Micro ATX power

[StackOverflow]

I'm upgrading an old Tiny pc for a relative, which currently has a micro atx mobo and psu inside it, cpu is a 7xx mhz pentium 3. I was going to install a more up to date mobo and something like an AMD XP2400 cpu in there but the PSU in this case is the worry. I think its only 145watts ! (the psu label says Delta Electronics DPS 145PB) .. would i need to replace this psu ? or are the power requirements for microatx much lower anyway ?
The highest micro atx psu i've seen is 230watts ..

[Staz]

230w should be fine. I had instability problems with a 145w mATX PSU and a 1GHz Duron and a GeForce 2 mx400. Problems cleared up with a larger PSU

[SteveI]

145w is pushing it a bit, but there's only one way to find out.
I have an 8rgmi, and it is a powerhouse little overclocking mobo... the new version, the 8rgm3i, available at newegg sounds even better. I use a 200w PSU on mine, with a 1700+ overclocked to 2.08ghz and it is stable. Mileage may vary... Having onboard everything saves quite a bit on power. good luck with it.

[StackOverflow]

i just checked out the manual pdf for the epox 8rgmi and it says u need a 250w psu minimum !! .. and recommends a 300w. I havent been able to source a psu higher than 230w @ micro atx size (a chieftec mATX psu) ! .. how is it you are using a 200w !? (overclocked at that)
i'm not sure i can just chance it and buy the gear and pray it works

[SteveI]

Originally Posted by StackOverflow

i just checked out the manual pdf for the epox 8rgmi and it says u need a 250w psu minimum !! .. and recommends a 300w. I havent been able to source a psu higher than 230w @ micro atx size (a chieftec mATX psu) ! .. how is it you are using a 200w !? (overclocked at that)
i'm not sure i can just chance it and buy the gear and pray it works

I can't tell you how it works... only that it does. The mATX PSU is actually a cheapo generic too. With cool weather, the CPU was running 2.16ghz @ 1.75v. Heat is a problem in the dinky case, so with the warm weather, I took the side panel off, and it is now running 2.08ghz @ 1.65v. The system currently has a single stick of 512 DDR, 1 16x DVDROM, 1 PCI TV tuner, 1 USB powered wireless G nic, and a 60gig 7200 rpm HDD. The PSU runs hot, so i know it is being pretty stressed. I've been running it this way for about 5 months now. It folds 24/7 and hasn't had any stability problems... I've rebooted maybe 3 times in the last 3 months, and it was only to install software. Will the system burn out?? I have know idea, but so far so good.

BTW, I recall when I was running the CPU @ 1.75v, the voltage lines were ok(within 3-4%). At 1.65v, everything is within 1-2%.

[grimwig]

[quote=StackOverflow]i just checked out the manual pdf for the epox 8rgmi and it says u need a 250w psu minimum !! .. and recommends a 300w. I havent been able to source a psu higher than 230w @ micro atx size (a chieftec mATX psu) ! .. how is it you are using a 200w !? (overclocked at that)
i'm not sure i can just chance it and buy the gear and pray it works [/QUOTE
i have 2 micro axt systems and 1 full axt system the power suplies are all the same size!!

[Áedán]

I have seen some mATX sized PSUs that are supposedly around the 300W mark. 'A Power' and 'Arrow' appear to manufacturer higher powered mATX PSUs. Enermax appear to do a 230W and a 270W PSU too.

A number of the Shuttle systems ship with a 200W PSU. Just make sure that the PSU is well matched to the load on the various voltages!

[StackOverflow]

just a quick follow up on this - I ended up getting a 250 watt psu (seasonic) with an epox 8kmm3i mobo and the pc has been working great. No issues at all.