Do I need to buy this branded power supply? 1

[EnsignPulver]

Hi Guys,

I will be very grateful for any help I can get tonight!

Gateway told me I need the following power supply:

http://support.gateway.com/s/POWER/6500184/Q0018407.shtml

My problem is that I need the thing NOW and they cannot send it for over a week! I am going away and need to replace this item quickly.

Is there any reason I cannot use a generic, and does anyone know a good source for these?

I have never had to replace a power supply before, so I do not know if one is the same as the next.

Could I impose on you experts for some guidance in how to lay my hands on one of these beasts fast?

Many thanks!

ENS

 

[happydownloader]

If you can find a power supply with the same plug and fan configeration and one that will fit I see no reason why you can't put a different power suppy in that unit.
A 200 Watt power supply these days seems darn low.
See if you can find at least a 300 watt one and I bet for a fraction of the price gateway wants

 

[EnsignPulver]

Thanks happy.

Is the size of the powersupply a consideration? This is a compact ATA case and the p/w seems rather petite.

Not sure what you mean by fan and plug configuration...are there different plug terminators? Or do you mean the number.

I ordered the GW one and it was kissing distance of $60. Seemed like a rip.

ENS

 

[edfair]

Gateway has a horrible reputation of using off size parts to keep you from going to the corner drug store and buying replacement parts.

They also build (or have built) some of their own boards that are laid out so the industry standard cases won't fit.
With the fan in the position shown it looks like a HP or emachines knockoff and I suspect a totally gateway product.

My best guess is that you are locked into waiting for the part. You might be able to find a replacement case/PS that would fit, but with your experience level I wouldn't advise it.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[rclarke250]

Looks like a standard micro ATX power supply. something like this:

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=APS-300WATX-N&cat=CAS

This sells for 19.99 and is 300 watts.

I shall use google before asking stupid questions!

 

[Grenage]

I'm going to agree with edfair here. While a generic PSU would power the machine's components there is a good chance the power supply will not fix inside the case properly.

A good 200W PSU will be enough power if that is what the system was built with. If you do decide to buy a generic PSU then anything above 200W should do you fine.

 

[EnsignPulver]

Thanks guys.

The Gateway part came last night, well ahead of schedule. I guess they 'underpromise - overdeliver.' Good practice.

Thanks again.

ENS

 

[edfair]

I'm curious. You throw palm trees?

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[EnsignPulver]

Ed -- have not had the opportunity to throw any. The palm trees we get to see these days are mostly substantial specimens rooted deeply in desert sands, rather than the pets of tyranical LCDRs.

 

[edfair]

I was wondering about the handle.
Saw the play in Boston as a kid, then the movie a couple of times.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[rclarke250]

the power supply I referenced was not a typical power supply,it was a micro ATX,not a standard atx. It is used in machines by e-machines,gateway,HP.and others. You will not find these at the local best buy or the compusa. A little research into the type of power supply in the case you have and it's very easy to locate several power supply vendors on-line willing to sell a power supply sometimes the exact same one at half the price as going through the big boys. I do it all the time and never have a problem.

I shall use google before asking stupid questions!

 

[ImpetusEra]

Those Compaq Presario's with the funky looking case actually use their own deisgn for a motherboard connector. It looks like an AT connection but has more pins. I ran into one of those like a month ago. Find it nice that they no longer carry the part either. I try to stay away from small form factor systems.

 

[EnsignPulver]

Thanks guys. I installed the power supply with almost total ease. We have some vague suspicions that the weak 200W'er is implicated in difficulties we've had with a USB device. The manufacturer of that item independently stated it seemed like our external hd was "not getting enough power." Sounds fishy to me...

Stupid design on the case. They had the p/s secured to the underside of the case (the side opposite the slide off cover if you can picture it) that could ONLY have been installed before all the other components had been emplaced. There is no human being alive that could replace that strap and screw without pulling everything out of the case. That wasn't happening today!!

It is actually quite a bulky p/s for all its being a Micro Atx supply and just 200W. There is also a baffle inside that would require the replacement to be EXACTLY like the original or it would not have blown air over the chip.

I learned some good things and some bad things about GW.

Great chat support. Far better than anything I've seen of Dell. Great service. Lousy prices. Dopey, nonstandard case design.

Thanks, all. ENS

 

[ImpetusEra]

All small form factor cases are bad design. For that reason I only buy towers, a mid size at the smallest. An external USB hard disk should have it's own power supply.