To powerful Power Supply?

Can you have a power supply that's too powerful? I have a Mid Tower ATX, PIII, 1GHz system on an Asus CUSL2-C motherboard and I think I need a new power supply (currently have 250 watt). I was wondering if a 400 watt power supply would be overkill for this system? Could I get away with a 300 watt power supply?

 

Go with the 400W PSU, no such thing as overkill in this circumstance. (The PSU supplies power as it's required, think of it as a reservoir).

 

Does the "PSU" you mention refer to Power Supply Unit?

Also do you fell the 250 watt I currently have is a bit low for my system:
ATX Mid Tower
PIII....1GHz Processor
Asus CUSL2-C mobo

 

Thanks for your input in this matter. I have a relatively new system 7 months old, still under warranty. I have been having problems with my new, 4 month old ViewSonic A70f (17 in flat monitor) blinking like an old black and white silent movie does. It does this on occasion for no reason at all. Then lately, I have been having problems getting the computer to boot. When I turn if off overnight, sometimes when I go to boot up the next morning, the green power ligt will come on and the red HD lite will lite up for about 3 or 4 minutes then cut off, but nothing is processing (it doesn't go throgh the process of checking the floppy or cd rom drives...those lights DON'T light up as with the normal boot process)....as a result the monitor is left blank. For some reason I just don't think it's a defective monitor. They've changed a defective power supply a couple days after I got this computer so that's why I'm thinking it could be the problem again. And the more periphals I connect, the less this 250 power supply can handle it.

I just took it back to the shop yesterday, but the guy claims he can't find anything wrong. The truth about that is, the guy who used to do all the Tech work left for a better job so now the actual owner who knows LITTLE about computers is trying to do the work. Heck I feel I know more about this than he does. So even though it's still under warranty, if I have to I will PAY someone who knows what they are doing to find just what the problem is.

Any input as to what could be causing these problems?

 

Power supply unit (PSU) has other functions than just a source of energy. It also distributes the power to different components of the system. Although a system may have many peripherals or powered accessories that in itself will not cause a problem unless one attempts to run them all at the same time. Or a defective component can over draw the power resources and cause the problem. You may have experienced the problem in your home environment and break the circuit with one extra light turned on. Or may be your refer went south and caused a circuit break.

The equation for wattage is volts times amps. With voltage constant (hopefully ), the amps are accumulative based on the system's demand at any one time.

I don't believe 250w is inefficient for most systems. I have 250w with no problem.

 

HI Ace,

I have the same mobo w/ an 800 Celeron o/c'd to 1120Mhz & the voltage kicked up to 1.95, hdd, cdrom, burner, vid , sound, nic, and pci dsl modem. My 250W psu handles it just fine. It is possible that your current 250W rated power supply is not producing 250W.

I recently cobled together a machine for my oldest son following his divorce. It had symptoms similar to yours. I could hear the fans come up to speed and run for 5-10 seconds and then nothing. Repeated attempts would eventually get the machine to boot. But the image on the monitor could not be adjusted left to right to fit the screen. Replacing the power supply solved both problems.

You can pick up a good psu for $30 or so and it only requires four screws to replace it.

Tin

 

Thanks! I'm figuring it's the power supply because of the repeated attempts to boot will eventually get it to boot. If it were more serious such as a shot processor or mobo, it woulnd't boot period. Kinda like a car out of gas, no matter how many times you turn the key it just won't roll over.