Hi , Im trying to build a ultra small factor pc (scratch build) but Im having a hard time finding a small enough PSU that can actually power everything. The biggest I could find that might actually fit is a "PicoPSU-150-XT" (on ebay ), but I dont know if it will be enough to run everything. It needs to run: Zotac Geforce 9300-ITX Wifi Core 2 Duo E8400 (Would really want it to run a Q9400 but thats probably stretching it) 2x 2GB DDR- 800 kingston Value ram ATI 4650 (low profile GFX card I can find at the moment) 3x Seagate 320gig 2.5" Hdds 3x 80mm fans The rig wont have a dvd rom or cd rom and will rely on a external usb. Will this psu work, or is there another "pico" size one that I can use for the rig?
A 65W processor probably isn't such a good idea with such a small amount of power. It'll probably work, depends on the TDP of that graphics card though.
Not recommended at all (unless you like fireworks). How small do you need. A 1u psu is quite small & comes in 300w - 400w sizes
Krikkit according to google its 30w but I dont know if I can trust the source Saspro Very little at the moment Ive got less than 7cmx15cmx6cm(high) and thats pushing it a bit. So maybe go for a E5200 instead of the E8400? PS Thanks for the very quick responses
E8400's are definitely not 30W. E5200's are also 65W according to Intel. If you do have a 775 board I'd say your best option is a 45nm dual core and underclock/undervolt it. If it were me I'd buy a 1U PSU and try and rehouse the internal circuitry, although that's only if you're comfortable with some pretty dangerous high voltage electronics... PSU's aren't for fooling with.
Sorry Krikkit I mean 30w for the GFX card. Dont really have any problem with rehousing it I do a lot of high voltage work anyway, but prefer to only do that if its the only possible option left.
This is close to the size. Thermaltake do a PSU that fits in to a 5.25" bay, it's about CDROM sized. I'll dig out the one I've got out at home & give it a measure
If you're building an "Ultra small PC" why not spec it as an "ultra small pc" rather than trying to cram a fully fledged PC into the smallest possible space? Even if you did manage to get a PSU teeny enough to power the machine, you may find you have other issues with cooling etc... What about building something slightly larger and trying something like a Shuttle PSU? IF you want an ultra small machine, look at a mini ITX/Epia or w/e the ultra teeny form factor is now adays? <edit> you may also want to think about load from other stuff in the machine too... While fans/hdd's don't draw a lot, at boot you've got em all starting up at the same time which may add additional strain to an already on the edge PSU </edit>
Thank you Saspro I think that might actually fit if I move things around a bit , just a pity it doesn't look like they ship here but Im sure I can find one locally , thanks again for your help. Highland3r I can see your point but I really wanted to do this to prove just how much performance one can get out of a extremely tiny place, I could have bought a atom itx motherboard instead but then it would have been just another atom build(no offense to atom owners but there's a lot),but I wanted something different Ive allready done a few dry tests by connecting a psu externally and it seems that thermally everything seems to be allright, but that might change with the addition of the internal psu but I doubt it will be the end of the world and can be worked around. I fully understand that a pc draws more power on cold boot than actually running but it wouldn't take too muck time to add a relay and a timer for non essential items to start later(fans for instance), but it could still be a bit of a problem, Ill look into it. Thanks everyone for the advice.
