Is 180w PS enough for a p4 system?

[Chartec]

I am building a system MSI MS-6526-GL-L, Celeron 1.7GHz 478-pin, 256ddr, Maxtor 81GB UDMA133 7200rpm, DVD. I need a small case, the MB is a MicroATX and all the MicroATX cases I see are 180w. Is this enough power for the system I'm building? I usually build XP systems and run 350w minimum power supply but I need compact system.

 

[Windogg]

Official Intel specifications state that the power supply be able to provide 8A@12v for P4 systems. Many SFF cases have power supplies that meet that requirement. Most of time power supplies over 300w are a waste and due to left over misconceptions from the past. A good high quality power will usually fit the bill.

Windogg

 

[dszd0g]

Well, if as Windogg pointed out we are talking official specifications then Intel's ATX Specifications Version 2.1 doesn't mention anything about power supply requirements other than the types of connectors that must be supplied.

Intel's ATX / ATX12V Power Supply Design Guide Version 1.1 specifies ("shall remain"):

Table 3. DC Output Voltage Regulation
Output Range Min Nom Max Unit
+12VDC +-5% +11.40 +12.00 +12.60 Volts
+5VDC +-5% +4.75 +5.00 +5.25 Volts
+3.3VDC +-5% +3.14 +3.30 +3.47 Volts
-5VDC +-10% -4.50 -5.00 -5.50 Volts
-12VDC +-10% -10.80 -12.00 -13.20 Volts
+5VSB +-5% +4.75 +5.00 +5.25 Volts

The specification states that if the power supply has a 12V connector, it is intended that it provide at least ~6A of current per contact. It is recommended to supply at least 10A of +12VDC.

It has typical power distribution graphs starting at 160W power supplies. The 160W power supply has a max +12VDC of 6.0A and a peak of 8.0A, +5VDC Max 18.0A, and +3.3VDC max 15.0A.

All that said, I wouldn't choose to put an 180W power supply on a P4 system.

 

[Windogg]

All that said, I wouldn't choose to put an 180W power supply on a P4 system.

Is your recommendation based on a guess or actual experience? Out of the several dozen SFF P4s I've built, many use 180 - 200w power supplies.

Windogg

 

[BSEagle1]

Pffft
I wouldn't put a 180W in anything. Use atleast a 350 I say!

 

[dszd0g]

Originally posted by: Windogg

Is your recommendation based on a guess or actual experience? Out of the several dozen SFF P4s I've built, many use 180 - 200w power supplies.

It's based on the few times I've had problems with weak power supplies in customers machines, and all the power supply threads I've read here.
I will agree that a SFF PC can get away with less than a big tower, because it isn't going to have many hard drives, fans, and CD/DVD drives.

However, one can get an Enermax 300W power supply for $32 or an Antec TruePower 330W for $53 (Newegg prices). Why not? Is there any reason to spend less than $30 on a power supply and risk problems? I guess if you can't find a microATX case with out a power supply (and that takes standard ATX power supplies) that you like, you really don't have much choice.

 

[dszd0g]

I know that they sell microATX cases with at least 300W power supplies. Here are some examples:

Enlight MicroATX
FK-611 mATX

(3) This case uses regular-size ATX power supply with 4 mounting holes.

 

[Windogg]

Trust me. Big overrated power supplies is a myth from the days when people bought no-name "450w" power supplies. Any high quality 180-200w power supply is more that sufficient for the specs listed. 1.7Ghz P4 Celeron, 256MB DDR, 80GB Maxtor HDD, DVD-ROM, microATX mobo, onboard video, onboard sound, and onboard LAN. You will also get the benefit of a nice silent fan.

We'll wait for some of the other long time members to get in here for their opinion.

Windogg

 

[dszd0g]

Originally posted by: Windogg
Trust me. Big overrated power supplies is a myth from the days when people bought no-name "450w" power supplies. Any high quality 180-200w power supply is more that sufficient for the specs listed. 1.7Ghz P4 Celeron, 256MB DDR, 80GB Maxtor HDD, DVD-ROM, microATX mobo, onboard video, onboard sound, and onboard LAN. You will also get the benefit of a nice silent fan.

Both those cases I linked to sell for less than $50 and come with a 300W power supply from a decent brand. You still haven't answered my question as to what the point in going with an 180-200W power supply when the price savings is insignificant to non-existent?

If the question was someone asking if their current SFF system that has an 180W power supply needs to be upgraded, I would ask if the person was having any stability issues, power on issues, or reboot issues. If none of those issues were present, there is no point in fixing something that isn't broken.

I just don't see the logic in going with a small power supply when nothing is gained and a quick search of these forums will turn up plenty of threads that have been resolved by replacing power supplies. Care to explain your logic?

 

[optimistic]

Originally posted by: Windogg
We'll wait for some of the other long time members to get in here for their opinion.

Windogg

Maybe I'm not long time, but I have experience with micro atx machines. And I whole-heartdly can say you can safely run any P4 system with a 180w PSU -145w will work too- as long as you use a micro ATX motherboard. Also if you ask Hans007 he even built several P4s using 135w for an oem business he worked for.

My experience with small power supplies include

1.7 Celeron @ 2.0GHz 180w SFX PSU
Duron 800w using 145w SFX PSU
Athlon 1.0 TB using 145w SFX PSU
Athlon 1.2 TB using 200w SFX PSU
XP 1700+ using 200w SFX PSU

All run perfectly stable. I don't recommend, though, doing a high overclock in a small case. The heat prevents it from running stable at high OCs. So stick to stock speeds when buidling smal.

 

[stars]

I have used a 160W PSU in my 1.5Ghz P4 rig for over a year with no problems at all. Using Dvd, Cdrw, 1 Hard Drive, 512 DDR, Radeon 8500, and Audigy. Uptimes usually around a few weeks before rebooting w/ Windows 2000. Hope this helps.

 

[arcenite]

I forget what it's rating is, but I use a sub 200w PSU in my HP system, running all the good stuff [old good stuff, but still goodstuff 🙂]

 

[Macro2]

Quality over quantity. Raw wattage as it pertains to power supplies is simply overrated as a measure of quality. Heck you're better off weighing the power supply as a measure of quality.

Heck if E-machines, Gateway, Shuttle, Compaq, Sony etc. can get P4s to run on low wattage power supplies surely you can as well.