power supply

I have a question about power supplies. I have a pentium 2 350 mhz computer currently with a 230 watt power supply. I need to replace it but I want to know if I can install a new 300 watt power supply instead of another 230 watt. Would a 300 watt be too much for my computer system? I have a internal cdrw on my computer with a 20 gig hd and second hd is 8 gig. Can someone help answer my question?

1. RE: power supply
trumpetr Mar-07-02 12:44 PM
In response to message 0

Should be OK, supply needs are determined by the number of devices in the system, not the sizes of the drives. May be a little overkill for your system but if prices are the same then go for the bigger.

2. RE: power supply
lbyard Mar-07-02 03:58 PM
In response to message 1

I'd go bigger anyway in case you want to upgrade the motheboard someday. Prices should be close, if you can even find a 230 Wat supply. Antec makes a good one. Larry

3. RE: power supply
budz4u Mar-07-02 10:50 PM
In response to message 0

Thanks for the info!!! I appreciate the help!!!!

4. RE: power supply
copperpipe Mar-08-02 11:47 AM
In response to message 3

You don't mention if your case is an AT or ATX style. If it's an AT style, I'd go with an economical 250 W power supply unless the 300W unit is about the same price.

5. RE: power supply
lbyard Mar-08-02 11:52 AM
In response to message 4

>You don't mention if your case is an AT
Not with a Pentium II.

6. RE: power supply
copperpipe Mar-08-02 12:07 PM
In response to message 5

OK, sorry - ignore my previous post.
I've been on the "dark side" (AMD) for many years now.

7. RE: power supply
copperpipe Mar-08-02 12:19 PM
In response to message 5

Larry,
Do older and new Compaq, HP, Gateway, and systems which have proprietary motherboards use generic power supplies? I seem to remember (or perhaps I dreamt this) an old Gateway system that did not have a generic power supply (PSU connector looked different).
Just curious.

8. RE: power supply
lbyard Mar-08-02 04:10 PM
In response to message 7

Older is a matter of definition and ones longterm experience. Older to me is real old. I think most of them with Pentium II's use ATX connectors. The formfactor may not be generic. Frankly, I don't remember the power supply details of all of them. Larry

9. RE: power supply
budz4u Mar-10-02 10:17 PM
In response to message 5

hi,
my case is a ATX. I changed the power supply to a 300 watt one and I don't have the humming and vibration noise. It works fine. Thanks again!