SMPS query · DIGIT-ARC

My computer is an AMD Athlon 3200+ 2.0 GHz installed in a UMAX cabinet. My nobo is a Gigabyte GA-K8-N51 GMF-9 with 512 MB DDR400 ram and onboard nVidia GeForce 6100 GPU. I hav 2 optical drives, 3 hard disks and a sound card connected to my pc. Is my current UMAX 350 W SMPS enough to power my system?

Also i would like to ask that my hard disks are always at an average temperature of 55 to 58 celsius, so do i need to install a fan coz right now i have only one fan that cools the processor. What should be the optimum temperature of the hard disk?

Haven't heard of UMAX psu but a good choice (budget psu) would be antec (basiq), coolermaster extreme, VIP(powersafe) or even colorsit would do. A 400-450W would be enough. As for HDD 58c is too high...........try keeping it below 50c. Install a front intake and back outlet fan (if possible).

My first question was whether my current psu is enough to power the mentioned configuration. Because i haven't found any problems which would make me feel that the psu isn't supplying enough power.

About ur answer to my 2nd question, i don't think it will be possible to install a front intake fan due to the peculiar design of my cabinet. So can a side fan effectively cool the hard disks?

Side fans are for proccy and gfx card, not for HDD cooling. Could you please post a pic. of you cabby. Almost all of the recent cabby have option for front intake. And if your psu is working fine then no point in changing the thingy but do check the voltage using everest or speedfan.

I hav posted a screenshot of speedfan. This was taken just 10 mins after i switched on my pc. Check out the voltages. R they the same u r talking about?

Ya its the same............but the +12v is showing 8.50v (speedfan is showing wrong info). Anyhow for correct info look into your BIOS (hardware monitoring) and you will find correct voltage.

@join_the_ultimate ==> check out the pics of my cabby.

Well you could certainly install a 120mm rear exhaust fan, next there must be front fan mounting option. Just remove the HDD and see through the HDD bay. Also the side panel has duct so you could install a fan there also.

pushkaraj said:
@join_the_ultimate ==> check out the pics of my cabby.

Man o man...theres a lot of dust in there

Hells_Fury said:
Man o man...theres a lot of dust in there

Tha's true...........a little effort in cleaning could help with the temps.

All right, i hav done a little cleaning job. I hav also done one more thing - Out of my 3 hdd, i hav removed one hd just to see how far does it hav an effect on temp. Also hav asked an engineer to help me out in installing a fan.

You could the installation yourself.
Firstly just install the front and back fans, the side panel fan could wait. If the temps drops then install the side fans and see if the overall ambient temps for the closed cabby drops or not. A good airflow is necessary rather than lots of fan.

K. fine. Thanx. i will try doing dat myself....

...

My computer is an AMD Athlon 3200+ 2.0 GHz installed in a UMAX cabinet. My nobo is a Gigabyte GA-K8-N51 GMF-9 with 512 MB DDR400 ram and onboard nVidia GeForce 6100 GPU. I hav 2 optical drives, 3 hard disks and a sound card connected to my pc. Is my current UMAX 350 W SMPS enough to power my system?

Hey forgot 2 ask u whether will i b able 2 work the 2 fans with my current config i.e. 350W smps (minus one 40gb hd)

pushkaraj said:
Hey forgot 2 ask u whether will i b able 2 work the 2 fans with my current config i.e. 350W smps (minus one 40gb hd)

Yes you will...

Min. 400W reqd.

After having my 40gb hd removed, i m observing dat even after keeping my pc on for 4 hrs , the temp is remaining close to 51C (an improvement though minor

). I suspect dat this particular hd had been connected very close 2 one of the other hds and dat is the reason why the air flow was obstructed.

Anyways am definitely getting a fan. Just wondering if i really need a 400w smps now dat i hav removed one hd

Wat is the voltage requirement of a 120mm fan and in wat sizes r fans available :?:

pushkaraj said:
After having my 40gb hd removed, i m observing dat even after keeping my pc on for 4 hrs , the temp is remaining close to 51C (an improvement though minor ). I suspect dat this particular hd had been connected very close 2 one of the other hds and dat is the reason why the air flow was obstructed.

Anyways am definitely getting a fan. Just wondering if i really need a 400w smps now dat i hav removed one hd Wat is the voltage requirement of a 120mm fan and in wat sizes r fans available

No. I have 2 HDDs placed one over other. They get heated but never give any problem as my SMPS is 750 W.

Check out the speedfan screenshot. Wanna know wat is the diff between CPU and SYSTEM temp :?:

And wat cud smps of low power hav to do with the overheating of hds

CPU temp is self-explanatory. Its the temp of your processor. System temp will be the motherboard chipset temperature.
I feel that 350W would be enough for you. Just install the two fans and see if there are any problems. If there arent, then well and good. And if there are then just get a new PSU. If you plan on getting a graphics card, then you better upgrade your PSU.

And just one more thing, clean the heatsink/fan of your processor on a regular basis as dust builds up there and prevents proper cooling of the CPU.

CPU temp is self-explanatory. Its the temp of your processor. System temp will be the motherboard chipset temperature.

Point noted :))

I feel that 350W would be enough for you. Just install the two fans and see if there are any problems. If there arent, then well and good. And if there are then just get a new PSU. If you plan on getting a graphics card, then you better upgrade your PSU.

M quite satisfied with my onboard GeForce 6100 GPU. So no gfx card intended. So i guess i wud stick to my 350w psu......

......

And just one more thing, clean the heatsink/fan of your processor on a regular basis as dust builds up there and prevents proper cooling of the CPU.

Will definitely do dat regularly......

......

THANX A LOT FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS

No problem bro...Anytime

pushkaraj said:
K. fine. Thanx. i will try doing dat myself.... ...

Hey forgot 2 ask u whether will i b able 2 work the 2 fans with my current config i.e. 350W smps (minus one 40gb hd)

A good branded 350W psu will work fine but brands like intex, mercury, etc. output is much lower than rated. So first check with your current one, if you have problem then change it. BTW, did you check the voltage in the BIOS?

john_the_ultimate said:
BTW, did you check the voltage in the BIOS?

Yes. They r as follows:
VCORE OK
DDR Power OK
+3.3V OK
+12V OK

Please check these screenshots. They had been taken at an interval of a few seconds. The +12V reading fluctuates. Rest all seems to b fine. Also i hav attached a 80mm fan at the back side of my cabinet, it was the only place i cud fix one. No side fan or front fan is possible. The temperatures hav only slightly improved. I mean the hd temp rarely crosses the 50C mark. Can sum1 tell me wat r ur hd temp or wat is the optimum temp for hd???

(+/-)5-10% fluctuation is acceptable. In good branded PSU this differnce is around 1-2%. As for HDD temps mine rarely goes beyond 43c on loads as for idle its around 38-39c. So try to keep it below 50c at load.

Hey bro, forgot to ask u wat about procy temp? I removed and cleaned the procy fan and heat sink. Now the procy temp goes upto and remains almost constant at 50C. There isn't any way to reduce this temp, i suppose, coz it already has a procy fan. Wat about ur procy temp?

My C2D E4300 overclocked from 1.8GHz to 2.4GHz using stock cooler, idles around 42C and load temps. are around 49C. I am actually waiting for a better cooler to get it to 3GHz.

john_the_ultimate said:
My C2D E4300 overclocked from 1.8GHz to 2.4GHz using stock cooler, idles around 42C and load temps. are around 49C. I am actually waiting for a better cooler to get it to 3GHz.

Wow dats great

. Must learn overclocking. Its a shame on me to own an AMD Athlon 3200+ 2.0GHz processor and NOT overclock it

. Anyways thanx for ur suggestions guys

. Am still experimenting with the position of my fan and hav finally removed it from the back and fixed it in the side vent. And suprisingly the hd temps hav not been crossing the 45c mark

. Even the mobo temp remains almost constant at 35c

. So i think this is fine. Will pm if i need more help

.
Once again thanx a lot guys

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