Case & Power Supply Question

**Ironfly** · 10-26-2003, 01:27 PM

Needing to upgrade...I'm looking to get the P4 3.0 800 FSB, ASUS P4C800-E, and 2 sticks of PC3200 64x64 542MB ram... got the suggestions from this board, so thanks guys for all of the discussion here...however, how do I know whether or not my present case and 300W power supply is ok? Currently have a PIII 800 with an Abit MB...should I look into more fans also? Many thanks...haven't had a great frame rates since '98, so its time.

**rhodges** · 10-26-2003, 01:39 PM

Iornfly:

I have a P43.2 with the ASUS P4C800 Deluxe and 1G/400 Memory.

For what it is worth, I bought a new house case and 430Watt Power Supply to go with it. I had all kinds of problems only while running FS9. Turned out to be the X brand Power Supply. Patched in my old 300 Watt from the computer I was upgrading, and everything worked great. (Tripple monitors too). I have since replaced it with a good name brand 430 Watt model and everything is ok. By the old weight theory, the good 300 and 400 Watt models outweighed X brand about three to one.

You might try your present unit and see how everything performs if you have had a good track record with it. In any case, be sure you get a namebrand which has a proven record if you buy a new unit.

Good luck:
RTH

**Ironfly** · 10-26-2003, 01:57 PM

So, 300W should be sufficient here, if the PS has had a solid track record up to now? Is it the video card, if I choose the next upgrade to the ATI 9800 Pro, that requires more power...thanks again, and since you didn't mention it, I guess the new motherboards will fit into the older ATX case ok? Just trying making sure I've lined up my ducks before I punch in an order.

**Trev** · 10-26-2003, 04:29 PM

Also make sure your power supply is P4 compatible. It should say so on the case of the power supply. It should have 2 power leads, one that plugs into the main power connector on your mother board, and a smaller power connector that also plugs into a seperate connector on your mother board.

Trevor:)

**stratfordwill** · 10-26-2003, 04:49 PM

300W will drive your processor just fine. You'll only need a bigger PSU if you've got lots of hard drives, fans, and other stuff that draws more power.

And you've waited till a good time to buy anew processor, the top of the line intels should be dropping by around 35% in price real soon.

From Tom's Hardware:

Intel and Advanced Micro Devices will cut desktop chip prices in the next few days to usher in the holiday PC-buying season. "Intel will reduce the cost of its Pentium 4 desktop chips by between 7 percent and 35 percent on Oct. 26, with the most expensive chips receiving the biggest whack, according to sources close to the company."

Lee