What PSU should I buy to upgrade a Pavilion TP01-0066 to 500W+?

[DJFleischman]

I need to purchase a new PSU, knowing they are proprietary in newer HP machines, I assume I have to buy from here. I want to install a GTX 970, but lack the wattage to power it. And I want to have extra wattage for my future upgrades. Thanks.

[itsmyname]

@DJFleischman -- is this your computer: HP Pavilion Desktop - TP01-0066 Product Specifications | HP® Customer Support

It lists: 310 W Gold efficiency power supply

From: https://www.newegg.ca/msi-geforce-gtx-970-vdgtx970gm4g/p/N82E16814137044?Description=GTX%20970

it lists: 

System Requirements:
* Power consumption: 145W
Power Connector:
* 1 x 6-Pin + 1 x 8-Pin

Does your current power-supply have both those connectors?

From: AMD Ryzen™ 7 3700X|Ryzen™ Desktop Processors | AMD

the processor only consumes 65 Watts.

So, your current power-supply  (310 Watts) should be enough to give 145 Watts to the video-card, and 75 Watts for the processor, leaving  100 Watts for everything else (CD/DVD, SSD, fans, USB ports).

You should replace any "spinning" disk-drive by an SSD, which consumes only a few watts, and gives much faster performance than any "spinning" disk-drive.

So, what upgrades are you contemplating adding that could consume those 100 Watts?  Probably, nothing. Correct?

[DJFleischman]

Iirc i said i want to add in a gtx 970 which reccomends 400 watts at least. I need an upgrade

[itsmyname]

@DJFleischman -- your current power-supply produces 310 watts. The specifications for the 970 report that it needs 145 watts. So, you have 165 watts available for "everything else" inside your computer.

Most processors require 65 to 100 watts. That leaves 65 watts for your fans, your CD/DVD drive, your disk-drive, your USB ports, and your motherboard.  That should be sufficient.   What other components do you have that might consume any wattage?

Give it a try, before spending any money on upgrading the power-supply.