smallest power supply?

[randomlinh]

what's the smallest power supply (physically) you all know that can power an XP 1800+ and say, 3-4 HD's, one cd, gf2 (later whatever is good for doom3 ).... as you can see, i'm going for a small computer case but the powersupply is going to cramp on size

Any opinions liked
Linh

 

[randomlinh]

^

 

[FlowerMan]

All of the small PSs I have seen are for notebooks or MATX cases. Unfortunately they have all been under 200W, which is definitely not enough for an AMD machine. I would suggest getting a powerful ATX PS, then removing the casing to reduce the space it requires. Many have done this with success, but you must be careful when working around those powerful CAPs

 

[Becks2k]

bleh i had written a reply for this thread but i had a swear and got pissed when it said i coudln't post it and had to rewrite it nad i hit something and it cleared my post....

anyways yea i said same thingl.... take the ps outa the box... it'll save room just isnt' save.

the only other option MAYBE would be,if you had money to waste... some companies make redundant powersupplies that fit in a normal sized spot. Its split down the middle... i've seen 300w ones. They're made to keep runnign when 1/2 of it dies so i guess you could just pull one 1/2 out and use it to power your system.

http://www.directron.com/lib/directron/4054inside

for example... dunno if you could just wire up 1/2 of it.

dunno where you can find replacements either... probably could ask directron where you're supposed to buy another... pointless to have a redundant powersupply if you can't fix it.

 

[Jhhnn]

Maybe something like this, scary price, though:

<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.power-on.com/power-on/1uat1uatxpow1.html
">Link</a>

Or removing the casing from a standard atx unit- the internals of the Enermax units are actually pretty small, very compact....

 

[CanOWorms]

I've actually seen a mod that some people do that can help you.. they take an old CD-ROM and empty the insides out. They open up the power supply and take out the heatsinks (I think) and put everything minus the heatsinks into the empty 5.25 cd-rom. Then they cut 2 holes in the lid and put small fans in there as compensation for the missing heatsinks.

I'll see if I can find the link!

 

[CanOWorms]

Make your own Slimline ATX PSU

 

[randomlinh]

anyone know how long the caps are charged for PS? nothin like monitors right.....

that cdrom thing sounds like what i want to do....

thanks for the link

 

[Becks2k]

i dunno... normaly i unplug the powersupply and hit the power button a few times... you can see the fans try to spin up they'll make 1/2 a rotation maybe... i figure that uses up all the power left in the power supply. Just don't touch the caps and you'll be fine

 

[randomlinh]

they guy says use a screwdriver... no idea what he means by that...

it seems a lot riskier than i really want to try.. but cool as hell. heh.

but if anyone has any other suggestions for small ps.. i'm open to em

 

[Evadman]

<< they guy says use a screwdriver... no idea what he means by that... >>



The caps are charged on the top. just take a screwdriver, and toucch the screwdriver from the top of the cap to the power supply metal. It will discharge the cap. CAps can hold a charge almost forever if they are good quality. Well, maybe up to a week or so.

Check your Powersupply for height. I just checked my Sparkle supply ( a 200 watt I had laying around ) and the tallest part is not the caps. It is a LARGE transformer between the 2 heatsinks. I almost started cutting up the heatsinks when I thought to double check that it would fit. With that, it WILL NOT fit in a regular CD-Rom. By maybe 1/4". Darnit.

So, check first.

 

[Woody419]

This 1.6" high power supply from PC Power & Cooling should work perfectly in your new setup.

 

[Evadman]

The 300 Watt in Woody's link is $90. Not bad at all for a 1u 300 PWS.

New tidbit fo info if you are cutting heatsinks with a dremmel. I was unable to unatach one of the heatsinks on my sparkle PWS, so I started cutting through the aluminum with it still being connected. I was holding the PCB ( the printed circuit board ) not the heatsink. When the first blade wore down and I started to change said blade, the PWS fell off my table. When I grabbed it out of the air, I discovered something. the heatsink was HOT. I mean SUPER HOT! I gave myself burns. OMG that hurt. ( and still does, trust me )

Be careful when cutting yours. It is called a HEATsink for a reason :Q