PSU mod/upgrade

[Lazaredz]

I currently have an Antec Aria that I have been very pleased with. However, in the near future I will be upgrading most of the hardware inside and am a bit concerned that the 300W PSU will not cut it anymore. The Aria unfortunately has a custom size PSU so just slapping in a new one isn't an option.

I was wondering though if I could transplant the innards of a larger PSU into the Aria PSU case. I don't mind doing a little cutting and such but need to know if the idea is even feasable. I've only replaced the fan in PSUs before so I have no real idea of the size/configuration of the componants.

For referance, here are some pictures of a side by side with a standard ATX PSU and some shots of the the inside of the Aria PSU. The fan in the pic is a standard size 120mm.

Aria PSU

If you have no ideas yourself, perhaps a link to a more suitable forum?

Thx in advance.

 

[Luckyboy1]

What sort of upgrades are you going to be doing? Not all hardware upgrades need an upgrade in power supply.

I've Googled so far without success to find you a power supply upgrade.

 

[Lazaredz]

I'm not exactly sure what will be added at this point. I THINK I'll end up with a Conroe, whatever the mid level next gen Nvidia card is, 2GB ram, X-fi XM, TV Tuner card, DVD +/-, etc.

I know there are no drop in replacements. Just hoping maybe someone with experiance can tell me if I can cram another PSU parts into the Aria PSU case.

 

[Luckyboy1]

Quite frankly, I'd dump any case that doesn't take standard designs.

To do those upgrades, even with Conroe not taking as much power, you'll be starved on the 12 volt side of life at the very least. The problem with cramming standard parts into that power supply box is that the more powerfull parts I'd say are bigger. To start with, the transformer will be bigger. Then all the rectifiers will be bigger and so on and on. If they had to make that power supply fit by making it nonstandard dimensions, I hold little hope out that you could mod it.

And it's a shame too because I bet when you bought that thing everyone was talking about how PCI-e would use less power and all that rot!

Again, I'd dump anything that didn't conform to some standards, especially in power supplies.

 

[Bobthelost]

You could get a higher rated micro ATX PSU, or you could get an external PSU unit, although that would ruin the look of the case.

Here's a 450W (19A) mATX one from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104124

Not sure about the brand though.

 

[Luckyboy1]

I don't think that will fit into the L shaped slot he's dealing with for the power supply mounting area in his case.

 

[Luckyboy1]

hhhmmm, double post, mod please delete!

 

[Bobthelost]

You mean because it'll hit the CPU cooler?

http://reviews.pimprig.com/cases/image.php?url=aria-roomfor1more.jpg

true, but there must be other similar form PSUs around.

If not then you could get something like the tiny little pico PSUs and run two instead of one.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Athena Power is OEMed by Topower and is to be considered good. It does not depend on
elfin majic or sandwiches being thrown into furnaces


...Galvanized