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Can I upgrade the Pavilion Slimline 180 Watt PSU to a 300 Watt PSU
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05-14-2009 01:29 AM - edited 11-15-2009 05:17 AM
Of course you can!
Here is an informative video on possibilities for upgrading your slimline PSU found on YouTube. A comparison of three PSUs, including the HP proprietary PSU, and stress testing (both video and CPU) and noise comparison is shown during the video.
Be aware that some, but not all, of the PSU upgrades require a slight and simple modification of your slimline PSU bracket.Modification depends on the model of PSU chosen for the upgrade.
The purchase of a molex adapter as HP PSUs is required for Slimlines that use a PSU with the proprietary microfit ATX 24 pin format as the standard for HTPC PSUs is ATX 20 pin format.
Upgrading your PSU to one with a higher wattage rating will not damage your motherboard. A PSU will only supply as much power as is demanded of it by the motherboard and peripherals up to the rated capacity of the installed PSU.
This is for those who wondered how to get around the limitation of the low wattage 180 Watt PSU that most Pavilion Slimline PCs come with from assembly. With an upgraded PSU, more memory and a low-profile graphics card, including the bracket (this is a requirement) your Slimline can be your gaming PC.
Selecting a graphics card is another subject. Not all graphics cards will fit inside the case of a slimline. A low profile video card is required. They are available for purchase online.
erico
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Re: Upgrading Pavilion Slimline 180 Watt PSU to a 300 Watt PSU
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05-14-2009 05:37 AM
1,000,000,000 kudos for Erico. Great post. Debunks lots of myths and hearsay's. ![]()
Re: Upgrading Pavilion Slimline 180 Watt PSU to a 300 Watt PSU
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05-14-2009 07:53 AM
Novice users should also pay attention to the quality of the PSU. Look for a unit that's rated to delivery at least 300W continuous into +12VDC at 40C or higher ambient temperature. DO NOT rely on the generic total wattage of the PSU.
The slimline case will not accept a mid to high-end graphic card. Therefore, don't expect to run the latest games will all the bells and whistles. Case ventilation will be an issue, since these units are not meant to dissipate a lot of heat.
In summary, these machines are meant for web browsing and office duties. I would not attempt to convert a slimline to a decent gaming rig. A decent E5300 CPU/MB combo is only $100. This rig can be overclocked to a minimum of 3.4GHz. Use it as the foundation of your gaming rig.
Re: Upgrading Pavilion Slimline 180 Watt PSU to a 300 Watt PSU
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11-14-2009 01:37 PM
Hey Royal, A thought just occurred to me. Taking my situation as an example, the slimline is on a shelf (laying on it's side) in the entertainment center. So, I'm thinking of replacing the wimpy internal supply with a larger unit that would sit behind the computer, pretty much out of view.
I would think the only issue would be extending all the cables into the computer, which may not be an issue as desktop supplies have very long cables.
Any gotchas with this plan?
Cheers, GA
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11-14-2009 01:57 PM
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Re: Upgrading Pavilion Slimline 180 Watt PSU to a 300 Watt PSU
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11-14-2009 02:10 PM
Oh, thanks OG. New to the HP forums myself.
My new 5200z has fours fans, so I would think there's quite a bit of cooling going on.
Guess I was wondering if there were any proprietary connectors from the supply. Perhaps not as 3rd party units work.
I just purchased an Asus vid card that states it draws less than 20watts at full load, so hoping this works in the slimline w/ a 220w PSU.
Will let you know.
GA
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11-14-2009 04:28 PM
Re: Upgrading Pavilion Slimline 180 Watt PSU to a 300 Watt PSU
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11-14-2009 04:32 PM
How were the repairs handled: onsite, ship to depot, or parts shipped to you (and you replace)?
Sounds terrible! The warranty is only a year, so I imagine after that you'll just replace the mobo with a decent quality unit.
I guess I can't complain: I purchased thru APP, and had a $50 coupon, so the silly thing was ~~ $280
GA
Re: Upgrading Pavilion Slimline 180 Watt PSU to a 300 Watt PSU
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11-15-2009 03:09 AM - edited 11-15-2009 04:40 AM
Hi Gene,
GeneAum wrote:Hey Royal, A thought just occurred to me. Taking my situation as an example, the slimline is on a shelf (laying on it's side) in the entertainment center. So, I'm thinking of replacing the wimpy internal supply with a larger unit that would sit behind the computer, pretty much out of view.
I would think the only issue would be extending all the cables into the computer, which may not be an issue as desktop supplies have very long cables.
Any gotchas with this plan?
Cheers, GA
That method is only viable when testing a PC with the case side left open. Slimline PC's just don't have the cooling airflow of standard PC's. As a long term solution would tend to shorten the life of the chipset on the motherboard.
BTW...you stated that your 5200z has four fans. That is a bit unusual. Normally a standard OEM PC has a rear fan and a CPU cooling fan and nothing more except the PSU built in fan. A slimline PC has even less space to add fans that a standard ATX footprint PC does. I take it you installed more fans than it was delivered with.
regards,
erico
Help others by clicking on the "Accept As Solution" button if my suggestion resolves the issue you were having
****I am a volunteer, I don't work for Microsoft or HP****
2014 Microsoft MVP - Microsoft Windows Expert - Consumer
Re: Upgrading Pavilion Slimline 180 Watt PSU to a 300 Watt PSU
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12-21-2009 11:56 PM
erico,
Is it possible to use a stand alone PSU outside the case to power the HD and DVD/CD and leave the onboard PSU for the mother board? Would that free up enough wattage for a decent graphics card?
