DO I need a large power supply for a large disk?

[jxcheng]

I am considering replace the 10G hard drive in my 4 year old HP Pavilion 8533z with a 120G hard drive.

Do I need a new, large power supply for the hard drive?

Thanks!

Jim

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

If you are replacing it then you should be fine, as long as you don't have a bunch of other hardware (like high end vid) you'll be fine.

[Nighthawk]

You should be fine; I think the only part of a hard drive that really needs a lot of power is the motor turning the platters.

I'm pretty sure that the power requirements for my 40GB and my 120GB are about the same.

[bill1971]

Just curious, Jim:

What wattage power supplies did HP put in those PCs 4 years ago, 230 or 250 watt? You should be OK, I was just curious.

- Bill

[jxcheng]

250 W or 230W?
Nope!
It is a 160W power supply.

[DanU]

HOLY CALF! That's a pretty small PSU. Well if it ran fine with a 10GB drive then it should run fine with a 120GB drive. Unlike processors, the power requirements for HDDs don't go up. The main consumer is the motor... and that hasn't changed much in years.

[Paluccie]

I would change the power supply to like a 300W.. its not needed but it would make your computer run a little better in performance

[PyroSama]

Is it one of those extra small psu's?

Or a normal/standard sized one?


PyroSama

[elroy]

Many HP's with that small a p/s don't have room in the case for a standard 250 or 300 watt p/s. These little p/s are sometimes referred to as micro-atx. They will run anywhere from 90 watts to 180.

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

I say why bother replacing the PSU, if it works don't fix it if it fails then replace it. no sense putting a huge power supply into a system taht will not use anything over the 160w that it will provide.