Power Supply Help!!!!!!

[king_panther]

Hey dudes,

I got my nephew a small-form factor Lenovo ThinkCentre M55 as a new computer.
It's only got a PCI-E 1x slot for a video card, so I hunted around & found one.

One problem; it requires a 400w or greater power supply. & the one in the computer is 225w.

Here's the power supply in question, notice the ridge sticking out?

I've tried Googling help to upgrade it, but not having much luck, so I thought I'd ask for help on here

 

[hozza]

Whats the question? That ridge sholdnt matter i normal power supply should fit.

 

[Sleepyvr4]

Probably going to be easier to buy a cheap case than try find a power supply that will fit

 

[king_panther]

Sorry, the question was finding an upgraded power supply that will fit in the chassis. It's a pretty tight fit in this PC.

The motherboard encroaches in the space under where the ridge sticks out.

 

[parepin]

I don't like your chances...
It's often impossible to find upgraded parts that are the same size as custom OEM ones like this. That's how they get it so packed in the small form factor ones.
I agree with Andrew, probably best to find a cheap fullsize case, or maybe a HTPC style one that will fit that motherboard, if it's even a standard Mini/Micro-ATX size.
And if it's that packed in there, I'd have serious concerns about cooling the card too. OEM systems are shocking for airflow.

Good luck!

edit: The other option is ghettoing up a SFX-sized PSU meant for a small system such as this...
http://umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=140&bid=2&sid=65664

 

[fieldy107]

I have a stack of broken down Lenovo computers at work. it's like they were designed to fail once out of warranty, 3 died within a 2 month period ( we only had about 6 in total). The lesson here is, stay away from pre packaged pcs, build your own or have someone build it to your specs.

 

[Interloper]

if desperate and plenty of time you could try and transplant the internals from the higher rated PSU into that form....

 

[king_panther]

It's just a cheap ex-government PC, but is absolutely dust free & spotless inside. I didn't want a tower as not enough space where it has to go, & a LCD monitor will sit on top of it.

Have had it for a couple of weeks now & has been running flawlessly until this came up. The videocard is a purpose small form factor size for these types of computers, just the damn powersupply is now the issue.

 

[king_panther]

Idea;

Can a run ATX/SATA power extension cables to an external power supply?

 

[jonesyVR4]

MSY

$39.00

 

[Interloper]

Idea;

Can a run ATX/SATA power extension cables to an external power supply?

yes and good idea

 

[king_panther]

MSY

$39.00

Yea that's no good mate. Fan is in the wrong spot for starters....

I found a slim power supply on Ebay that 'might' fit. Will need to measure the space in the chassis.

 

[fieldy107]

Have you tried running it on the 320w power supply? manufacturers often get a little bit carried away with minimum power specs, just to be safe of course, but they have no idea how much power your computer is consuming already. So if the 320w power supply is running a CPU with low power consumption and minimal amounts of devices (hdds, cdroms etc), it might still have enough juice in it to power the card. Just a thought, if it works it could save you some trouble.

 

[VOLK]

+1 fieldy. The amount of times I heard "you're running two video cards? fkn ZOMG you need a 1000w+ psu"

Good site for calculating actual power requirements that I've used a whole bunch: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

You might already have enough wattage.

 

[king_panther]

But it doesn't have a 320w supply, only a 225w.

 

[Shamwow]

Sorry to change topic.... but does that say $2.40 for a schooner?

 

[king_panther]

Sorry to change topic.... but does that say $2.40 for a schooner?

lol no. $2.40 for a member's price on a bottle of Mineral Water

 

[fieldy107]

But it doesn't have a 320w supply, only a 225w.

Oh thought I read 320w, 225w is rather low lol

 

[Nitephyre]

You're pretty buggered Bradeous. I also wouldn't recommend using another power supply with extension cables etc as if you get slightly different variances in voltage etc it can make shit go bye bye.

Have you actually tried another video card yet?

 

[Ernz1981]

i agree with matt above...don't recommend running a psu not oem which isn't meant for that kind of case/mb combo

you'll find that the voltage regulators aren't cooled properly.........and when running a powerful aftermarket graphics card you'll break the motherboard..due to the higher temps..

everything in those kind of cases is "engineered" kinda of like our Galants/legnums...tight fit and everything is positioned in it's spot for a reason and a pita to work on...