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How to change the power supply unit in your desktop PC?

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SERGENTGARCIA Posted messages 31 Status Member -  
vieu bison boiteu Posted messages 43835 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   -
Hello,
I bought a desktop PC (brand "Acer" Aspire M3985) almost a month ago, but the graphics performance for video games is not great at all.
I would like to play BF3 or Assassin's Creed 3.
I’ve been told that I can play these games with a GTX 660 (budget 200 euros).
However, I do not know which power supply model to choose to install a GTX 660.
I want to avoid any black screen problems after changing the card.
My question has two parts:
a) Will my "brand" PC accept and support a GTX 660 and work with the new power supply?
b) For this desktop PC and a GTX 660, what power supply should I get?

ACER
Model: M3985
Form factor: Tower
Processor: Intel(R) Core (TM) i5-3350P CPU @ 3.10 GHz 3.10 GHz
Maximum turbo mode speed: 3.3 GHz
Intel Turbo Box technology
Installed RAM: 6.00 GB
Hard drive capacity: 1 TB
Graphics card: NVDIA GeForce GT 620
Video memory: 2 GB
Ports: 4X USB 2.0 4X USB 3.0; 1X PCI-Ex
Power supply: 300 Watts
Dimensions: Width 18 cm, Depth 44.33 cm, Height 40.38 cm
System type: 64-bit operating system, 64-bit processor
Windows Edition 8.1
Please respond!
Thank you and thank you again for shedding light on this subject.

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9 answers

  1.
    jb.lugherini Posted messages 1054 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   372
     
    Hello,

    1/ This 660 graphics card will work very well instead of the 620 (checked on http://www.acer.com.ph/ac/en/PH/content/model-datasheet/DT.SJQSP.005 there is 1 PCI Express 16x slot)

    2/ Calculated on https://outervision.com/power-supply-calculator you need at least a 400W power supply like this one: https://www.ldlc.com/fiche/PB00138250.html
    So indeed, the 300W power supply that comes pre-installed will struggle to keep up, it can be replaced without any problem

    There you go :)
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  2. SERGENTGARCIA Posted messages 31 Status Member
     
    jb.lugherini,
    Thank you for your reply, that's good news.
    It's nice of you to respond.
    I was looking online at "Rue Montgallet", a supplier of computer hardware,
    and I was wondering if a 450W power supply isn't a bit light to run this GTX 660?
    Could you perhaps advise me on the model references of another power supply suitable for the configuration of my PC above?
    Isn't a 500W or 550W better for a GTX 660?
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    1. vieu bison boiteu Posted messages 43835 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   3 594
       
      Hi

      a Corsair CX 430W bronze is enough

      bye+
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  3. jb.lugherini Posted messages 1054 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   372
     
    You're welcome, it's a pleasure!
    For the power supply, I already have a margin of 50W which is sufficient, but we can take more!
    So on RueMontgallet it gives us for example https://www.rue-montgallet.com/prix/acheter,antec-520w-neo-eco,677191 or https://www.rue-montgallet.com/prix/acheter,corsair-600w-cmpsu-600cx,732915

    I selected based on these criteria:
    - Brand with recognized reliability (not necessarily a Ferrari, but at least a model that can withstand the test without being overpriced)
    - 80+ certification (guaranteeing an efficiency of 80% which means less heat, more stability, better lifespan, etc... the price difference doesn't justify skipping it in my opinion, especially since we get reimbursed as it consumes less electricity)
    - Connectors: 8 pin for a single graphics card (anyway having 2 GPUs with this computer would be useless as it wouldn't be able to use them properly) + the classics (24 pin + 8 pin for the motherboard, molex, sata)

    Best regards,
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  4. SERGENTGARCIA Posted messages 31 Status Member
     
    Thank you again,
    for your precise and complete response.
    See you soon

    Best regards,

    SERGENTGARCIA.
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  6. DDouxDDingue Posted messages 597 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   102
     
    Hello SERGENTGARCIA

    I confirm the conclusions of jb.lugherini regarding the power requirements.
    The GTX 660 does not consume more than 135w, a power supply of 400 watts should be sufficient (I run my GTX 600 with 300 watts!).

    However, I sincerely advise against the brand Advance... The reliability of Advance power supplies is among the worst among the "resellers" of power supplies (Advance sources its power units from second-tier manufacturers). Despite the 80% efficiency, the quality of the current is often poor (high ripple), and the protections are often faulty.
    Specialized press tests are always enlightening.

    I personally recommend this power supply:
    https://www.ldlc.com/fiche/PB00105016.html
    It's a unit made by Seasonic (high-end), rebranded by LDLC => unmatched quality/price ratio!

    If you have any questions, don't hesitate.

    Best regards
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    1. jb.lugherini Posted messages 1054 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   372
       
      Thank you DDouxDDingue for the feedback on the Advance brand, as I don't have a power supply in the catalog at work and the ones I proposed have held up very well, I wasn't aware of that.
      Best regards,
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    2. SERGENTGARCIA Posted messages 31 Status Member
       
      Good evening, gentlemen,
      Given the somewhat tight dimensions and the frequency in Hertz of the above PC, which GTX 660 should be chosen?
      The MSI GTX 660 OC, or the regular MSI, or another one?
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    3. SERGENTGARCIA Posted messages 31 Status Member
       
      Good evening DDouxDDingue,
      Can you recommend a GTX 660 and a suitable power supply for my PC above?
      THANK YOU.
      0
    4. DDouxDDingue Posted messages 597 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   102
       
      Regarding the GTX 660, prefer an OC version.
      MSI produces cards with very good cooling capabilities ("TwinFrozer"), but there are also very good models from competitors (Gigabyte, Asus...). The price will determine your final choice.

      As for the power supply, I reiterate my advice:
      https://www.ldlc.com/fiche/PB00105016.html

      If you want to go bigger, you can also opt for this one:
      https://www.ldlc.com/fiche/PB00105015.html
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  7. FeLynX Posted messages 7236 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   1 538
     
    Good evening, "I bought a desktop PC (brand 'Acer' Aspire M3985) almost a month ago" <--- if you open the case, the warranty is void, you need to buy a PC suited to your usage from the start. If you're into gaming, the graphics card is the first thing to consider when purchasing.
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    1. vieu bison boiteu Posted messages 43835 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   3 594
       
      it's bought in supermarkets
      like many, they don't know about graphics cards
      and often they get ripped off by the seller
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    2. FeLynX Posted messages 7236 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   1 538
       
      Still, the seller needs to know more about graphics cards than the buyer, which is not a sure thing. We prefer to hire people who know how to sell rather than people who can provide advice in this kind of store.
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  9. SERGENTGARCIA Posted messages 31 Status Member
     
    Thank you all for your responses.
    In the end, I might sell this brand new PC, slashing it to 200 euros, and buy an Asus PC to get started and especially to no longer ask for advice from the carrot sellers in big stores.

    Best regards,

    SERGENTGARCIA.
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  10. vieu bison boiteu Posted messages 43835 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   Ambassador 3 594
     
    To give you an idea, they are still quite well balanced
    https://www.topachat.com/pages/produits_cat_est_ordinateurs_puis_rubrique_est_w_pc_top.html
    https://www.materiel.net/pc-de-bureau/l402/+fv1447-7880/

    To play properly, you need to start with a GTX 660 or an R9 270
    http://www.choixpc.com/recapcg2.gif
    from level 140

    on TopAchat, add €40 for assembly

    see you
    no links on the English web page, I already steal enough on my own
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