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Will today's PSU fit inside an older ATX case?

K

kjackson09

Member
I have a couple of 6 year old Antec cases (Sonata and 1080AMG). I am looking to upgrade with new motherboard, CPU, video card and I am pretty sure the power supply isn't sufficient.

This is a dumb question, but will today's PSU needed to support say an Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge i7 rig fit inside these cases? Or should I be looking for something new altogether? I want to keep my existing case if possible, but not a deal breaker.

Many thanks.
 
Thats the beauty of standards, if its labeled as an ATX form factor than it will fit ALL ATX form factor things, reguardless of how new or old.
 
That isn't entirely true. While they may have the same mounting points, some newer psu's can be too long to fit in some older cases. You have to check the depth.
 
What video card are you looking it? I wouldn't be so sure your PSU isn't sufficient depending on your choice seeing as you are currently running an 8600GT. If you kept in that price range, your PSU very well will be sufficient.
 
Nightrainsrt4 said:
That isn't entirely true. While they may have the same mounting points, some newer psu's can be too long to fit in some older cases. You have to check the depth.
Click to expand...

An ATX PSU should fit an ATX case, otherwise it's not an ATX. Just because different revisions of the form factor abound does not mean standards are not standards. One just needs to be aware of their hardware's specifications.
 
Nightrainsrt4 said:
That isn't entirely true. While they may have the same mounting points, some newer psu's can be too long to fit in some older cases. You have to check the depth.
Click to expand...

100% correct. I had to get a new case when I built my new system 2 years ago because the new ATX psu was too long for the old ATX case.
 
weez82 said:
100% correct. I had to get a new case when I built my new system 2 years ago because the new ATX psu was too long for the old ATX case.
Click to expand...

I forgot about length, most PSU's are fine, but some of the HUGE 1kw+ PSU's are longer than normal. Be sure you know the length.
 
philipma1957 said:
I do not know your budget or your watts needed but this will work for you.


http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2241078



this is 6.3" x 5.9" x 3.4"

this is a good deal and is on the small size for an atx it fits in my MicroAtx rosewill case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147123


It can run an I7 and any single gpu card no problem
Click to expand...

that's a good deal for that supply but it's probably way more than necessary to be expended. unless you're paying $1/kw*hr the cost difference between that 750 and a more pedestrian xfx/seasonic/antec/corsair 600-750 watt PSU will never be made up from the better* efficiency



*power supply efficiency curves being what they are, depending on the components used the OP may draw less power under the usual usage case with a supply that is bronze or silver but rated at less watts
 
ElFenix said:
that's a good deal for that supply but it's probably way more than necessary to be expended. unless you're paying $1/kw*hr the cost difference between that 750 and a more pedestrian xfx/seasonic/antec/corsair 600-750 watt PSU will never be made up from the better* efficiency



*power supply efficiency curves being what they are, depending on the components used the OP may draw less power under the usual usage case with a supply that is bronze or silver but rated at less watts
Click to expand...

yeah a 750 watt psu is a lot of power. nice unit for 119.99.

I would have listed the antec ea 450 platinum for 85 bucks but it sold out before he posted.
 
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There should be no problem unless the case isn't very deep, front-back, and you have old CD or DVD drives that are 7.5" long (newer ones are 1" shorter), and the power supply is modular (protrudes an extra 0.5-1.0").
 
TemjinGold said:
What video card are you looking it? I wouldn't be so sure your PSU isn't sufficient depending on your choice seeing as you are currently running an 8600GT. If you kept in that price range, your PSU very well will be sufficient.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information, I was looking at something like a GTX 480 or 560Ti card. If my current power supply could handle this it would make life very easy.
 
As long as it's standard size, a new PSU should fit. I recently installed a new 750W supply into a 10-year-old Antec case, and it fit perfectly.
 
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