Replace or Upgrade PSU?

[TuckerBanks]

Hi,

I've been a Pavilion Desktop 510-p030 owner since February. It's June now, so after four months of use, the computer's power supply unit is showing signs of going bad (random and frequent app crashes, screen suddenly going back to login screen, etc.).

As you may know, the Pavilion Desktop 510-p030 has a very limited 180W PSU. I know the symptoms of a deteriorating PSU that's putting out inadaquate power. India call center was utterly useless, as their script has no provisions for a deteriorating PSU that still has enough power to turn on the PC. All I needed was a warranty repair authorization from them, so I can ship the PC to HP for a PSU replacement. But I don't need to release a rant of disparaging remarks about them here.

I could take the PC to Best Buy Geek Squad. They're supposed to honor the manufacturer's warranty and do the repair. It'll come back with the exact same 180W PSU that will eventually deteriorate and give me the same problem. But it's free, minus the gas it costs me to drive to Best Buy.

Or should I just go out of pocket and buy myself a 550W PSU and not worry about inadaquate power for a couple of years? It's a shortcoming by design on HP's part to give me ony 180W, and no amount of warranty repair will get that upgraded to a more powerful PSU. It's only the idea of paying out of pocket (for an upgrade) while the PC is still under warranty that burns me with rage. What would you do?

[Grzwacz · Accepted solution]

Hi Tucker

The first thing I would do is measure the current 180 watt power supply. Check the mounting points where the existing power supply is secured to the chassis. It may not be configured to industry standards.

I have heard there is a special power connector required to send power to the Ultra Slim CD/DVD drive. Never worked on one of these HP PC's so can't verify if this is true.

If the power supply dimensions and the case mount points are standard and you have standard power connector to the optical drive then check out:

Corsair

Super Flower

Seasonic, or

EVGA

I would replace the power supply, if it is possible and you are okay with working inside the chassis, with a better product.

Grzy

[TuckerBanks]

You sold me on the idea of replacing the power supply unit with a better product, warranty fix be damned.

My previous PC was an Ivy Bridge i7, so I've been enjoying my new Skylake i7 PC, just until a few days ago. I've only been suspect of the 180W PSU.

I know I should buy a tester and measure the power output of the current PSU. I think a decent tester is going to cost more than the PSU brands you recommended. I'll do the brash thing and purchase a new PSU from Amazon or Newegg. (Working inside the chassis is perfectly within my comfort zone.)