Pentium 4 Power Question

[Solkin]

Hey all, good evening. I have been waiting for my new computer parts for over a month and now they are finally here. But I am having a very large problem.

I have gotten myself a P4 2.53ghz cpu, and I am aware of its extra power needs via the sqaure 12volt plug from the power supply. My problem is that my 300w PS that the person I bought it from said it was a P4 Power Supply, but it doesn't have the right plug.

Is it a standard 12volt plug? Is it possilbe for me to take the flat 12v plug:

oooo

and turn it into the required connector.

oo
oo

If anyone knows the answer to my woes, please reply. This is my idea, but I don't feel like burning out something because my idea was retarded and I didn't ask around first. (that's why I'm here ;) )

[$1500-P4 gamer]

They make adaptors for just that! Look around on the net or local shops as they are cheap. Yep its just the same as molex (cept square) BUT you gotta make sure the wiring is right too. SO the adaptor would be best. I will also warn ya that this means the PSU prob. isnt P4 approved and that can be trouble latter on.:eek:

[Solkin]

Okay, I won't do that then. Thanks a bunch for the info. I have always had AMD, this is my first intel computer and its a new learning experience.

Okay, on the same basic area of questions, would a 300wP4 power supply be sufficient to run my 2.53ghz with Radeon 9700pro, 512mb ddr, 60g Hard Drive, sound blaster audigy 2, 1 52x cdrom??? I am reading in manuals that the radeon9700 will work fine on the 300w PS, but I was wondering how it works in the field?

Why only a 300w? Cause with all the other expensive things I have put into my computer, I have run out of money, and thats the only one I can afford. :mad:

thanks

[BiG MiKeY]

i dunno bout the p4 power issues..... but raedon 9700s and 9500s take alot of power to work right...... especially wit that cpu.... you might get lucky and be able to boot and install windows, but u might have stability problems after that..... i just put together my system and it wouldnt boot up quickly ( im talking 5 min to get my hard drive recognized) or anything until i got a new psu.... then the win install and everything went gr8 after that.... if u get these problems remove and exsess cards or drives until u get the new psu.... but this may or not be the solution

[omega31]

http://us.st7.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/directron_1729_82145790

If you're in the US, Directron has this for $8.99 plus shipping. FrozenCPU.com has it for $8 plus shipping.

http://www.directron.com/p4atx.html
http://www.frozencpu.com/cgi-bin/frozencpu/cab-08.html?id=z6zAaHbf

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Hmm dunno. 300watts is def on the edge either way. The P4 at that speed is gonna draw atleast 60-80watts. Thats a big hunk of the 12v rail after couple fans, cdroms, Hdds and etc. Try it with 300watt and if it seems unstable or your volts are running 10% less than rated then replace it for sure.:t

[BiG MiKeY]

i just hope it isnt one of this POS psu that burn out on a 250w stress

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Originally posted by BiG MiKeY
i just hope it isnt one of this POS psu that burn out on a 250w stress
Yeah or one that takes the whole system with it!:eek: Solkin-we'll keep our fingers crossed for ya.;)

[Solkin]

Thanks! :D

So what are these new sounds I am hearing. Like I said, I am new to intel. The computer beeps once in a while. Its a strange beep, its not the POST beep and it can happen whenever it pleases. Does it mean I am outta power maybe? (BTW, I went and purchased an atual p4 300w ps yesterday)

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Ive had that happen when Keyboard was bad or key stuck. That will beep when it pleases to. Try another keyboard once.:)

[XxFaeryOnFirexX]

i never had that problem. I have a 420watt powersupply though.

as you can see in my signature, I have alot of stuff. 12 fans is crazy. I have all 4 of my 5 1/4 drive bays full and one of my 3.5 drive bays full.

funny that I don't have any dust inside. I have filters on the intake fans.

if you are able to install ur OS and get everything running, hopefully your voltages should be somewhat like this. the lower below what they should be, the worse it is.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

I just read somewhere that means its throttling the cpu back due to overheating. If the system beeps now and again without cause and operates (windows boots etc) then the cpu is overheating and thermal protection is being used....Dont know if its true though. SO what are your temps like?:confused:

[XxFaeryOnFirexX]

oops... bad edit. Wouldn't let me add info

[XxFaeryOnFirexX]

I did not know that it would beep when throttling back. Makes sense though to tell the user what is happening.

I use the Vantec Aeroflow VP4 with the TMD fan. Here is a pic:

Well, I get 28C Idle w/o front air filter. 32C Idle with.
------------>34C Load with and w/o air filter playing UT2k3 for 6Hr
------------>39C Load with WSNES playing Super Metroid for 2 Hrs

The SNES Emulator uses more of the processor than UT2K3 at its highest settings. Kinda weird cause the SNES only operated at 16MHz. Guess it is what happens though when you make a processor be used for a different instruction set.

BTW, I have a P4 2.4B GHz. I have the B0 Stepping which will allow me up to a 70C Operating Temp. The C1 Stepping has a 71C Operating Temp. Never would want to run them at this though. I want to do water cooling some day. I bought P4 for the Piece of mind about not getting fried and because I like Intel.

[Solkin]

Hmm. thats no good. I was wondering about temps for the p4. My 2.53ghz p4 is running at about 55oC at full load and about 40oC when its idleing. I am using the stock retail HS and fan on it and its in a CoolerMaster ATC 220 case.

I am wondering if these temps have anything to do with the power supply I got running? I should be getting my 420w thermal take PS in the mail soon. IF its getting the proper power, would my temps drop off?

Whats the safe running temps for it?

[XxFaeryOnFirexX]

Your temps won't drop off. Reason being is because you are using the stock HSFU. Try using mine. It costs $33, but it is worth it. There is no high pitched noise, just the air moving through the heatsink.

I have the 420 Watt ThermalTake PurePower. I am using it in my ThermalTake case. Try using more fans. I have 12 fans total:

1 5600RPM TMD (Heat Sink Fan)
1 4800RPM Fan for my Active Memory cooling. (768 Megs DDR)
5 ThermalTake Orange Fans that came with the case
------------->(2 front, 2 back, 1 side)
2 Hdd Cooling fans ( Vantec HDD Cooler) HDD @ 14C
1 GigaByte NorthBridge Fan
2 fans in the Power Supply. Temperature Sensing Smart Fans

Lot of fans eh?

The maximum temp for your CPU (if a B0 unit) is 70C and the Max for a C1 is 71C. Then it will throttle down. Might throttle down at a lower temp though.

The Stock HSFU fan is running at a whopping 1.?K RPM. Very slow. The stock is not meant for OCing.

I also use ArticSilverIII

[Solkin]

Hmm. okay. I am not planning on OC'ing in the first place. I figured the stock HSF would be sufficient for running with the cpu it was packed with. Apparently not. D'oh! Intel are retards for including such weak fans. Which one was it that you were using again?

[XxFaeryOnFirexX]

I use the Vantec Aeroflow VP4 with the TMD fan.

www.vantec.com

look around in there. It is really nice, but Your cooling will also depend upon the ambient temperature. My room is like 20C/70F. Sometimes it is cooler though.

[astra12]

Hey XxFaeryOnFirexX, 12 fans, paronoia or what. 12 fans, each using there own bit of power, making your power supply work that little bit harder, looks like you could do with another fan.
Try 2 though, cos 13 is unlucky.

:D :D :D
catch22.

[astra12]

Solkin, You might want to read this from Intel about using adapter cables as suggested by Omega31.

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/12v2x2.htm
:)

[XxFaeryOnFirexX]

Naw, 12 fans isn't paranoia. I have plenty power left in my 420 watt PSU. And if AIM doesn't stop losing its connection, I might have to go and kill AOL. (Randomness)

I want to cut down on some of the noise. The noise isn't of the fan rotors/motors, but is more of all the air that is being sucked across, in, out and over the computer. Actually, I am thinking about selling my Thermaltake Xaser II with large Window and buying the Xaser III. There are a few design improvements such as internal cable management and the ability to control 4 fans and set up tempurature alarms and use F instead of that **** C.:D