Weird power supply form factor.

[raleighc]

So I've got this problem that I've been researching and it's starting to look pretty grim as far as my options go (none).  But I thought I'd at least ask it here because this community is awesome and incredibly helpful.  I'm in the process of building a sleeper rig with this pc as the foundation http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03612803

I plan on putting a low profile 1050ti in there, and that's already in the mail.  I was hoping to get an 8gb ram unit with 2x4 instead of 4x2 dimms so I could upgrade more easily to 16, but I was shipped a unit with all dimm slots occupied so that upgrade will have to come later.  My concern is this:  I am running an i5 3470 at 3.2 with the aforementioned ram sticks, and there are only 2 fans; one in the front for the cpu and one in the power supply in the back.  When I put my msi 1050ti in there and close the side panel, I'll finally have the aesthetic I'm going for, but the total wattage draw of the system will be EXACTLY what the power supply is maximum-rated for. 

Here is the power supply calculator:  https://outervision.com/b/GTsVuU

I know this is a bad thing to do, so I ask you all: How stupid is it to just give up on my fruitless search for a higher wattage supply in this exact wonky form factor (note the visuals in the manual pdf) and just run it as is?  It's an HP psu so the connectors are proprietary too, not just the weird shape.  I'd like to avoid an external power supply solution and any "normal to HP" cable conversion kits if at all possible, as this is meant to be a semi-portable rig.  (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAHMULC/).   Any and all suggestions appreciated. 

[firecrow797]

i would invest in some tin snips, rivets, rivet gun, and some sheet metal....then make it work!

[Lean18]

Yeah, you might run into some problems. if its a Gold, Platinum or Titanium unit, it might be enough, but i doubt.

 

Edit: There shouldnt be any 'special' connectors. Ive worked with some of these kind of units. The plugs are usually the same.

[firecrow797]

wait are you using the original motherboard? and just adding a 1050ti?

[samcool55]

I would just whack it in and hope for the best, if it does randomly shut down due to the power draw being too high, try to undervolt some stuff. If done properly the performance impact should be very small/none but powerdraw should go down.

[ProjectBox153]

The power of the card you're looking at is the total power the card will draw at full load, so if you don't keep it at full load all the time it should be fine. 

[zombienerd]

I'd take a standard modular ATX supply, and buy long cables.  Mount the PSU under your desk, or build a nice box for it to sit next to the machine.  Use sleeving over the wires, and run all the cables from the PSU into the case through a custom plate you make to cover the hole the old PSU fit inside.

 

It'll be cheap-ish, and if you do your part, can be very aesthetically pleasing.  Hell, add some RGB to it, lol.

[zombienerd]

Just looked at the board connectors.  It doesn't use a 20+4 arrangement, but it does appear to use standard connectors to power it.  You'd want to take measurements of the 4 power connectors to make sure that either PCIe 6 pin, 12V 4 pin or another type will work, but it is doable with a multimeter and some patience.

[andrewmp6]

I'd open the case and take some measurements of the psu area you have.And look up the measurements on a sfx form factor psu.They are smaller then a atx and a lot of small pc cases use them.I'm thinking sfx might work with some rigging,A full size atx will take a lot of cutting and making up new cuss words to make it fit.

[raleighc]

10 hours ago, andrewmp6 said:

I'd open the case and take some measurements of the psu area you have.And look up the measurements on a sfx form factor psu.They are smaller then a atx and a lot of small pc cases use them.I'm thinking sfx might work with some rigging,A full size atx will take a lot of cutting and making up new cuss words to make it fit.

I had no idea these existed.  I just did some googling and some measuring and I think I can pull this off.  I'm going to use my wall monitor first to see what the wall wattage draw is while gaming.  I will have to get the conversion cable, repin the 6 pin connector on it, and make liberal use of some gaff tape, but at least I have an option if this current 240W shits out on me.

[alexhelvetica]

4 hours ago, raleighc said:

I had no idea these existed.  I just did some googling and some measuring and I think I can pull this off.  I'm going to use my wall monitor first to see what the wall wattage draw is while gaming.  I will have to get the conversion cable, repin the 6 pin connector on it, and make liberal use of some gaff tape, but at least I have an option if this current 240W shits out on me.

That will not work, like at all. Those HP's have a small 24pin connector, and a 6pin connector for motherboard power. Plus that PSU form factor is NOT SFX, not TFX, and not ATX, it's a custom HP form factor.

 

Convertor cables that you buy off eBay are likely fire hazards, so don't.

 

[andrewmp6]

I wasn't fully thinking clearly.Honestly id use it as a reason to get a nice micro atx board and stick in that case.Depending which cpu it has a micro atx board isn't that much money.It will give you better options like having a normal psu not those tiny goof plugs and running a adapter.

[Tsuki]

have you looked into using a PicoPSU? or an HDPlex(since you might need higher wattage).

 

https://www.hdplex.com/hdplex-400w-hi-fi-dc-atx-power-supply-16v-24v-wide-range-voltage-input.html

[JaegerB]

Huh. We have a hundred or so of those at my school. I've pulled apart a few to clean and I agree, that form factor is really bizarre. I really can't help here but I hope you get things fixed soon!

[Stefan Payne]

On 5.12.2017 at 10:45 PM, raleighc said:

So I've got this problem that I've been researching and it's starting to look pretty grim as far as my options go (none).  But I thought I'd at least ask it here because this community is awesome and incredibly helpful.  I'm in the process of building a sleeper rig with this pc as the foundation http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03612803

Iproprietary too, not just the weird shape.  I'd like to avoid an external power supply solution and any "normal to HP" cable conversion kits if at all possible, as this is meant to be a semi-portable rig.  (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAHMULC/).   Any and all suggestions appreciated. 

Kinda bad news for you.

Thats a more or less propriarity PSU that was specified for µBTX Small Formfactor Systems.

You can look for BTX Power Supply and most likely find something.

However: Those are all rather old and rather low quality (better System Integrator quality) and also rather low watage. Last time I've checked most of them were around 300W or so....

On 6.12.2017 at 10:09 AM, andrewmp6 said:

I'd open the case and take some measurements of the psu area you have.And look up the measurements on a sfx form factor psu.They are smaller then a atx and a lot of small pc cases use them.I'm thinking sfx might work with some rigging,A full size atx will take a lot of cutting and making up new cuss words to make it fit

 

Well, its not SFX but something special for this system. It was something like a successor to ATX but failed miserably -> BTX. As is the Board.

Those are common in OEM PCs of the time and up to around beginning of the 2010 you can find them. The last thing in µBTX Format I've seen was either LGA1156 or 1155 (Sandy Bridge).

 

Well, the biggest problem is the age of those form factor systems.