PSU for IBM SFF Case

[redbeets]

Hello,

Got a good deal on a SFF refurbished IBM/Lenovo ThinkCenter P.4, 3 Ghz. I upgraded the sound and now the graphics is my next target. However, most good PCI-e video cards require at least 400W PSU. My problem is the the stock IBM PSU is 275W and is a micro ATX PSU. The back plate of the case has no opening for a third party PSU. What are my options? Do I have to saw a space in the rear of the case to may most third party PSUs fit? Help!

 

[nna2]

you shouldnt have a problem fitting a new psu in the slot, parts are meant to be changed (not really but they can all be removed to some extent) just buy a Matx psu, and put it where the old one was, and also p4 isnt very good if your thinking of doing a major overhall, google your mobo and find a cpu support list

 

[redbeets]

you shouldnt have a problem fitting a new psu in the slot, parts are meant to be changed (not really but they can all be removed to some extent) just buy a Matx psu, and put it where the old one was, and also p4 isnt very good if your thinking of doing a major overhall, google your mobo and find a cpu support list

Thanks very much for your reply.

 

[ko888]

What's the model number of this Lenovo ThinkCenter Pentium 4, 3 Ghz PC?

 

[redbeets]

What's the model number of this Lenovo ThinkCenter Pentium 4, 3 Ghz PC?

IBM/Lenovo ThinkCenter M52 Model 8212
Small Form Factor case
Mainboard IBM Trinidad
Pentium 4 - 519 (Prescott or Cedar Mill?), 3.0 Ghz
1GB RAM
Integrated Intel Graphics
225W Power Supply

 

[redbeets]

ThinkCenter M52 Model 8212 (circa 2006)
Small Form Factor case
Mainboard IBM Trinidad
Pentium 4 - 519 (Prescott or Cedar Mill??), 3.0 Ghz
1 GB RAM
Integrated Intel Graphics
Diamond 5.1 Sound Adapter PCI
225W Power Supply

Will soon upgrade to 3GB RAM and HD5450 1GB Video PCI-e 2.0, if the 225W power supply can handle it.

I appreciate any and all opinions.

 

[redbeets]

Forgot to mention that the mainboard video slot is only PCI-e V.1

I understand that even though there is supposed to be backward compatibility, some V 2.0 and V 2.1 cards may not work in the PCI-e V 1.0 slot.

 

[ko888]

Your 225 Watt power supply should have no problem powering your system with a Radeon HD 5450.

The Radeon HD 5450, itself, only draws a maximum of 13 Watts (1.08 Amps from the +12V rail) at full GPU load.

It was only some of the PCIe 2.1 cards that had the backward incompatibility problem with PCIe 1.x because some card manufacturers deviated from the PCIe 2.1 specification.

 

[redbeets]

Best answer selected by redbeets.