Motherboard and Watt compatibility.

[Andrew Cotten]

Hello, I’m going to try and explain this the best I can, I’m new to pc building. My motherboard is a (07N90W), a Vostro 230 is my case (mini tower), and I’ve been trying to look for a 500w PSU but there is no size for that case. If I were to get a bigger sized 500w PSU and just some how stick it to the top or the side of the side of the case will my motherboard be able to handle it? Or does it not matter the power supply I use? Thanks.

 

[_Pete_]

The wattage doesn't really matter as such as long as there are enough watts available for whatever the power supply is driving. The device, in your case your motherboard, will only draw what it needs and in fact the more wattage the better. Having said that there are small form factor power supplies available but they do tend to be low wattage. I did cut a hole in the cover of a Dell small form factor computer once to fit a larger power supply, so it can be done. But I wouldn't recomend it, it wasn't easy and it made the computer look ugly. I didn't think it was particulary dangerous as all the high voltage stuff was contained within the power supply box but it didn't look nice at all.

 

[Andrew Cotten]

The wattage doesn't really matter as such as long as there are enough watts available for whatever the power supply is driving. The device, in your case your motherboard, will only draw what it needs and in fact the more wattage the better. Having said that there are small form factor power supplies available but they do tend to be low wattage. I did cut a hole in the cover of a Dell small form factor computer once to fit a larger power supply, so it can be done. But I wouldn't recomend it, it wasn't easy and it made the computer look ugly. I didn't think it was particulary dangerous as all the high voltage stuff was contained within the power supply box but it didn't look nice at all.

Okay, Thanks! This is my first PC build so I don’t really care about it being ugly I just want everything to work, when I’m more experienced im gonna go all out with the appearance but thanks a lot.