additional power supply unit?( Takes up optical drive space)

^ Are they any good? Well hp computers are on sale (ps, I'm a teen who is not allowed to build my own... :() and I've decided to go with the lower model m9250f. It only have a 350 watt PSU and 8600 gt. This mean I'll have a problem when I upgrade to a higher cards (The rest of the Computer is fine quad 2.66 ghz, 4 gb RAM).

There is a expansion slot from an optical drive. I was wondering if this booster power supply is any good.

Booster

Because if it fits I can still use my 350 watts and add on 400 watts more (So not to waste the money I paided for the original)

Or if it is really that bad then a Rocketfish 700W PC Power Supply

Rocketfish

If I get the 700 watt stand alone PSU then my 350 watt is a waste. And I have no idea how to replace a PSU. Then again I could get Futureshop to install it when I buy the computer I believe its free service.

Sorry guys I just can't build my own but upgrading will get me one step closer to being like you pros.

Thanks a Ton

NightWraith

A) Don't buy an HP. I don't care if it's on sale. I don't care if it reminds you of Harry Potter. Don't buy it. Because HP pre-loads their computer's with too much crap.

B) Why the hell would you need that much power (700W) in the first place when your computer isn't a high-end machine? That's just wasting electricity/money.

C) Having another booster is a waste of space in my opinion. It costs as much as a regular PSU does.

Another option might be looking for a webshop that also builds pc's. Here in Holland most webshops can build and test a pc you configure for an additional fee, usually somewhere around 50 Euros. Not sure if there are any in the US, you'll probably still end up with a better deal. kipknots

True. But you need to have a little some hardware knowledge to know which parts to pick, otherwise you could have a very unbalanced machine.

A) Don't buy an HP. I don't care if it's on sale. I don't care if it reminds you of Harry Potter. Don't buy it. Because HP pre-loads their computer's with too much crap.

B) Why the hell would you need that much power (700W) in the first place when your computer isn't a extremely high-end machine? That's just wasting electricity/money.

C) Having another booster is a waste of space in my opinion. It costs as much as a regular PSU does.

lostantix

To response B, how is it wasting electricity? The PC will only use the power it needs, doesn't matter if it's a 450w or 1000w.

Now getting a more expensive PSU than necessary is a waste. A better PSU should have a higher efficiency though and will actually waste less power and therefor save money.

I advise the TC to look into buying the parts from a good site, and finding a local PC shop to assemble them for you. It's the next best thing to a custom built PC. And will be your best option, at least better than some pre-built.

To response B, how is it wasting electricity? The PC will only use the power it needs, doesn't matter if it's a 450w or 1000w.

Now getting a more expensive PSU than necessary is a waste. A better PSU should have a higher efficiency though and will actually waste less power and therefor save money.

I advise the TC to look into buying the parts from a good site, and finding a local PC shop to assemble them for you. It's the next best thing to a custom built PC. And will be your best option, at least better than some pre-built.

opamando

I didn't mean it in that sense =P I was using electricity to refer to PSU's efficiency. Having all that extra wattage and letting it just sit there.

Once again, teen, not allow online buying, not allowed local shops, and can't build from ground up. I live in Canada and retail has nothing really but Hp and no It doesn't remind me of Harry Potter, I'm not some 12 year old pre-teen. I really don't give if its factory, I'm a high school student that is really restricted in my choices and I will take what I can get.

THe PSU is for future considerations when I need a new graphics card. Its just because if I'm buying a computer, monitor I might as well bargain my way into getting upgrades for cheaper prices or free.

Beside there are pretty much no PC shops were I live (I googled it on maps). I see upgrades as my only option (unless retail can custom build? Don't think so they only modify factory) as it would be better than stock.

New question which PSU should I get when I get a better graphics card in the future. The card is a 8600 gt ATM so that is why I want more power for better cards like one of the 9 series. Since you guys think both the first options were a waste then how would a 500 w fair? How long would it last?

The 400 watt booster would be a waste of space but hell I have a free optical drive space and I want to make use of the original parts.

Once again, teen, not allow online buying, not allowed local shops, and can't build from ground up. I live in Canada and retail has nothing really but Hp and no It doesn't remind me of Harry Potter, I'm not some 12 year old pre-teen. I really don't give if its factory, I'm a high school student that is really restricted in my choices and I will take what I can get.

THe PSU is for future considerations when I need a new graphics card. Its just because if I'm buying a computer, monitor I might as well bargain my way into getting upgrades for cheaper prices or free.

Beside there are pretty much no PC shops were I live (I googled it on maps). I see upgrades as my only option (unless retail can custom build? Don't think so they only modify factory) as it would be better than stock.

New question which PSU should I get when I get a better graphics card in the future. The card is a 8600 gt ATM so that is why I want more power for better cards like one of the 9 series. Since you guys think both the first options were a waste then how would a 500 w fair? How long would it last?

The 400 watt booster would be a waste of space but hell I have a free optical drive space and I want to make use of the original parts.

nightwraith40k

Why don't yuou just build it any way tht's what i did to mine and i upgraded my friends with out his dad's permission

:|

no one has yet to answer his question

If you want to get the 400w add-on and you have the space go ahead. It's just one more power cable you plug into your PC. No need for that 700w.

OK thanks ct1615 you are the best!

To answer ragu40 question, they'd think I'd break the parts... Which would waste more money than a pre-built and I have no idea what I am doing. Maybe my next PC I will build but I don't even trust myself with building an entire computer right now.

OK thanks ct1615 you are the best!

To answer ragu40 question, they'd think I'd break the parts... Which would waste more money than a pre-built and I have no idea what I am doing. Maybe my next PC I will build but I don't even trust myself with building an entire computer right now.

nightwraith40k

If youre just unsure on whether or not you can do it, or want to show your parents how easy it is, Youtube computer building Theres like hundreds of videos of teenagers building computers, and theres also tons of guides that will make you say, "Is that it?!".

Once again, teen, not allow online buying, not allowed local shops, and can't build from ground up.nightwraith40k

I live in Canada and retail has nothing really but Hpnightwraith40k

I'm a high school student that is really restricted in my choices and I will take what I can get.nightwraith40k

He PSU is for future considerations when I need a new graphics cardnightwraith40k

Beside there are pretty much no PC shops were I live (I googled it on maps)nightwraith40k

Since you guys think both the first options were a waste then how would a 500 w fair? How long would it last?nightwraith40k

The 400 watt booster would be a waste of space but hell I have a free optical drive space and I want to make use of the original parts.nightwraith40k

You should just say you're not allowed because your parents won't let you. If you're not allowed online buying, or from local shops, where are you getting it from? xDlostantix

I meant local shop as in little pc shops on the corner and I already did say my parents won't let me I just lumped them all together so I wouldn't repeat myself completely.

o.O Uhh. I live in Canada and I can tell you that's such a lie. There's as much variety here as there is in the US.lostantix

What I meant was that Canada has no Gateway (Only some bad media center up here) and Velocity Micro and this is meaning Futureshop as the store.

And I'm advising you don't get an HP. There are many other companies out there I'd rather buy. I have nothing against HP personally. But I just dislike how they preload their computers with so much stuff.lostantix

I understand you don't like HP, I already said "I don't give about preloaded crap"

but on the brands of Acer, Dell, Compaq and Hp at Futureshop I much rather pick HP than the rest. I have a Dell everything gets on my nerves. Acer's I might consider but there is only one that seem good, the rest are too cheap. Compaq is not one I'd pick. HP has more choices which is better for me and I know people who haven't had any problems with them. (Unlike Dell computers)

The PSU would probably be the last thing you need to worry about when upgrading your video card. Your motherboard needs to support that video card physically (ex. AGP or PCI-E). Your CPU needs to be good enough not to throttle your graphics card.lostantix

I mentioned before that I'm already getting a quad core, it will last. The PSU is only 350 w that is why I so called "worry" about it. It can't upgrade to anything in the future at the wattage.

....Did you try your phone book? It's a lot more effective than Google Maps when looking for local shops. Where exactly do you live in Canada?lostantix

Yea, I'll go look up the phonebook. I'm in the GTA area but its not like my parents would trust it, I am not paying for the entire computer myself, so they have a say in everything.

I'm guessing it'll fair pretty well. You can't just base the PSU on your graphics card though. You need to look at your graphics card, CPU, fans, optical drives, hard drives, USB slots (used/possible use) etc. All the components of your computer come into play when choosing a PSU.lostantix

Thats the first thing you've actually thought good of my choices, I maybe a newby but I would appreciate if you didn't pick on half of the things I say here OK? Thank you.

...Well then use it for its intended purpose. Another optical drive.
lostantix

I will be then, as I need a blue-ray drive.

Thank you for you wise counciling. I hope you enjoyed it as well.:|

Yea, I'll go look up the phonebook. I'm in the GTA area but its not like my parents would trust it, I am not paying for the entire computer myself, so they have a say in everything.

nightwraith40k

I would trust a small local PC shop over some big company like HP any day. You can interact one on one with the guy that builds your PC, and if you have problems you can take it to him and let him look at it.

If you have problems with a pre-built you almost always have to talk to some guy in India, then ship your PC back to HP, or whoever, and wait for it to be fixed. I know of people who have been without their PC for close to 2 months waiting on those big companies.

And you said you don't care about all the bloatware HP puts on their PC's, you will once it starts slowing everything down, and giving you crappy performance.

If you in the end have no other choice than the HP, it will work, but it could have been so much better.

Apology accepted. Ur very good at computers and I guess some of the upgrades I pick don't make much sense.

I've decide I will most likely not upgrade the PSU. For what ever computer I get an HP or that one Acer that is up in the 1000 + range, I will most likely blow my $200 dollar that I am under budget, on a Blue-ray drive instead, and some other random things like speakers.

Yea, I'll go look up the phonebook. I'm in the GTA area but its not like my parents would trust it, I am not paying for the entire computer myself, so they have a say in everything.

nightwraith40k

I live in the GTA area and there is quite a few stores that sell custom-built computers and computer parts. Look up CanadaComputers and Infonec, as they are some I know. There are also some smaller, maybe cheaper priced stores around. All you have to do is look in the phone book or the newspaper