Can you describe the case? Is it a full tower or mid tower? (vertical)

Is it a desktop or mini desktop? (horizontal)

Your PSU with only an exhaust fan on the rear sounds like the latter.

Again the limitation here is the physical size and mounting possibilities.

Originally Posted by jephree

Can you describe the case? Is it a full tower or mid tower? (vertical)

Is it a desktop or mini desktop? (horizontal)

Your PSU with only an exhaust fan on the rear sounds like the latter.

Again the limitation here is the physical size and mounting possibilities.

The PC is a tower configuration with a blower in the back of the PSU. It couldn't sit either way on top of a desktop.


I actually went ahead and got a replacement P4 Willamette 2.0 Ghz of ebay. This is the 1.75 v version. Fitted it, ran tests off a universal boot CD (lucifer for a few hours) and it all seemed good. rebooted and everything has been fine. Noticeably faster (and hotter !) but the PSU appears to be up to the job. I have read that Compaq PSUs are more robust and conservatively specified (i.e 200W is like 400W of a cheaper brand) but not sure if that is true or not.

Thanks again for all the excellent tips