, 04:07 PM

Yes that's the one Corsair calls it a EPS/ATX12V 8-4 pin.

Phædrus2401 · 11-09-2009, 04:17 PM

Frys.com is alright, and mwave.com has both new and used parts. Newegg has the best return policies, and usually very good prices, so we recommend them a lot. I would not buy RAM from tigerdirect.com because they have a habit of substituting RAM without notifying you when the RAM you ordered is out of stock. Otherwise they're pretty good.

Deyvid · 11-09-2009, 05:49 PM

Thanks a ton for the info about the 4+4 that can be split. That will save me a lot of money and hassle, since I can still use the new Corsair PSU I bought and not have to return it.

I'll check out those other sites too if/when I need to get more stuff.

11-02-2009, 11:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
Deyvid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 60 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic (SP1) My System	Preparing to Install new PSU Greetings, I am preparing to install a new PSU, which I have already purchased. I started wondering what precautions I would need to be aware of before starting the process so I came here and read the "Power Supply Information and Selection" post. Now I'm starting to wonder if the PSU is fully compatible with my system. This is the PSU I purchased: Corsair VX550W 550W ATX Power Supply This is the computer I'm using: eMachines T3656 I also purchased this video card (which will be installed after the PSU is successfully installed): EVGA GeForce 9500 GT The system currently has a 250Watt PSU. Here's a pic of the label on the side of the: Pic Link. I'm not sure of the exact specs of my CPU, only that it is a Intel Pentium 440, 64-bit processor, 2.0 GHz, 512 KB L2 cache, 800 MHz front side bus. The computer currently does not have a video card, only integrated on-board video; so that GeForce 9500 GT will be the only additional component added after the new PSU is installed. When I open up this computer and start the process, what should I be looking for as a red flag that this PSU would not be compatible? What should I make sure to do, and not do? Any help would be appreciated.

11-02-2009, 11:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,849 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: Preparing to Install new PSU yes it will fit your mobo is atx and so is the psu second make sure the power is switched of and you take appropriate ESD precautions (by touch the metal of case often or wearing an anti static wriststrap. __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified

11-02-2009, 11:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,849 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: Preparing to Install new PSU yes that card will be ok to use __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified

11-09-2009, 03:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Deyvid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 60 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic (SP1) My System	Re: Preparing to Install new PSU Greetings again, Well it turns out the PSU listed above is not compatible with my system, because it does not have one of the required connectors, which I believe I determined is the "P4 MB" connector according to TigerDirect's chart. I started to install the PSU today and discovered it didn't have this connector, so I went to the TigerDirect product page again and noticed it does list that the PSU in question does not have a P4 MB connector. Ugh. Now I have to return that PSU and look for one with a P4 MB connector. In the past I asked about PSU's (for a previous computer) and was given a list of PSU companies to look for: Seasonic - any model Corsair - any model Thermaltake - "Toughpower" series only Coolermaster - "Real Power Pro" series only PC Power & Cooling - any model Silverstone - any model And was told that I should get at least a 550watt when using a PCI-e video card. I did not see any PSUs from the above companies/series that were 550watt on TigerDirect (only found a 400watt Silverstone with a P4 MB connector); but on NewEgg I found this: SILVERSTONE ST56F 560W ATX 12V 2.01 & EPS 12V SLI Ready CrossFire Certified Active PFC Power Supply This one lists "1 x 12V (P4)"... That's the same as a P4 MB right? Is a P4 MB connector the same thing as "4-Pin ATX 12V"? That Silverstone 560W has dual +12V rails, but if I don't need that would it be a waste or hindrance to get a PSU that has it?

11-09-2009, 03:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,566 OS: Win7	Re: Preparing to Install new PSU The corsair has a 4+4 CPU power connector that will slide apart into 2, 4pin connectors one of them will be what you need. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-09-2009, 03:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,849 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: Preparing to Install new PSU yes it has a 4+4 you will be able to unclip it so it will fit, do not get a silverstone psu and have you thought about buying stiff from other places instead of Tiger? it would be a waste to get a silverstone but you can get a good one that has already been mentioned to you and they will have 4 pin connectors or like better models ones that split. If a psu is an ATX one then it will work on any ATX motherboard. __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified Last edited by greenbrucelee; 11-09-2009 at 03:52 PM.

11-09-2009, 04:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
Deyvid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 60 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic (SP1) My System	Re: Preparing to Install new PSU Okay, so you guys are saying the Corsair I already have, has a 4+4 connector that I can separate in two 4-pin connectors that I would be able to use as that P4 MB? Is this the one you're talking about? Listed as the 8-pin

11-09-2009, 04:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,566 OS: Win7	Re: Preparing to Install new PSU Yes that's the one Corsair calls it a EPS/ATX12V 8-4 pin. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-09-2009, 04:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,802 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Preparing to Install new PSU Frys.com is alright, and mwave.com has both new and used parts. Newegg has the best return policies, and usually very good prices, so we recommend them a lot. I would not buy RAM from tigerdirect.com because they have a habit of substituting RAM without notifying you when the RAM you ordered is out of stock. Otherwise they're pretty good. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

11-09-2009, 05:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
Deyvid Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 60 OS: Windows Vista Home Basic (SP1) My System	Re: Preparing to Install new PSU Thanks a ton for the info about the 4+4 that can be split. That will save me a lot of money and hassle, since I can still use the new Corsair PSU I bought and not have to return it. I'll check out those other sites too if/when I need to get more stuff.