Using an old PSU to power an AM2 board

[DisgruntledVirus]

Random question, but I upgraded to a Core i7 rig and my gf is using my old AM2 system. The only extra power supply I have is an Antec 550 watt PSU, that I've had for about 4 years now. The problem is that because of it's age, it doesn't have a 24 pin 12v connector nor does it have an 8 pin aux for the mobo (only has a 4 pin).

Well, I hooked it up and it powers the system (burned in and no issues), but am wondering if I either 1 need to buy adapters to the 24/8 pin connectors or if running it that way is fine (since it boots and under load is perfectly fine)? More questioning the long term stability and if it will cause a shortened life span of the system. Any thoughts?

 

[jonnyGURU]

What's the rest of the build that Antec will be powering?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
What's the rest of the build that Antec will be powering?

AMD 5200+, 2 gb DDR 2, Nvidia 7950GT, 250 gb WD PATA HD, and SATA Samsung Lightscribe drive.

 

[jonnyGURU]

So you're using a Molex to PCIe to power the graphics card?

Hmm.... You might be ok, but you're also pushing a lot of +12V on a +5V heavy PSU.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
So you're using a Molex to PCIe to power the graphics card?

Hmm.... You might be ok, but you're also pushing a lot of +12V on a +5V heavy PSU.

So, I should swap it when I can?

 

[jonnyGURU]

When you can, yeah. If it's that old of a 550W, it's probably one of the ones with the Fuhjyyu capacitors that leak after time....

 

[BushLin]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
When you can, yeah. If it's that old of a 550W, it's probably one of the ones with the Fuhjyyu capacitors that leak after time....

Wow, didn't know this board had Jonny on here, I'd take his word for it. (great reviews on your site btw)
Incidentally, every Antec power supply that I, friends or collegues have owned are now dead. Even one which came with a rack mounted case. I like their cases sometimes but wouldn't touch their PSUs again.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Originally posted by: BushLin

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
When you can, yeah. If it's that old of a 550W, it's probably one of the ones with the Fuhjyyu capacitors that leak after time....

Wow, didn't know this board had Jonny on here, I'd take his word for it. (great reviews on your site btw)
Incidentally, every Antec power supply that I, friends or collegues have owned are now dead. Even one which came with a rack mounted case. I like their cases sometimes but wouldn't touch their PSUs again.

Their newer PSUs are just fine. They don't have crap Fuhjyyus in them.


For what it is worth, I'm running an AM2 X2 4400+ with a 9600GSO, 1GB DDR2, and HD off of an old Antec truepower 330W, molex->PCIe adapter for the video and just the 20pin in the 24 pin socket and it has been fine for many months I did recap it though, the fuhjyyus blew up in it a long time ago when my bro still had it in his old AXP rig. I kinda wonder how long it will last but it has been purring along for over a year now

Won't be that way much longer, I sold the CPU/board/RAM to someone.

 

[Beanie46]

Originally posted by: BushLin
I like their cases sometimes but wouldn't touch their PSUs again.

Then you're really missing out on some of the best built power supplies on the market now. By best, I refer to the Signature line of Antec's.....very little out there comes close to matching them, much less outperforming them.

And for value, I refer you to the True Power New line, which perform almost as well (within a hair) as higher priced units from Seasonic, Corsair, etc.....great value for the $$.

 

[OddJensen]

Yeah, the Truepower New 650W @ $99 is great value. I'd trust them now that they have gone and presented some of the greatest units on the market such as the Signatures. They may have had some turkeys in the past, but everyone can get better. And Antec seems to have gone the right way.