can a power supply be too big for a computer

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flamingelephant

Golden Member
Jun 22, 2001
1,182
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Wifes old AT P3 is acting up... actually, it wont even turn on. suspect the PSU is toast (again, replaced 6 mo ago) its a tiny 250W, but its a tiny basic system. Can I put a bigger one in there and everything still hum along nicely?

EDIT: picked up a 400W PSU last night, installed and seems to be humming along nicely. Price was a bit more than I thought, but I guess thats what you get in a town with only 50K. Neat shop I got it from tho, internet-gaming/computer shop. Nice set-up, kinda swanky lookin'... which is wierd for the 'geek-dom' that one would expect
 
F

five40

Golden Member
Oct 4, 2004
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You don't have to worry about putting a huge one in there. It will work fine. More power available won't hurt anything.
 
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Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
It will be fine. The bigger question is why would you want to waste the electricity on a 400-500W PSU when you can pick up a measly 250W one for $20... unless you have it on hand already.
 
Confused

Confused

Elite Member
Nov 13, 2000
14,166
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Originally posted by: Injury
It will be fine. The bigger question is why would you want to waste the electricity on a 400-500W PSU when you can pick up a measly 250W one for $20... unless you have it on hand already.
Click to expand...

:roll:

The PSU will only use as much power as is needed. If the draw is only 200W, then it will only draw 200W (plus any inefficiencies) from the wall.
 
yukichigai

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
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No, you'll be fine. As long as all the voltages are correct -- and they pretty much have to be -- you'll be fine. The amperage -- the other part of the wattage if I remember anything from EE 201 -- is basically an upper limit on what can be pulled, not what it puts out. It'll only pull as much wattage as it needs, no more.
 
T

Trygve

Golden Member
Aug 1, 2001
1,428
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Apart from making sure the new supply isn't physically too large for the computer, the other issue I've run into is that power supplies require a minimum current draw to turn on, and an older motherboard with few accessories may not have that much draw. I've used some large Delta supplies (and some other brands) that wouldn't start until I hooked up a full-height 5-1/4" hard drive to one of the 4-pin power connectors. Doesn't happen often, but I keep a big, old hard drive handy just for this purpose.
 
I

Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
Originally posted by: Confused
Originally posted by: Injury
It will be fine. The bigger question is why would you want to waste the electricity on a 400-500W PSU when you can pick up a measly 250W one for $20... unless you have it on hand already.
Click to expand...

:roll:

The PSU will only use as much power as is needed. If the draw is only 200W, then it will only draw 200W (plus any inefficiencies) from the wall.
Click to expand...

I did not know that. Now I do.
 
D

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: Injury
Originally posted by: Confused
Originally posted by: Injury
It will be fine. The bigger question is why would you want to waste the electricity on a 400-500W PSU when you can pick up a measly 250W one for $20... unless you have it on hand already.
Click to expand...

:roll:

The PSU will only use as much power as is needed. If the draw is only 200W, then it will only draw 200W (plus any inefficiencies) from the wall.
Click to expand...

I did not know that. Now I do.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: for Confused

and :thumbsup: for Injury

It is possible to pick up info on AT :shocked:
 
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