Power Sources and Small Form PCs

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  1. 04-19-2006, 04:33 PM #1
    Statarius
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    Power Sources and Small Form PCs

    I'm coming to find out that messing with small form PC hardware is about as easy to learn as with laptops, but a friend recommended these (rather promising-looking) forums and I just had to try.

    Specifically, the current 64MB video card in my IC-VL67 (Ice Cube from FIC) is crying to be released, but every sufficient upgrade has a power recommendation that is above the system's current 200W.

    Are there units out there with higher wattages that will fit in a small-form PC? Is there a way of 'tweaking' what I have to produce the needed 350 or so watts?

    Any help is greatly appreciated.

    Pax,
    Last edited by Statarius; 04-19-2006 at 06:09 PM.
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  2. 04-19-2006, 05:29 PM #2
    ua549
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    AFAIK the power supplies for SFF cases are proprietary. I doubt if you can find a 350 watt SFF power supply for your case. Have you checked with FIC technical support?
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  3. 04-19-2006, 06:06 PM #3
    Statarius
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    Quote Originally Posted by ua549
    AFAIK the power supplies for SFF cases are proprietary. I doubt if you can find a 350 watt SFF power supply for your case.
    Just the encouraging response I was looking for.


    Have you checked with FIC technical support?
    I wrote them a few days ago, but no reply yet.

    Perhaps I'm simply discovering why SFFs aren't more popular....
    Last edited by Statarius; 04-19-2006 at 06:07 PM.
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  4. 04-19-2006, 06:17 PM #4
    ua549
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    More important is to get the physical dimensions of your PS and try to match them to othe SFF power supplies. The biggest one I've seen is a 300 watt model.

    How did you come up with the 350 watt requirement?
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  6. 04-19-2006, 06:57 PM #5
    Statarius
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    Quote Originally Posted by ua549
    More important is to get the physical dimensions of your PS and try to match them to othe SFF power supplies. The biggest one I've seen is a 300 watt model.
    Awesome idea, danko.

    How did you come up with the 350 watt requirement?
    My search for just the right video card pointed to the XFX GeForce 6600, which a review said needed 300-350W. Of course you're going to ask which review said it, but I'd have to get back to you on that.
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  7. 04-20-2006, 10:19 AM #6
    ewitte
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    Its going to be fine. Here is something to keep in mind. SFF machines are going to take less power elsewhere such as the MB. Your going to have to worry more about heat off of a higher powered video card. My HP SFF machine is overclocked from 1.6Ghz to 2.1Ghz (Celeron M), has a 200GB 7200RPM hard drive and normal DVD burner and all on a 90Watt PSU. Overclocking the CPU added about 6-8Watts but it went down when I pulled out their PCI modem that was not needed (5watts or so).
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  8. 04-20-2006, 04:07 PM #7
    Statarius
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    Quote Originally Posted by ewitte
    Its going to be fine.
    Hahaha, you'll have to be more specific. Do you mean I'll be fine with the 200W?

    Here is something to keep in mind. SFF machines are going to take less power elsewhere such as the MB. Your going to have to worry more about heat off of a higher powered video card.
    That might have been my second question - again, given the limited space in an SFF. I guess I'll just have to place heatsinks using good ol' fashioned creativity.
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  9. 04-20-2006, 04:17 PM #8
    ua549
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    That power supply is 220 watts according to the general specs. They don't state how many watts are for each voltage.

    With the PS model number you should be able to determine exactly how many watts it produces for each voltage. One can easily run out of watts at one voltage and still have plenty of watts for a different voltage.

    What are the video card's specific power requirements? How many watts for each voltage it uses?
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  11. 04-20-2006, 04:46 PM #9
    ewitte
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    The 220 might be enough but I was referring to the 300W. I think the 6600GT does not have an external power connector on the AGP version. Wouldn't that put its usage at a maximum of 40W?

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  12. 04-20-2006, 04:49 PM #10
    Statarius
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    Quote Originally Posted by ua549
    What are the video card's specific power requirements? How many watts for each voltage it uses?
    According to the manual:
    "At least 300W system power supply."

    And unfortunately I can't answer the second question, as the subject of specific "voltages" is a bit over my head, and internet inquiries have yet to edumacate me.
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  13. 04-20-2006, 04:57 PM #11
    ua549
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    What is the brand and model number of the video card?
    What is the brand and model number of the hard drive?
    What is the brand and model number of the optical drive?
    What else is installed in the system?
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  14. 04-24-2006, 04:44 AM #12
    kpxgq
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    iva ran a x800xt and a 6800ultra in my old biostar 200N small form factor PC... it only had a 250watt PSU... and that was also with a heavy overclock, dual SATA hard drives and a DVD burner... ive had no stability problems whatsoever
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  15. 04-24-2006, 07:45 AM #13
    ewitte
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    In actuallity it will handle whatever does not overheat it. Although at reduced life. Unless your water cooling it
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  16. 04-26-2006, 08:01 PM #14
    estranged
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    Water cooling does not work. PERIOD.

    You best bet is to apply thermodynamical disposition on the external copper case.
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  17. 04-26-2006, 08:19 PM #15
    Kero-chan
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    Quote Originally Posted by estranged
    Water cooling does not work. PERIOD.

    You best bet is to apply thermodynamical disposition on the external copper case.
    +1 :iws: LOL
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