Inadequate power supply?

[Jagular]

I just have a casual question. Since I'm in the process of tearing my computer to bits ...I was looking at the specs on my machine. It looks like it has a 200W power supply. My question is...is that enough?

Here is what the system came stock with originally (it's a Dell):

PIII 600 mhz
13GB HD
SB Live Value
Nvidia Riva TNT2 32mb video card
Modem
CDROM
128mb ram

Here is what I have in it now:

PIII 1 ghz
80 GB HD
13GBHD
SB Live Value
Delta 1010lt
Gainward GeForce 4 TI 4200 VIVO (golden sample)
Network card
CDROM
CD R/W
Midiman winman 2x2 midi internface (could probably ditch this now)
384mb ram

So my question is with all this extra & higher powered stuff in there, is my power supply too small (assuming it is 200W). If so, what are the dangers of that? Will it just fry the power supply or could it do damage to some of my not so cheap cards or the mother board? If it's not enough (which I am suspecting) what would be enough, 300W, 350W, more? And finally is it very easy to put a new one in? Is it ok to throw a 350W PS in a machine that was set up originally with 200W PS?

Just curious if I should be worrying about anything on this.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Polaris20]

I just have a casual question. Since I'm in the process of tearing my computer to bits ...I was looking at the specs on my machine. It looks like it has a 200W power supply. My question is...is that enough?

Here is what the system came stock with originally (it's a Dell):

PIII 600 mhz
13GB HD
SB Live Value
Nvidia Riva TNT2 32mb video card
Modem
CDROM
128mb ram

Here is what I have in it now:

PIII 1 ghz
80 GB HD
13GBHD
SB Live Value
Delta 1010lt
Gainward GeForce 4 TI 4200 VIVO (golden sample)
Network card
CDROM
CD R/W
Midiman winman 2x2 midi internface (could probably ditch this now)
384mb ram

So my question is with all this extra & higher powered stuff in there, is my power supply too small (assuming it is 200W). If so, what are the dangers of that? Will it just fry the power supply or could it do damage to some of my not so cheap cards or the mother board? If it's not enough (which I am suspecting) what would be enough, 300W, 350W, more? And finally is it very easy to put a new one in? Is it ok to throw a 350W PS in a machine that was set up originally with 200W PS?

Just curious if I should be worrying about anything on this.

Thanks in advance.

Sounds a tad weak to me. You might be able to get a new power supply for say $40 bucks, but I am not sure if the Dell case will accept it.

Some of the off-the-shelf makers do some strange shit to their stuff just so you have to buy from them.

I am trying to figure out what to do with a Sony case with a new motherboard, for a friend. The case has some funky looking plug for the switch, reset, and HD light.

Looks like I'll be getting her a cheapy $40 case+PS from newegg.com. It's just for her kid anyway.

 

[elevate]

Doesn't Dell use cosmetically altered and rebadged Antec cases? I'm pretty sure I read that somewhere. Regardless, I've replaced the PS in a Dell at work - no problems. If you have any doubts, check for the manufacturer and model on the PS you've got in there and then track it down via Google to see if it's standard.

And yeah, 200W is definitely on the anemic side. In fact, I'm surprised you haven't had problems so far with that much hardware. Generally PS problems are rather difficult to isolate, in my experience anyway. The problems seem to be random and their effects can range from strange quirks to serious damage.

 

[Jeff_D]

dell mother boards use some proprietary connections. and your power supply is probably a bit weak- if your new mobo isnt a dell youre gonna have to cut some connectors aprt to hook em up- scrap the case and get a new one- around $30-$40 with a power supply- that solves both problems (im no expert- but i have done this- im workin now on a dell w/ a diff standard case- it was a bitch but it works)

 

[RWhite]

I would recomend 300 watts or better for what you have.

 

[Jagular]

Thanks for the replies guys. About what I anticipated. A new system is sounding better all the time. By the time I buy a new power supply and the countless hours of trying to get my current POS running, I may be better off getting a barebones system.

for getting a new system
for having to pay for it

 

[Codmate]

It doesn't matter what the wattage of your PSU is if the rails are rubbish.

I'd recommend Enermax and Sparkle PSUs. Go for 400W for maximum stability.