Compaq power supplies

**Cyberlore** · April 23rd, 2003, 11:25 PM

I have a compaq board, and that's about all the compaq left of my presario 5320US. I have a new 350 watt power supply. The **** thing isn't getting power from the new power supply. Yes it's plugged it. Yes, it's switched on, etc, etc. My fear is that compaq has their own wiring scheme for the atx connector. Anyone have any help as to where i can find this wiring scheme so that I can switch the pins around correctly?

And no, I'm a poor college kid who can't afford to buy a new board (unless there's a P4 w/ 400fsb board for ubercheap...sdram too...not ddr).

**PresterJohn** · April 23rd, 2003, 11:33 PM

i'm pretty sure that PS is standard...my question to you would be why you purchased a replacement PS. isn;t that thing still under warranty?

**Cyberlore** · April 23rd, 2003, 11:39 PM

it's not a replacement...it's an upgrade from the 235 that came with it. and no, warrenty's out.

my gut tells me the **** thing's proprietary. comparing the wiring to the wiring specs of the new (and standard) supply, it's a little bit different...and on the compaq plug there is no pin 8 (strange). argh...darn computers.

**mlee97** · April 23rd, 2003, 11:44 PM

Make sure you connect the p4 connector, most of those boards require it..

**PresterJohn** · April 23rd, 2003, 11:46 PM

not to split hairs (but since you brought up the definition of 'replacement')...but since you changed the PS, it *is* a replacement...albeit you are upgrading as well.

not able to find any documentation on the compaq site re:the mobo PS connects.

**Cyberlore** · April 24th, 2003, 01:37 AM

Yeah, P4 connector connected. Right now i've got my old ps sitting on a garbage can next to the case...looks pretty classy, i should take pictures. So I'm well aware how to plug it in...

And yes, you are correct, it is a replacement. To me, replacement seems to imply that the old one is broken or cant be used, whereas upgrade is to make it better than the current (and still usable) state. The english language just has too many different words

**PresterJohn** · April 24th, 2003, 01:46 AM

if the PS is incompatible...my sympathies

try calling compaq support or email them for more info. if they do indeed use a proprietary PS, you might want to consider a replacement mobo. p4 mobo's are fairly inexpensive...is your case a standard atx?

**PresterJohn** · April 24th, 2003, 01:52 AM

cyber,

also, try clearing the cmos and see if it boots up afterwards.

**ArcticFox** · April 24th, 2003, 01:56 AM

You can almost rest assured that Compaq isn't like Dell, who rewires their PS's because it's "better" than the ATX standard. And if they did, your PC would be dead because of incorrect voltages going to the wrong places in your computer.

A couple things that could be preventing your PC from working are the P4 connector, a short, a dead power supply (try plugging in your old one; if it works... guess what!) Since you didn't take the mobo out I'm assuming, it's probably not anything to do with that.

Experiment, because it's only 200+ volts and however many amps, right?

**muno** · April 24th, 2003, 02:05 AM

Compaq doesn't use standard connectors.
My friends tried to insert a compaq mobo to a new case and nooo-o, the power cords just wouldn't fit on the mobo.
-M

**PresterJohn** · April 24th, 2003, 02:08 AM

Originally posted by muno
Compaq doesn't use standard connectors.

i think it depends how old the system is and what model. i know that their recent models on their business lines do use a standard atx plug.

**Cyberlore** · April 24th, 2003, 01:38 PM

I've tried to find a part number on the board...my roommate and I spent an hour searching for it and no luck. The board has a server-like 24-pin connection as opposed to the standard 20pin. The 8 pin isn't used for the compaq (labeled POWER_OK on standard ps). I have a 20-24 pin adapter and I honestly believe it's proprietary. I'd try calling compaq but A) though they have great customer service (atleast pre-hp) i'm not sure they'd be able to help me and B) they probably wont talk to me anyhow since the warrenty's up. I'll try to find someone w/ a power supply tester or a willing mobo to try the new ps. It's a brand new enermax but you never know...(though power was going through because some of the fans spun up for a couple seconds..) hmmmmm....

**muno** · April 25th, 2003, 02:20 AM

That could be true, I haven't seen inside an evo desktop - even though one is sitting in front of me

-M

**ArcticFox** · April 25th, 2003, 02:55 AM

Some companies will integrate the P4 ATX12v connecter in with the ATX plug, as they figure Compaq and HP owners will upgrade so much. But it does same some headaches, when your PC is acting up for 5 months and then you realize you forgot to plug in your 2nd connector.

**Xtreeme** · April 25th, 2003, 02:59 AM

Most of those are propriatary. Just cause it doesnt power up doesnt mean it would fry it LOL. Id assume they are awair that people try to upgrade the psu-prob. have some kind of protection. Dont know. Your prolly gonna have to call them Im affraid cause they dont like to let documentation get out-so noone knows but them. Convienent huh. Thats why I NEVER buy anything prebuilt. I just build it. I know thats not right for everyone but I cant stand their self rightious tactics like propriatary psu's and mem etc. PITA.

**Cyberlore** · April 25th, 2003, 10:16 AM

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'll get around to calling compaq sometime. Though perhaps I should just spring for a new board...it's the only thing compaq left in my computer. I saw a decent Intel board for $60. I just hope compaq will talk to me since the computer's warrenty is out.

And a comment on proprietary compaq stuff. I remember back in the day everyone hated compaq because they made everything proprietary. My dad's compaq crazy (they were going for ubercheap a bit over a year ago) so we have 3 of them and I've never come across anything I couldn't upgrade with non-compaq parts until this ps issue.

**Xtreeme** · April 25th, 2003, 03:53 PM

You've never owned a compaq server then I take it? I do- 2 of them and there a propriatary piece of junk. The PSU -the memory has to be theirs or it wont boot. It chekcs the eprom for their code. No code no worky. thats cheap move for selling very over priced mem. Plus the raid scsi card is notched so it wont work in anything else other than their system. The card was $350! For that much it should work in ANY pc. LOL You can have compaq-dell HP and the rest of'em. You like'em thats ok but I cant stand them and after being scrudged by them would never give them $.10 of my $ ever again. each to his own I say.

**ArcticFox** · April 25th, 2003, 11:16 PM

That's incredible. A server has to be upgradable in order to support future expansions and immidiate repairs. What model of server is it?

Sorry, but just say no to Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, eMachines, and those other throwaway PC vendors. Their not interesting in speed, reliability, or customer service like Alienware, Falcon NW, Voodoo, or any of those guys. They need to move their assembly-line computers as fast as they can to generate revenue, customer relations comes at a later date.

Word of advice: Next time you need a PC, skip those loser companies and build one yourself, or have Falcon Northwest make one and get one of their cases customized exactly the way you want it. Their fast, beautiful, and LAN-Party approved.

**Xtreeme** · April 26th, 2003, 06:26 AM

Oh its older server now. LOL got them years ago. Compaq Prosignia 500's and they werent cheap in the day either. Only thing that it has standard is the HDD's and cdrom. The rest is crap. Of course its so outdated today I could care less. But once bitten twice shy.

**ArcticFox** · April 26th, 2003, 10:14 PM

IMO opinion, I would just build a server to customize it for the tasks you need it to do. If it's a game server, load Win2k Pro/Server and Dual Xeons or a fast XP, add a bunch of memory (1gb minimum), and a decent HD. The only things that matter in a typical server are, in order of priorities, RAM, CPU, mobo, HD, OS, NIC, and then whatever else you throw in a PC. Video, sound, peripheral support are of little concern, as a Radeon 9700 will not improve your ping times over a TNT2.