Upgrading PSU Questions

[Punkster]

I'd like to get a better PSU than the current one i have which is a 305W one. i'll post some pics. i haven't changed it before and i'm a little hazy aboutt what wire connections i should know about before i go about trying to fiddle around wiht the connecitons.

can you remove the cable connections very easily or are you suppoed to hold on to the connecting parts in some way so as not to damage the wires.

there's so mayn cables, it's confusing!

ok here's a pic of the inside of my PC:
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5804/dscn5441am3.th.jpg (http://img185.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn5441am3.jpg)

ok, here are my first few quesitons:

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/5746/editik0.th.jpg (http://img241.imageshack.us/my.php?image=editik0.jpg)

what are the things on the bottom left? some sort of drive?

how do i remove each conneciton? should i just tug on it until it comes out or will some of them snap?

and how the heck am i going to remocve the USB connection? it looks like the huge fan is in the way

also, are there different sizes of PSU. so far i've seen 8cm and 12cm. i've measured the width of my box unit and it seems to be 12cm.

do you think this PSU is any good?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colors-500W-Silent-Power-Supply/dp/B000KGYFO6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1216727618&sr=1-8

this PSU seems ideal because it says it's compatible with pentium 4?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ezcool-Genuine-450watt-Power-Supply/dp/B0018LPZAA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1216727985&sr=1-8

my PC needs the following connectors:
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6096/tablepx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

does this mean that the types of PSUs i could get are limited by the connectors i require?

[halo-fan-4ever]

messing around with the psu is risky stuff, u could get an electric shock or somthing

[Punkster]

WOOT! i just learnt how to take out the PSU! it feels like such an accomplishment! i feel like i'm one step closer to being a PC nerd! yaya!

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/92/psuyy9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

haha i only just realized i still have a spot of ketchup on my left cheek, such a messy eater!

messing around with the psu is risky stuff, u could get an electric shock or somthing


i'm still alive so far! i recommend you try fiddling around with your PC parts. you can learnt to upgrade parts yourself. i thought i was going to break all the connectors trying to remove them but it was actually easy to do, but it took a bit of confidence to pull out the 24 pin connector coz it was stuck and i didn't know if i was pullng it out right.

[flameboy118]

punkster you compueter nerd you.. see what i mean when i say its self explanatory- you just got to fiddle around, and i cant explain it exactly? and that would be your right cheeck love

[Punkster]

thanks for your advice. now i have a better idea of what connectors i need at least.

here's a picture of what i think are the separate parts of my PC. correct me if i'm wrong please. and i dunno what that middle connector to the motherboard is for. is that the CPU power connector?

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/200/edit2ix9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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ok, i know i want to get an 8600GT now and the minimum PSU wattage is 350W for that card so i would like to get a 450W PSU. any recommendations for a 450W PSU? i've heard that any bigger power supplies will be a waste of energy, because the 8600GT doesn't use much power compared to high-end cards anyway.. is this true?

i don't mind one that's got a noisy fan, coz the GPU fan will already be noisy anyway and i have an xbox 360 so i'm used to the loud fan noise of the 360.

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is that thing i circled red on the diagram the ATX12V thing. like the auxiliary power supply? does that mean i have a 20+4 connector or is it a 24pin connector?

i don't get it, i just counted the number of pins and it's 24 pins yet i have this extra 4 pins? is it necessary, what is it for?

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i'm thinking of getting this thermaltake 420V PSU for about £40. anyone think it's ok?
click here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thermaltake-W0061-PSU-420W-TR2-420W/dp/B000UH0576/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1216741380&sr=1-2)to see the PSU and it's specs (http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Power/TR2power/w006162/w006162.asp)

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i have a new question. if the fan on this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thermaltake-W0061-PSU-420W-TR2-420W/dp/B000UH0576/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1216741380&sr=1-2) PSU is on the top, how the heck will air flow through the PSU? on my current PSU, the fan is on the left of the PSU if you look at it from the angle of the pic i posted. in fact is the fan even on the top of the PSU? or is it purely an aesthetic feature?

is this thermaltake PSU a standup PSU, one that you insert so that it fits in vertically, so it wouldn't make sense for me to get this PSU?

[canveyboy]

thermaltake is a trusted make, good choice, i use that brand also, never get any problems with those psu's, ok its one of the easiest things to do, changing your power supply, all have the standard connectors, some may have some extra/diffrent connectors alongside the regular ones for the newer graphic cards (6 pin adaptors)

anyways...

unsrew the old psu and pull out slightly without disconnecting all the iputs to your pc and unplug one thig at a time and plug the new connectors in as you go along.

even if you rip all the old stuff out first, it is very easy, you cant put a square peg in a round hole ! so just match up the connections.
its very very easy, have trust in yourself, you wont blow anything up.

damn i wish i had room like that in my pc, LOL, my pc is massive yet i have no room in mins at all, hmmmmmmm maybe we should open another thread posting pictures of our pc's? what do u guys think ?

[Punkster]

ok, my only big question now is does it matter where the fan is on the PSU. i'm thinking that if i take that thermaltake PSU and install it in my PC, the fan will be facing upwards at the roof of my case, so the airflow won't be good.

[canveyboy]

ok, its all about airflow, I very much doubt it would make any diffrence to your pc but as a rule of thumb the top and rear fans are your pc's exhaust, so place the fan either towards the front or bottom of your pc. (where the airflow enters the pc.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/8330/airflowht7.jpg

[Webster Returns]

I agree with canvey about TT PSUs, and generally about the procedure for changing PSUs. Don't be afraid, you really can't get hurt so long as you don't take off your PSU's cover and start to screw with capacitors as they can pack a punch.

Thermaltake makes good PSUs, but you also want to look for Corsair, PC Power & Cooling, or Enermax to make sure you get a good deal.

Also one problem I can see coming on right now. It is the distance between your PSU and your 2nd optical drive. You are going to need to measure to make sure that you don't buy a PSU that won't fit.

A couple of things you may want to look for in a PSU is a unit that preferably has a 20+4 pin main connector and a 4+4 CPU connector.

[Punkster]

i'm a bit annoyed that i have to wait til after my holiday to get the PSU. i don't want to wait. i'm so impatient when it comes to these things.