HP Compaq 8100 elite” tower’s power supply (320Watt) upgradation

[tmw61]

Can be power supply (320Watt) of “HP Compaq 8100 elite”  upgraded;  need to install video card EVGA GeForce 6800 GS 256MB PCI-E Graphics Card require minimum power supply of a 350 Watt .

[Saif_ad-Din]

HP Compaq 8100 Elite is a desktop, isn't it? Unlike notebooks, desktops allow the user to change any part pretty easily, so yes, the power supply unit can be replaced with a better one.

I'm not sure about your machine's exact specifications, but the temperature inside it may go, at least, a few degrees up. Installing a piece of equipment whose power usage outweights the rest of the system is no joke.

[tmw61]

 Continuation of my question:

My question is not replied, as it should be, secondly it is easy to find detailed specifications doing google. Again; can I install 320+350=670W or higher PSU in hp Compaq 8100 elite, or alternately can a separate PSU can do this job (external or internal) e.g. directly supply power to video card (not to MBO), make sure MBO not frying?

[Saif_ad-Din]

Okay, sorry for the delay.

In fact, power consumption values are given in the specs of only a few graphics cards. Even the best-known manufacturers don't say how much power their products actually consume. That leads to a great deal of confusion.

I understand your concern. But forget what i wrote earlier: the graphics card that interests you simply can't consume 350W of power. You see, it was designed and manufactured somewhere around the year 2005. Back then graphics cards consumed a lot less than they do now. But even today the wattage of a hi-end graphics card is normally only around 300W, in case it's not heavily loaded/overclocked (well, by "hi-end" i don't mean "enormous megalomaniac fire-breathing beast"; just a higher-than-average gaming card). There's a nice graph displaying the wattages of most older graphics cards. According to it, the GeForce 6800 GS consumes as little as 55W at full load! 2005 is not even the previous generation; it's "ye good olde days" in terms of computers industry. In addition, I surfed the Internet for the same question, and this topic confirmed my assumption.

Well, let's take some precautionary measures. We may assume that this graph isn't completely trustworthy, and the graphics card consumes 100-120W of power. We can also take into account that a lot of manufacturers import the same Chinese power supply units with a lousy quality and efficiency (unfortunately, even some famous and seemingly reliable brands do that), so we shall add up another 100W just in case. Nevertheless, a 500W PSU will be more than enough for your entire system, even if you push it to the limit of its capabilities. Well, once again, I don't know the exact specifications of your computer, and I cannot google them, because, according to its manual, this particular model comes with 10 different CPUs and 9 different graphics cards. However, my pet, for instance, has a 95W CPU on board (official datasheet), a graphics card which consumes up to 150W (the same graph) plus two HDDs and the rest of sundries. I'm no overclocker, but I'm quite a bit into gaming, and a 430W OEM PSU (which is highly possible to be such a Chinese fake) handles everything without BSODs, lags, and throttles.

There's also a pecularity about the electric current value (in amps) which may lead to the emergency shutdown of some power units. This problem, however, is very unlikely to emerge. Connecting an additional PSU is also possible, but this trick is absolutely unjustified and smells with black magic.

[tmw61]

Hi

I still not understand your thesis and what you meant for all of this. It is very unusual that you could not find the specification for desktop tower hp compaq 8100 elite. In your reply at  3rd block line 6 (   I don't know the exact specifications of your computer…….)

Please follow below given  link and read all informations and exact specifications of hp compaq 8100 elite, within this,  for power supply go at page 18 ; MBO power consumption 320W and PSU installed 320W http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/13524_na/13524_na.PDF

For video card go at following link, and see under requirement;  350watt PSU

http://www.xpcgear.com/256p2n386

So, simply replacing OEM 320 Watt PSU with 500 Watt in hp compaq 8100 elite tower, I am confident that system is not going to fry?  If, in other case  a separate PSU could do same work, if not because it could fry MOB of tower (I am not worried about Video card)?

Thanks

[Saif_ad-Din]

Hi.

I'm pretty sure that the 350W value is not the actual power consumption of the video card. It's just a system requirement. The GeForce 6800 GS is a very powerful video card for its time, and 50-100W was a very significant amount of power back in 2005 (well, as a matter of fact, it still is). And lots of PSUs were a lot less powerful at the same time. So the manufacturer calculated the average wattage that an average system of 2005 required, and pointed out that the computer needs at least 350W to guarantee stable operation.

In fact, if you have a 320W PSU and your entire system is stable, its current power consumption should be no more than 300W in total (not only the motherboard, but the entire system). When overall power consumption precisely matches the power output of the PSU, it usually means real trouble (BSODs and shutdowns) because most PSUs actually generate LESS power than their labels say they should. If you already have a video card installed, then a replacement won't be much of an increase in consumption. All in all, you'll be fine with a 450-500W PSU.

[tmw61]

Hi

Thats ok, So 450-600 Watt PSU will work for GeForce 6800 GS video card (required minimum ~ 350 Watt PSU installed) and enirely sound for  HP Compaq 8100 elite system. Thanks for guidence.

[thejackel]

Hi thier

I also have a Compaq 8100 elite” had it for about 6 months now sitting here collecting dust.. what a waste as I had to drop back to my old Hp Pavillion as I could't run the graphics requirements i needed with the current onboard PSU.

The machine runs a treat untill i start tryign to run hight end graphics on 3 monitors.  because this machine uses a none atx power supply and requires stange connecters.

And my 2 sli GTX 290  graphics cards require 2 6 pin SLI connectors whcih i currently run using a coolmaster 1100w (witchh does fit but wont work on that mother board.) due to not useing the standard 20-24 pin motherboard conenctror.

I have found a couple of PSU a wounder if any one can tell me if they will work with it? Before I purchase more un-usable equmpment on the company?

COOLMAX CX-550B 550W ATX12V Power Supply  --- still looks like it would power the monther =board but no PCI-Express Connectors????????

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159026

Maybe one of the  CORSAIR CX Series dose my pc cover one of these specs?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139040

Motherboard All ATX-compatible motherboards, including Mini ITX, Micro ATX, ATX, and E-ATX

Any ideas any one?

Thanks Carl

Just came across these 2 also any ideas?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&cm_re=Corsair_-_650W-_-17-139-005-_-...

CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171036

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M600 RS-600-AMBA-D3 600W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Bronze Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Thanks

[Saif_ad-Din]

Hey, Carl.

To tell the truth, I don't kow much about the markings of NVidia cards (I'm kind of an ATI/AMD fan), so I failed to find the GTX 290 model. I've found GTX 275, 280 and 295 on the Web, but no 290. Its family, however, consumes up to 450W of power when fully loaded in the SLI mode. So, if you're planing to heavily load your graphics cards, with a 550W PSU you have a very narrow safety margin. Spontaneous BSODs and shutdowns might become possible, depending on the overall system consumption.

I guess, about 600-650W PSU should be enough. Well, some older PSUs really don't have 6-pin PCI-e connectors, but that doesn't matter. There are adapters that direct 12V current to a 6-pin PCI-e jack from two 4-pin standard PSU jacks. However, newer PSUs offer plenty of 6-pins. The Corsair 750W PSU looks fine. It has everything you need and will provide stable operation even at full load.

With best regards,

Ivan

[LightOfReason]

Use an adaptor for your 2nd power supply, that's what worked for me.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/111284841995?lpid=82
5.00 after all my searching I found the answer, it's not pretty but it works.

Plug one of your SATA power plugs (from your current power supply) into the cable that comes with it, plug in your new ATX power supply ATX plug into the adaptor and you are good to go. When your old power supply turns on the adaptor will turn on your new one, it's awesome.

Add2PSU is another popular adaptor http://www.add2psu.com/

You could buy a dedicated power supply if you can find one but I don’t recommend it, they are expensive, make a lot of heat and noise.

This was a nightmare for me and I don’t want other people having to go through what I did.