Powersupplys, fans, and pci-e gfx cards...

[brownbox]

Ok, in the future, Im planning on adding a more powerful pcie gfx card, which will actually plug into the power supply (unlike my one at the moment ), and I wish to get a fan to fit onto the rear of the case. Could someone please tell me how to go about doing these things? What plugs do they use? Do they come with the power cables? Where on earth do they plug in?

Ive looked inside my new pc before, and I saw a big mass of wires and computer mumbo-jumbo, so I really wouldnt have a clue. Luckily, I knew how to add in the PCI card

Again, could someone explain in idiot terms as I'm very new to desktops.

Cheers
BB

[kimz28]

When you have a look inside your PC, take note of he power cables that plug into the back of your HDD, CD/DVD these will all look the same (white plugs)

When you purchase a PCIe card that requires it's own power supply it should come with it's own power plug, that you can daisy chain off an existing plug (same as the Fan you want) one thing I would consider is the power of your existing PSU

This should be able to handle everything you have now plus a new more powerful video card (don't skimp here)

If you have no extra power plugs try your local DSE for these as they are very easy to get and aren't that expensive.

Hope this helps in some way.

[brownbox]

his. I am currently running a 400w psu. Would this do?

[Zöltuger]

it depends on the card. if it's the top of the line (like a geforce 7900 or 8800) you might want to upgrade to something with a bit more pep. else it should be sufficient unless you have more than 2 hard disks and 2 cd-rom drives.

[brownbox]

ok change of plans. Im going to spend my saved money on 2 fans. One more for the front of the case, and one for the back. I saw my GPU temps and theyre through the roof when im gaming. I really dont want this computer to stuff up from turning into molten lava

Can someone reccomend 2 very cheap fans on trademe, which I could easily buy and install

[brownbox]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listin ... er=1142880

something from this guy maybe?
also, do fans typically come with a power cable, and screws?

Sorry, Im not a computer hardware litterate person

[Zöltuger]

if you're looking for a nice silent fan, then those are pretty good. i have a silenx fan myself- it doesn't shift a lot of air, but it's virtually silent
before you go 'buying now', make sure you measure how big the slot for your fan is in your computer. it should either be 120mm, 92mm or 80mm, measured either horizontially/vertically

fans will come with a cable. probably not with any screws, tho my silenx fan came with little rubber screws which are supposed to further reduce sound vibrations.

[brownbox]

Ok i done it. I see 3 spare 4 pin power plugs, then I see another plug of some sort, looks like a 4 pin but really small , and I see 5 spare fan hole thingys. 2 at the back (nothing in them), and 3 in the front (4 slots with one fan already in it).
I measured these slots with a ruler, and they appear to be 80mm.

How would i go about setting the fans up? 2 in the back? 1 in the front one in the back?
or maybe 2 in the back and 1 more in the front

Computers are fun

[Zöltuger]

yeah i'd say one at the back to suck out the hot CPU air. where's the one at the front, does it blow over the hard disk(s)? those things get pretty warm during use, so best to make sure they're ventilated.
remember- fans should be set up so the airflow is in at the front, out at the back

[brownbox]

hey yeah, are the fans that go on the front and back the same? Do they spin difference ways, or do they have to be screwed on backwards?

I was thinking 2 of these things here
http://www.tastech.co.nz/

the 80mm system fan black plastic 4 pin connector $8.00m each
Also, I saw another plug in my computer. Its like a 4 pin but smalled, and its white. What is this? It comes out of the PSU like the other plugs

[Zöltuger]

they're the same fans, you just install them so they point in the right direction. generic fans are fine too, they're a lot cheaper than the silent fans.

as for the extra pin, it's probably a power connector for a different motherboard

[brownbox]

thanks Zoltuger you've been alot of help. You will hear from me again when I save up some money. Also, I was thinking of getting the 7600GS video card, or maybe the Radeon X1600. 400W PSU should be good enough for these right?

[Alex]

If you are gonna get a nice card like those, I'd wait for an DX10 card and stock up on some extra RAM in the meantime.

My two cents,

Alex

[brownbox]

extra RAM?... on top of my 3GB?
Im not saving up for a DX10 video card. Even though they will come down in price, I really dont have the kind of money



besides, those gfx cards are cheap, and offer pretty good performance for their money. I found a 256mb geforce 7600GS for $140+GST

[Alex]

extra RAM?... on top of my 3GB?
Im not saving up for a DX10 video card. Even though they will come down in price, I really dont have the kind of money

Ah ok, fair enough.



Alex

[brownbox]

ok, so i get 2 fans, plug one into the front making 2 in the front, then one in the back?
which is more important, having more fans in the front or in the back?

[Zöltuger]

fans at the back are more important. the fans at the front are really only to cool the hard disks, whereas the ones at the back will suck hot air off the processor out of the computer- replaced with cool air from the front vents anyway.