PICOPSU Power Supply Question

[paulcall]

Hello Everyone,

I am planning on purchasing a PICOPSU 150-XT (150W) power supply for a computer I am planning on building but I can't find any information on what power adapter I should purchase with it and I was wondering if someone who has one can help me out.

I have seen the PICOPSU 150-XT paired with numerous power adapters such as 80W, 90W, 102W, 120W, 150W, etc.

I am looking to get as much efficiency possible, I do not want to draw a great deal of unnecessary power stored in the adapter, if that makes sense.

Basic HTPC System Info
Intel i3 2100T
Intel Mini ITX Motherboard
CPU Cooler
4GB RAM
2 x 2.5" HD
Possibly a very very low end Video Card (128mb)

If anyone has any opinions to share I would appreciate any help offered.

Thank You

 

[tomoyo]

I'm not sure you understand how the psu works. All it does is convert generally 12v or 19v power from the power adapter into 12v/5v/3.3v. There is no "power stored". Now what you need is a high efficiency power adapter, preferably something in the 85-90%+ range. I'd recommend you search for power adapters and check what the min/max efficiencies are supposed to be. I know Delta and FSP make some good ones, there's probably other options also.

 

[paulcall]

Thank you for your response,

Would you be able to inform me a little on why the PICOPSU 150-XT power supply is a 150W yet it is sold with adapters that provide numerous wattage ratings (80W, 90W, 102W, 120W, 150W, etc.)

If I was to purchase a PICOPSU 150-XT with a 102W power adapter, does that mean that if my system tries to draw 130W it won't be able to because the adapter will only supply 102W?

In other words the PICOPSU 150-XT 150W rating is what it can handle, but it is the wattage of the power adapter that will determine how much the PICO with put out?

So that if I was to get a 150W adapter and the computer only needs 110W, the adapter is not providing 150W, it is providing just the 110W?

Thank You again for your help

 

[dma0991]

If the picoPSU is rated at 150W and the external power brick is rated at 102W then there is a possibility that the picoPSU will not be able to supply >102W and if it could it would stress the power brick out of it's optimal working range.

The Core i3 2100T is a 35W TDP processor and if you're in doubt a 102W picoPSU and 102W rated power brick is more than sufficient to power up your mITX build. A low end GPU is unnecessary here as the perpendicular positioning of the GPU relative to the motherboard would be pointless if you're aiming for a small mITX case. The Intel HD1000/2000 should be sufficient for a HTPC.

 

[tomoyo]

I almost want to say yes to all of the above, but that would be confusing.
To make it clear:
If you get a 150W Picopsu and use a 102w adapter. You can only draw a max of 102w before overloading your adapter.
If you get a 150w Picopsu and your system is using 110w. Your picopsu will use 110w. I think it can't any clearer than that.

Also the reason it is sold with smaller adapters is that some people don't need the power. Like my current htpc I just built 2 days ago...uses like 68w at load. Can't exactly see a reason for a 150w adapter if I was using a pico. Course I'm using a pico-like antec isk300 power supply instead.

 

[paulcall]

Thank you two very much for verifying my assumptions and concerns about the PICOPSU this helps me greatly, this all makes perfect sense now.

The low end GPU is only part of the build due to the fact that I have an older TV that only has s-video, component, and composite inputs.
The low end GPU I plan to get has an s-video for TV out.
I wish I could find a mini itx motherboard that supports the i3 cpu and has a vga tv-out but I don't think they do. I really was hoping to just use the video capabilities of the cpu itself.

The Antec was a case I considered also, I like that it comes with the "pico-like" power supply, the only problem for my build was that it does not support a full 5.25 bay. That is cool that you just build a htpc, good luck with it.



Thank you again

 

[Zap]

Would you be able to inform me a little on why the PICOPSU 150-XT power supply is a 150W yet it is sold with adapters that provide numerous wattage ratings (80W, 90W, 102W, 120W, 150W, etc.)

Marketing, and hitting price points. Why are Mustangs and Camaros sold with anything smaller than a V8 engine?