How to find the right power supply

[lma1126]

My husband has a Compaq Presario SR5413WM :

Additional Specifications
Processor Type: Athlon 64
Hard Drive Size: 250 GB
System RAM: 2048 MB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor
Type: AMD Athlon LE-1640 / 2.7 GHz
Cache Memory
Type: L2 cache
Installed Size: 512 KB
RAM
Installed Size: 2 GB / 4 GB (max)
Technology: DDR2 SDRAM
Storage
Hard Drive: 1 x 250 GB - standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 rpm
Operating System / Software
OS Provided: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Software: HP Photosmart Essential, Adobe Reader 8.0, Microsoft Works 9.0, Norton Internet Security 2008 (60 days subscription)
Graphics Controller
Type: Integrated
Graphics Processor / Vendor: NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE TurboCache supporting 128MB
Optical Storage
Type: DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - Serial ATA
Read Speed: 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD)
Write Speed: 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 8x (DVD±R DL)
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Bays Total (Free): 2 ( 1 ) x front accessible - 5.25" x 1/2H ¦ 1 ( 1 ) x front accessible - 3.5" x 1/3H ¦ 2 ( 1 ) x internal - 3.5" x 1/3H
Expansion Slots Total (Free): 2 ( 0 ) x memory - DIMM 240-pin ¦ 1 ( 0 ) x processor ¦ 2 ( 1 ) x PCI ¦ 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x16 ¦ 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x1
Networking

I would like to upgrade the psu but cannot find any information on how to go about doing this. Also I am wondering what the most watts this model can handle. Also if possible without changing the psu, would this model be able to handle a pci e video card requiring 300w to 450w psu? One more thing, if changing the psu out is required, would there be a need to alter the pins on the motherboard? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Google a PSU calculator and add 30% to the results for a rough idea of what wattage PSU to buy. Also, keep in mind that PSUs that sell for <$25 are usually rubbish and will not deliver their rated wattage under normal operating temperatures and if overloaded, will blow and destroy other components with them.

That being said, good PSU brands include Antec, BGears, be Quiet!, Corsair, Enermax, FSP Fortron Source, Gigabyte, OCZ, PC Power & Cooling, Silverstone, Sparkle, Thermaltake, Zalman and Zippy\Emacs.

As for your queries, the amount of wattage doesn't matter, since the PSU will only supply what the PC needs and nothing more. You could put a 1000W PSU or a 600W one in in, it wouldn't make any difference, since both supply far more power than your PC needs and the PC only pulls that amount. Also, yes, you'd be able to upgrade to a PCI-E card. And no, you wouldn't need to change any pins on the motherboard.

 

[Tedster]

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp