What are the constraints of my current power supply?
What are the constraints of my current power supply?
I have an HP Compaq 6200 Pro SFF PC that’s still functional for my needs. I currently have 32 GB of RAM, a GTX 1060, a 2 GB SSD, and an i7-2600i CPU. I’m wondering if a GTX 1050 would fit well enough to run smoothly because the PSU only provides 240 watts. People have mixed opinions when they search about this issue due to the mix of components. I’d like to play decent games on it, and I know the GPU is likely the main limiting factor. I’ve had to overclock the GTX 1060 to get decent performance, so I’m hoping a better card would be more stable. I read that the PCIe slot supports 75 watts, which matches what the GTX 1050 needs. Also, if I upgrade to a GTX 1050 Ti, would it cause any issues compared to the regular model? Would the BIOS handle it differently?
Since you have HP prebuilt, it has proprietary MoBo and PSU. PC case too.
At this point, it would be wasteful to throw any money to it, since none of the standard hardware works with it.
Few examples:
Here's an image of your MoBo;
As you can probably make out, it isn't powered by 20/24-pin ATX socket, but instead it has 6-pin and...
I made several attempts to rephrase while keeping the original meaning and tone.
Unless you upgrade your PSU, this won't work.
The GTX 1050 uses significantly more power than the GT 1030 (75W vs 30W), and your current PSU is already near its limits because it's handling a 95W CPU.
If you had a 65W CPU, it might be feasible. But with a 95W CPU, 75W GPU, and about 100W for the rest, things could go really well—or fail spectacularly.
If you're not convinced, try installing the GTX 1050. If it works, your PC will start up. If it succeeds, you might see impressive results, but beware—your PSU could fry everything connected when it reaches its maximum capacity.
The gtx1050 should function properly. For anything 2d, Windows, web surfing, emails, office tasks, essentially any everyday activity, it would perform just fine.
2d requires almost no significant GPU power usage and wouldn't strain it at all. It would operate just like the igpu in an i7 processor.
The main concern arises with 3d applications, especially games. Those would consume 70-100% of the GPU's available power. The drawback here is the lack of control—other than limiting power usage, which essentially restricts performance to a GT1030 level. Without that control, you're likely to face shutdowns, black screens, or blue screens. If your PSU is particularly old, it might try to keep everything running, leading to issues like Aeacus' fireworks and potentially damaging your PSU, GPU, CPU, and/or motherboard.
i managed to run a 95W i7 3770+ 750ti at around 60 or 65W with just a 226W PSU, and it stayed stable. based on that, i think 1050 should work too. you can also reduce the turbo boost power on your cpu—i did the same with the i5 9400 once.... avoid using things like dvd rom or similar, even though they use different voltages, because they might lower the voltage needed by the cpu and vga.
I've thought about upgrading to a larger PSU and placing it outside the case since there isn't an aftermarket option that fits the odd shape I have. I'm aware there are other HP SFF models with bigger PSUs, and I've considered just replacing the case for a cheaper alternative.
I definitely need it to function properly for 3D work and want no issues with my PC once I invest in it. I don't want a computer that's failing quickly.
A lower wattage CPU might be my best chance if I really want to keep things as they are.
Could we just change the case type for a regular PSU and use it instead? I’m looking for something smaller, preferably. If that’s possible, would a 320 PSU be sufficient or should I opt for a larger one? And where can I find an aftermarket PSU if I can’t modify any existing ones?
I didn't lower my 3770 wattage... I said maybe...
The 9400 was for a different situation.
Of course, a 320w PSU will be more than enough.
Maybe try it first to see how it works. Also, have you thought about the Rx6400? That's a 53W GPU. I just remember it from a friend who got one. But it uses PCIe 4—am I sure it fits your motherboard? And do you know the price difference between them?
Because your system is already prebuilt, it comes with its own proprietary components such as MoBo and PSU, along with a PC case. At this stage, investing further would be pointless, as none of the regular hardware is compatible. Here are some observations:
Here’s a picture of your MoBo; as you might notice, it doesn’t use the standard 20/24-pin ATX connector but instead features 6-pin and 4-pin power connectors. These require a specific PSU that matches this particular model. Upgrading the PSU would only be possible if you find a larger unit with compatible connectors.
The MoBo itself isn’t typical for standard ATX builds either—it’s too large to fit in mini-ITX spaces and too wide for micro-ATX. Consequently, it won’t work in regular PC cases, though it will fit in a modified setup. Its layout also differs from the usual ATX design.
With an SFF case, only slim GPUs are suitable. Most GTX 1050 cards are designed for full-height setups.
For a low-profile option, consider this comparison between two cards:
This gives you an idea of what you’re after. Avoid spending on this custom-built unit; instead, look for a new build or opt for a compact mini-ITX system in a smaller case.
For example, here’s a modern SFF configuration similar to your current setup:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: Intel Core i3-12100 3.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($142.78 @ B&H)
Motherboard: Asus PRIME H610I-PLUS D4-CSM Mini ITX LGA1700 ($108.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 970 Evo Plus 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME SSD ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Zotac AMP Core GeForce GTX 1650 G6 4 GB ($169.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Case: Fractal Design Node 202 HTPC Case ($98.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair SF600 600 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ($124.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $750.71 (incl. shipping, taxes, and available discounts)
Generated by PCPartPicker
2023-02-04 11:50 EST-0500
A brief summary.
All necessary components are covered. To keep costs down, I added a 500 GB OS drive, which is an M.2 unit and fits on the MoBo. This avoids extra space from larger drives. The GPU is GTX 1650, currently offering the best 75W performance. The PSU is the Corsair SF600 (600W, Gold Certified).
CPU cooler is included with the CPU, and the PC case is a personal choice. If you’re not satisfied with the Node 202, you can replace it.
Note: If you have funds, you could upgrade to a larger SSD, add more RAM (currently 16GB DDR4), or choose a better GPU.
Just for reference, here’s a comparison of your current build versus a suggested alternative:
Baseline Bench: Game 15%, Desk 75%, Work 13%
CPU: Intel Core i7-2700K
GPU: Nvidia GT 1030
SSD: Samsung 860 Evo 2TB
RAM: G.SKILL RipjawsX DDR3 1600 C10 4x8GB
Alternative Bench: Game 48%, Desk 103%, Work 42%
CPU: Intel Core i3-12100
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1650
SSD: Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe PCIe M.2 500GB
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 C16 2x8GB