Power supply replacment

[buschman31]

I hafve a ? about replacing a power supply. I have a gateway performance 500 system with a 200 watt psu. Would like to know if i can find a match to replace it at in my local shop or does it have a propriety psu inwhich a matching replacement can't by found?

[MadMan2k]

If you asked them to get you a replacement, they would probably look a few places, including Ebay, and if they couldn't find one, they'd sell you an ATX box and PS.

[buschman31]

I meant that the current psu is going to be replaced with a 300/400 psu but didn't know if a like replacement can find at the local shops. Sorry for the confusion.

[John Prophet]

ok, basically there are 2 types of supplies to worry about....yours should be one of the two.

there is regular ATX...available at any store.

then there is "micro"-atx...which some stores might not carry.

how to tell the difference. Ok, its not hard. the easiest way is to look at the back of the supply......if there are 3 screws holding it in...it is micro-atx.....if it is 4 screws it is regular atx

My guess is that gateway uses micro atx...so if u look on the back it probably has 3 screws in a triangle pattern holding the power supply in. Usually they put wimpy 135 watt supplies in..but u say yours is 200 watt. If it is micro atx it will be hard to find 300-400 watt supply I think.

Newegg has some microatx supplies http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...roperty&DEPA=0

be careful as some of these are a different form factor..like the "shuttle" one...it is for those newer shuttle "small form factor" comps.

this one may be the best choice there http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...103-453&depa=0
if u look at th epictures u will see what I mean about the 3 mounting holes....it has 2 where they normally are then the third is next to the power plug making the triangle pattern I referred to.

if u look at the back of a regular atx supply u see it has 4 mounting holes http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage....104-939-01.JPG


A power supply is trivial to replace....u simply unhook the old one and all its wires..then hook the new on in its place....very easy. and it doesnt matter which set of wires go to which cdrom or hard drive etc as long as the plug fits.

If you are sure its the supply I would just figure out of it is micro atx or regular atx..then just buy one and put it in yourself....dont pay $25 or $50 to have someone put it in for you.\


Also you can check if the supply is dead or not. There is the big plug from the power supply that plus into the motherboard. Unhook it from the motherboard and take a paper clip, fold the paper clip into a "u" shape....take the paper clip and stick it into the female connector (the one that u just unplugged from the board) so that the green wire is shorted to any black wire....if the supply is good it will come on.

If it doesnt come on it is probably bad...but go ahead and unhook everything from it liek the cdrom, the hard drives, floppies etc and try the paperclip trick once more to make sure. If it is still dead get a new supply.

JP

[buschman31]

I know that mine is a standard atx but finding the right one with the same dimensions to match the current gateway psu at a higher wattage is what i'm wondering. I have yet to check with the local stores. I guess i will have to take it with me to match it up.

[tony_j15]

PSU case size makes absolutely no difference unless you have a small case or its a custom formfactor.

[buschman31]

I have an enlight case inwhich i took out the psu but wouldn't fit into the case because of its size.