Claire
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Registered: 19th Jan 03
Location: The Sarrrf
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Evening all 
I've decided I'm going to build (get someone else to build) a new computer. Looking at cases I have 2 questions...
1) what is the difference between ATX or AT? (and don't say "x"  )
2) what do I need to be looking for in the power supply?
Thanks 
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Dan B
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Registered: 25th Feb 01
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It's all to do with the size/shape of the motherboard, and is generally known as the "form-factor". AT is the older version, and was superceded by ATX.
If you're interested, more details can be found here...
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Dan B
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Registered: 25th Feb 01
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Oh, and I would say that any shop would only be selling ATX-compliant power-supplies now, unless you specifically asked for AT (in which case they'd probably need to dig deep in their warehouses)...
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Claire
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Registered: 19th Jan 03
Location: The Sarrrf
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That's exactly what I needed to know! Many thanks!
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Dan B
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Registered: 25th Feb 01
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You're welcome! 
What spec are you building the rest of the computer to, out of interest? Just wondering, since I'm building yet another for myself soon-ish...
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Claire
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Registered: 19th Jan 03
Location: The Sarrrf
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I'm not sure top be honest!! I bought this computer almost exactly 5 years ago and it's starting to struggle. The monitor/keyboard/mouse have all been changed over time and are all good so I don't want to buy new ones! So it seems to make sense to get the bits and make a new one. I want it to be up to date and competent so I don't have to upgrade it 6 months on! I'm not a gamer or anything, Just use it for the net/work/pics/music. I'm buying the bits over a couple of months so I haven't really set a price limit. I'll pay however much is needed to make a decent machine (within reason)
I'm really not sure on which processor/motherboard to get at the moment though I'm not very up on computers!!
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IvIarkgraham
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Registered: 27th Mar 04
Location: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
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thats the best avatar ever
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Claire
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Registered: 19th Jan 03
Location: The Sarrrf
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Can I run a computer with a 460w case? Seems alot more powerful than some?
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L33 LEG
Banned
Registered: 6th Jan 03
Location: Blackburn . Drove: Dimma Saxo VTR
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quote:
Originally posted by IvIarkgraham
thats the best avatar ever
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Dan B
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Registered: 25th Feb 01
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quote:
Originally posted by Claire
Can I run a computer with a 460w case? Seems alot more powerful than some?
Shouldn't be a problem, it's better to have a power-supply over what you need, than under...
My current one is a 600W power-supply, which is more than enough!
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
User status: Online
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Higher wattage power supplies use more power (obviously) and make more noise.
I would go for what you need. Obviously if you're Dan this means 600w, most humans need less
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Dan B
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Registered: 25th Feb 01
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My new system is being spec'd up with a 620W "modular" power-supply, but that's because the recommended minimum supply for the spec I'm hoping to have shortly afterwards is 550W!
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Kyle T
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Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
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Also dont be getting a crappy no brand 600+ watt PSU, Id much rather have a 350 Antec or whatever than a 60 gabillion w Q Tec or whatever.
Im running a 460 Akasa Ultra quiet on an A64 3500 Venice, Radeon x850 XT PE, 2gb Ram system and it maintains great rails
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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Kyle T
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Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Dan B
My new system is being spec'd up with a 620W "modular" power-supply, but that's because the recommended minimum supply for the spec I'm hoping to have shortly afterwards is 550W!
what are you building?
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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Dan B
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Registered: 25th Feb 01
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyle T
quote:
Originally posted by Dan B
My new system is being spec'd up with a 620W "modular" power-supply, but that's because the recommended minimum supply for the spec I'm hoping to have shortly afterwards is 550W!
what are you building?
Eventually, it'll be:
Athlon dual-core 4400 + S939 (1MB)
2GB PC3200 OCZ Platinum cas2-3-2-5
300GB Maxtor SATA300
2 * 512MB XFX 7800GTX "XXX Edition" SLi'd
Only getting the one graphics card, to start with, will see how games cope with that before I decide on getting the second card and SLi'ing them...
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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Don't go for a power supply with a big number.
A cheap 600w one will be nowhere near as good as a quality 400w.
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Corsa Sport Gav
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Registered: 12th Feb 03
Location: Durham, County Durham Drives: A6 Allroad
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ive just spent 80 quid on my Power Supply Tagan 580w
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Corsa Sport Gav
Member
Registered: 12th Feb 03
Location: Durham, County Durham Drives: A6 Allroad
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Im Selling a
MSI K7N2 Delta-L SKT A 8xAGP DDR400 Nforce2 6ch Sound LAN USB 2.0 Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP3000+ (Barton) 333FSB 512kb L2
Geforce 4 128mb TI 4200
120 quid for the lot
if u pay for petrol i'll deliver to wynyard has its onli 20 - 30min from me?
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Dan B
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Registered: 25th Feb 01
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quote:
Originally posted by John
Don't go for a power supply with a big number.
A cheap 600w one will be nowhere near as good as a quality 400w.
It's an Enermax, so isn't a cheap one...
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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Sorry mate, wasn't aimed directly at you, was just a comment for the thread.
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