Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

**zandrax** · 09-04-2008, 05:50 PM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

Why he wants to change the psu? Too low power for an upgrade, Bestec is crap (I htought only those 250 W models were the one with the 5 V killer) or something else?
Hardware secrets has a good review: conclusion is "Average, noisy (read electrical noise and ripple) and overpriced psu".
I don't think this is an improvemente upon the Bestec, for $80 you can get something better such as a Corsair VX450 or a comparable Antec Earthswatt.

Zandrax

**Newbie2** · 09-04-2008, 06:20 PM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

My cousin wants to upgrade his power supply because he is planning on someday getting a new video card, and the bad reputation that Bestec has earned did make him not trust the Bestec 300W power supply he has in his HP desktop computer.

I agree it is an overpriced power supply (for $80 CAD you can get something much better than the Dynex 400W power supply at a local computer store) but he just wants to shop at the large stores such as Best Buy and Future Shop (Americans would know Best Buy since they have Dynex crap too, and Canadians would know both Best Buy and Future Shop).

I went

when I saw the $80 CAD price tag on this average quality power supply, which is really only worth half the price in terms of how it delivers its power.

**acstech** · 09-04-2008, 09:56 PM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

Bestec is crap. And Dynex?

Anyway, I recommend one of these:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...%20Electronics

If you're going to upgrade, might as well get a good one. Totally overkill for what he has now, but he won't be limited much as to upgrade video cards.

**i4004** · 09-04-2008, 11:04 PM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

dynex doesn't look too bad, but why when you can have corsair(that zandrax mentioned) for same amount of money?

something rather interesting: in that review gabriel makes a mistake
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/557/4
"The switching transistors are controlled by a DM0265R integrated circuit (PWM controller)."

no, they're not: that's "auxiliary power supply" controler(5vstb supply).
(he even linked the chip pdf, one that he apparently didn't read)
this chip provides power for the primary of the auxialiary trafo it sits near.

those transistors he has in pic are controlled by pwm chip on the secondary side, via that trafo in the middle.

**PCBONEZ** · 09-05-2008, 12:01 AM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

Zandrax is correct.
It was only the 250 watt Bestec that habitually burned up chipsets.
- Not that the other Bestecs are good PSU's. - They aren't.

Dynex and Bestec are both gutless wonders.
I don't think that swap would even be an upgrade. (Except on paper.)

BTW:
There are loads of the Dynex 400w (and some 450w) on eBay for like $10-15.
They are junk. Don't spend big bucks on junk.

.

**kc8adu** · 09-05-2008, 02:05 AM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

the bestec is ok with a full recap.
just make sure you get that 10@50 too.i use a 22@50 fc
i need to post pics with it marked.
there are 2 different layouts.
i am running a 300 in this box now.with good caps its very clean.
the 250 was the worst for overshoot but the caps are the real problem.

**Newbie2** · 09-05-2008, 04:13 AM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

Originally posted by PCBONEZ

Dynex and Bestec are both gutless wonders.
I don't think that swap would even be an upgrade. (Except on paper.)

He said he wants the 6-pin PCI-E video card power connector from the Dynex 400W power supply.

House brands aren't the best, but he doesn't agree.

**i4004** · 09-05-2008, 01:31 PM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

well, if he knows best let him buy whatever he wants.
you will do your job by telling him it's not _that_ good psu.
once.

it is up to him it he wants to listen or not...

like i said this dynex is not too bad(dunno about other models) but it's overpriced.
it's not worth more than 20-30$.

you asked if it's better than bestec?
post or link image of bestec and i'll tell you.
(overall it would be interesting to see that bestec psu that was destroying emachines pcs)

**Newbie2** · 09-05-2008, 02:01 PM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

I already told him a few times that the Dynex is not the best for $90 CAD, but he says it'll be okay.

BTW, when he puts the Dynex power supply into his computer he'll give his old Bestec 300W power supply to me. I'll use the Bestec for experimenting on and hopefully recapping it when I have the time.

**i4004** · 09-05-2008, 02:21 PM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

post pics as soon as you get it: it'll be interesting to see what's inside.

**Newbie2** · 09-05-2008, 02:44 PM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

Originally posted by i4004

post pics as soon as you get it: it'll be interesting to see what's inside.

Yes I will. I'm interested too to see what is bad about Bestec, with tons of dead eMachines computers killed by Bestec power supplies in the past few years.

My cousin is still thinking about the Dynex 400W power supply, but I'm sure he is going to buy it, and give me the Bestec 300W power supply.

I'll give the Bestec power supply some good caps and it'll go into my spare computer parts, which is currently made up of the following parts (I'm not selling them):

1. Generic ATI Radeon 9600XT 256MB DDR AGP 8X video card
2. Generic NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500 256MB DDR AGP 8X video card
3. Chaintech XGI Volari V3 128MB DDR AGP 8X video card
4. Sapphire ATI Radeon HD3650 512MB DDR2 PCI Express 16X video card
5. Antec SmartPower SL450 450W power supply (full of Fuhjyyu caps

)
6. PHILIPS CD-R/RW & DVD-ROM IDE combo optical drive (doesn't read CD or DVD very well)
7. HITACHI CDR-8430 32X CD-ROM IDE optical drive

**zandrax** · 09-05-2008, 04:08 PM

Re: Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

Originally posted by Newbie2

My cousin wants to upgrade his power supply because he is planning on someday getting a new video card, and the bad reputation that Bestec has earned did make him not trust the Bestec 300W power supply he has in his HP desktop computer.

Ok: a new psu because Bestec is crap (PCBONEZ confirmed this) and he need a bit of juice for a new graphic card.

Originally posted by Newbie2

[...] he just wants to shop at the large stores such as Best Buy and Future Shop

If he wants to buy at Future shop, he'll buy crap like Dynex anyway because psus listed in its site aren't good enough.

Originally posted by Newbie2

He said he wants the 6-pin PCI-E video card power connector from the Dynex 400W power supply.

Every psu with at least 350 true watts has a 6 pin connector, he can buy something better than the Dynex. Really.

Originally posted by Newbie2

I already told him a few times that the Dynex is not the best for $90 CAD, but he says it'll be okay.

Does he trust you? It seems not, so don't trust him either: before he pays this overpriced Dynex, make him sign a paper which offloads you from any responsability about your cousin's computer and the psu he strongly wants to buy. He doesn't follow your suggestions, so "cover your back" from any possible damage due to bad caps, ripple, irregular voltages and so on.
No joke, I'm pretty serious: in Italy the phrase Parenti serpenti, relatives are like snakes, exists for some good reasons.

Zandrax

Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

Should my cousin replace the Bestec 300W PSU in his HP Pavilion a1700n PC?

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