.... adding to Yves reply..

...........and the resultant impromptu shutdown may well cause impromptu file
corruption, which in turn would bring about the need for an impromptu
reloading session..

If you don't mind invalidating any warranty on your computer, you could
remove all of the parts and fit them into a case for which more powerful
power supplies are readily available.. then you wouldn't have to 'watt'
count each time you decide to upgrade..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User


"confused" <confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:78286647-04DE-4796-95EB-316FC113CD11@microsoft.com...
> Using the calculater it worked out 247watts including the FX5200 card
> which
> it says is 40 watts. It says that 1 stick of SDmemory is 12 watts. I only
> have 1 stick of 256MB, and I can upgrade the memory with 2 more sticks of
> memory I think. 2 sticks of memory would be 24 watts. The calculater says
> that GeForce 4 MX series is 30 watts. The card that I currently have is a
> 64MB 128 bit Ge Force 2 MX 400 (MSI MX 400 Pro), but the calculater does
> not
> say how many watts that is. If the Ge Force 2 card is say 20
> watts(guessing),
> it would mean that I would be needing 20 more watts for the FX5200, and 10
> watts for a Ge Force 4 MX 440 card. It would take more power to put 2
> more
> sticks of memory (24watts), into the computer than it would be for a
> FX5200
> or a MX440 card. I think that even a GeForce4 MX440 card would be a lot
> better than the GeForce2MX400 card that I currently have, and I would
> need
> at most only 10 more watts.The Compaq/HP guy said that my Presario 5630AU
> computer only had 235 watts maximum power supply, but I have opened the
> computer up and it says on the power supply itself that its maximum output
> is
> 250watts.Since it says on the power supply 250 watts maximum output then I
> am
> going with the 250 watts output. What would happen if the power supply was
> not really enough for the new card? Would it burn out the power supply or
> something damaging like that? I would be prepared to risk loosing some
> money
> on the card if it did not work, but I would not like to try putting a new
> card in if it was going to damage the computer.
>
> "Jaymon" wrote:
>
>> This will help you to calculate your PSU's wattages and full load
>> consumptions..
>> http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_sup....php?cmd=INTEL
>> j;-j
>>
>>
>> "confused" wrote:
>>
>> > I have contacted Compaq/HP to find out if I can get a larger power
>> > supply for
>> > my computer than the 250 watt one that I currently have now. They have
>> > told
>> > me that they strongly recommend not to get a bigger power supply,
>> > because my
>> > computer is not designed for a bigger power supply. They said that if
>> > the
>> > video card(FX5200) needs a bigger power supply, then it should not be
>> > used in
>> > my computer, and the warranty will not cover any damage if third party
>> > hardware is added. Does this mean that I have come to a dead end with
>> > my
>> > computer as far as upgrading to a better video card goes? Is a whole
>> > new
>> > computer the only thing I can look at doing now?

So does this mean that it is only a situation of the case that I have being
too small for a bigger power supply to fit into it?

"Mike Hall (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> .... adding to Yves reply..
>
> ...........and the resultant impromptu shutdown may well cause impromptu file
> corruption, which in turn would bring about the need for an impromptu
> reloading session..
>
> If you don't mind invalidating any warranty on your computer, you could
> remove all of the parts and fit them into a case for which more powerful
> power supplies are readily available.. then you wouldn't have to 'watt'
> count each time you decide to upgrade..
>
> --
> Mike Hall
> MVP - Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "confused" <confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:78286647-04DE-4796-95EB-316FC113CD11@microsoft.com...
> > Using the calculater it worked out 247watts including the FX5200 card
> > which
> > it says is 40 watts. It says that 1 stick of SDmemory is 12 watts. I only
> > have 1 stick of 256MB, and I can upgrade the memory with 2 more sticks of
> > memory I think. 2 sticks of memory would be 24 watts. The calculater says
> > that GeForce 4 MX series is 30 watts. The card that I currently have is a
> > 64MB 128 bit Ge Force 2 MX 400 (MSI MX 400 Pro), but the calculater does
> > not
> > say how many watts that is. If the Ge Force 2 card is say 20
> > watts(guessing),
> > it would mean that I would be needing 20 more watts for the FX5200, and 10
> > watts for a Ge Force 4 MX 440 card. It would take more power to put 2
> > more
> > sticks of memory (24watts), into the computer than it would be for a
> > FX5200
> > or a MX440 card. I think that even a GeForce4 MX440 card would be a lot
> > better than the GeForce2MX400 card that I currently have, and I would
> > need
> > at most only 10 more watts.The Compaq/HP guy said that my Presario 5630AU
> > computer only had 235 watts maximum power supply, but I have opened the
> > computer up and it says on the power supply itself that its maximum output
> > is
> > 250watts.Since it says on the power supply 250 watts maximum output then I
> > am
> > going with the 250 watts output. What would happen if the power supply was
> > not really enough for the new card? Would it burn out the power supply or
> > something damaging like that? I would be prepared to risk loosing some
> > money
> > on the card if it did not work, but I would not like to try putting a new
> > card in if it was going to damage the computer.
> >
> > "Jaymon" wrote:
> >
> >> This will help you to calculate your PSU's wattages and full load
> >> consumptions..
> >> http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_sup....php?cmd=INTEL
> >> j;-j
> >>
> >>
> >> "confused" wrote:
> >>
> >> > I have contacted Compaq/HP to find out if I can get a larger power
> >> > supply for
> >> > my computer than the 250 watt one that I currently have now. They have
> >> > told
> >> > me that they strongly recommend not to get a bigger power supply,
> >> > because my
> >> > computer is not designed for a bigger power supply. They said that if
> >> > the
> >> > video card(FX5200) needs a bigger power supply, then it should not be
> >> > used in
> >> > my computer, and the warranty will not cover any damage if third party
> >> > hardware is added. Does this mean that I have come to a dead end with
> >> > my
> >> > computer as far as upgrading to a better video card goes? Is a whole
> >> > new
> >> > computer the only thing I can look at doing now?
>
>
>

From what I have seen of HP and Compaq units, they have a power supply type
that does not have the standard fitting pattern of holding screws.. this
makes it difficult to change for anything other than an HP/Compaq supplied
unit..

The motherboard should be an ATX type and would, therefore fit into any ATX
case, as would a regular 350-550 watt power supply.. in fact, you can pick
up cases already fitted with a 350 watt power supply for around the same
amount as HP/Compaq would probably charge for a new 250 watt unit w/o case..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User


"confused" <confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:745AD96D-13D0-4AC9-888B-95882D98FDF5@microsoft.com...
> So does this mean that it is only a situation of the case that I have
> being
> too small for a bigger power supply to fit into it?
>
> "Mike Hall (MS-MVP)" wrote:
>
>> .... adding to Yves reply..
>>
>> ...........and the resultant impromptu shutdown may well cause impromptu
>> file
>> corruption, which in turn would bring about the need for an impromptu
>> reloading session..
>>
>> If you don't mind invalidating any warranty on your computer, you could
>> remove all of the parts and fit them into a case for which more powerful
>> power supplies are readily available.. then you wouldn't have to 'watt'
>> count each time you decide to upgrade..
>>
>> --
>> Mike Hall
>> MVP - Windows Shell/User
>>
>>
>> "confused" <confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:78286647-04DE-4796-95EB-316FC113CD11@microsoft.com...
>> > Using the calculater it worked out 247watts including the FX5200 card
>> > which
>> > it says is 40 watts. It says that 1 stick of SDmemory is 12 watts. I
>> > only
>> > have 1 stick of 256MB, and I can upgrade the memory with 2 more sticks
>> > of
>> > memory I think. 2 sticks of memory would be 24 watts. The calculater
>> > says
>> > that GeForce 4 MX series is 30 watts. The card that I currently have is
>> > a
>> > 64MB 128 bit Ge Force 2 MX 400 (MSI MX 400 Pro), but the calculater
>> > does
>> > not
>> > say how many watts that is. If the Ge Force 2 card is say 20
>> > watts(guessing),
>> > it would mean that I would be needing 20 more watts for the FX5200, and
>> > 10
>> > watts for a Ge Force 4 MX 440 card. It would take more power to put 2
>> > more
>> > sticks of memory (24watts), into the computer than it would be for a
>> > FX5200
>> > or a MX440 card. I think that even a GeForce4 MX440 card would be a lot
>> > better than the GeForce2MX400 card that I currently have, and I would
>> > need
>> > at most only 10 more watts.The Compaq/HP guy said that my Presario
>> > 5630AU
>> > computer only had 235 watts maximum power supply, but I have opened the
>> > computer up and it says on the power supply itself that its maximum
>> > output
>> > is
>> > 250watts.Since it says on the power supply 250 watts maximum output
>> > then I
>> > am
>> > going with the 250 watts output. What would happen if the power supply
>> > was
>> > not really enough for the new card? Would it burn out the power supply
>> > or
>> > something damaging like that? I would be prepared to risk loosing some
>> > money
>> > on the card if it did not work, but I would not like to try putting a
>> > new
>> > card in if it was going to damage the computer.
>> >
>> > "Jaymon" wrote:
>> >
>> >> This will help you to calculate your PSU's wattages and full load
>> >> consumptions..
>> >> http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_sup....php?cmd=INTEL
>> >> j;-j
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "confused" wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > I have contacted Compaq/HP to find out if I can get a larger power
>> >> > supply for
>> >> > my computer than the 250 watt one that I currently have now. They
>> >> > have
>> >> > told
>> >> > me that they strongly recommend not to get a bigger power supply,
>> >> > because my
>> >> > computer is not designed for a bigger power supply. They said that
>> >> > if
>> >> > the
>> >> > video card(FX5200) needs a bigger power supply, then it should not
>> >> > be
>> >> > used in
>> >> > my computer, and the warranty will not cover any damage if third
>> >> > party
>> >> > hardware is added. Does this mean that I have come to a dead end
>> >> > with
>> >> > my
>> >> > computer as far as upgrading to a better video card goes? Is a whole
>> >> > new
>> >> > computer the only thing I can look at doing now?
>>
>>
>>

"confused" <confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:745AD96D-13D0-4AC9-888B-95882D98FDF5@microsoft.com...
> So does this mean that it is only a situation of the case that I have
> being
> too small for a bigger power supply to fit into it?
>
Hardly. Your machine is thoroughly proprietary. That is, far too many
hardware items in it are conducive to re-installing into a standard
off-the-shelf case. Forget that machine and buy or build one that is made up
of generic hardware and would therefore be upgradeable at some future date.

Oops! Should have said "far too many hardware items in it are NOT conducive
to..."

Are you sure about that?.. it has been a while since HP boards were
specifically made for their own unique cases.. the only device that may be
awkward is the diskette drive.. that and getting the pin out right for the
case lights and switches.. everything else will transfer over easily..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User


"Papa" <bikingis@my.fun> wrote in message
news:%23VvwZ7x7FHA.2624@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Oops! Should have said "far too many hardware items in it are NOT
> conducive to..."
>
>

The last one I looked at, and I admit that I don't look at them often, had a
daughter board mounted on the motherboard. That all by itself made it a real
lemon for upgrading. The power supply was not standard either.

A free diagnostic tool that can help you to cut & past your system info as
you see fit, so you can add helpful info to your posts, see link..
http://www.lavalys.com/products/down...?pid=1&lang=en

You could just get one stick of 512mb @ 12 watts and save 24 watts, if you
were going to add two sticks to the one you already have installed..? You
might also if you have two optical drives, get a combo drive and lose the
other drive to save some watts..? If you don't need a NIC/modem card, pull
it, saving 4-8 watts.? If you just want to have the computer for game playing
and have two HD's installed, just use one large HD, saving 25 watts..?
j;-j


"confused" wrote:

> Using the calculater it worked out 247watts including the FX5200 card which
> it says is 40 watts. It says that 1 stick of SDmemory is 12 watts. I only
> have 1 stick of 256MB, and I can upgrade the memory with 2 more sticks of
> memory I think. 2 sticks of memory would be 24 watts. The calculater says
> that GeForce 4 MX series is 30 watts. The card that I currently have is a
> 64MB 128 bit Ge Force 2 MX 400 (MSI MX 400 Pro), but the calculater does not
> say how many watts that is. If the Ge Force 2 card is say 20 watts(guessing),
> it would mean that I would be needing 20 more watts for the FX5200, and 10
> watts for a Ge Force 4 MX 440 card. It would take more power to put 2 more
> sticks of memory (24watts), into the computer than it would be for a FX5200
> or a MX440 card. I think that even a GeForce4 MX440 card would be a lot
> better than the GeForce2MX400 card that I currently have, and I would need
> at most only 10 more watts.The Compaq/HP guy said that my Presario 5630AU
> computer only had 235 watts maximum power supply, but I have opened the
> computer up and it says on the power supply itself that its maximum output is
> 250watts.Since it says on the power supply 250 watts maximum output then I am
> going with the 250 watts output. What would happen if the power supply was
> not really enough for the new card? Would it burn out the power supply or
> something damaging like that? I would be prepared to risk loosing some money
> on the card if it did not work, but I would not like to try putting a new
> card in if it was going to damage the computer.
>
> "Jaymon" wrote:
>
> > This will help you to calculate your PSU's wattages and full load
> > consumptions..
> > http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_sup....php?cmd=INTEL
> > j;-j
> >
> >
> > "confused" wrote:
> >
> > > I have contacted Compaq/HP to find out if I can get a larger power supply for
> > > my computer than the 250 watt one that I currently have now. They have told
> > > me that they strongly recommend not to get a bigger power supply, because my
> > > computer is not designed for a bigger power supply. They said that if the
> > > video card(FX5200) needs a bigger power supply, then it should not be used in
> > > my computer, and the warranty will not cover any damage if third party
> > > hardware is added. Does this mean that I have come to a dead end with my
> > > computer as far as upgrading to a better video card goes? Is a whole new
> > > computer the only thing I can look at doing now?

Does this consider hard drive(s) spinup max current, aging of electronic
components? The latter affects the power supply itself as well. If not,
need to throw in some fluff. Most PC makers do add some, but not much when
engineering their PCs on paper.

--
Jonny
"Jaymon" <Jaymon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B0A16D2E-74AD-4DFC-926C-534BCACC8C34@microsoft.com...
> This will help you to calculate your PSU's wattages and full load
> consumptions..
>
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_sup....php?cmd=INTEL
> j;-j
>
>
> "confused" wrote:
>
> > I have contacted Compaq/HP to find out if I can get a larger power
supply for
> > my computer than the 250 watt one that I currently have now. They have
told
> > me that they strongly recommend not to get a bigger power supply,
because my
> > computer is not designed for a bigger power supply. They said that if
the
> > video card(FX5200) needs a bigger power supply, then it should not be
used in
> > my computer, and the warranty will not cover any damage if third party
> > hardware is added. Does this mean that I have come to a dead end with my
> > computer as far as upgrading to a better video card goes? Is a whole new
> > computer the only thing I can look at doing now?