Member Avatar for Danniboy

hi all,

i am building a new computer for a friend and im using old parts from that dinky old thing that are still usable (its a windows 95 computer) :eek: like floppy, cd drive etc..
and im wondering if the old power supply unit is still usable? its 250 i think and i wanna use it wiv a computer updated to xp standards

what do ppl reckon? thanks for reading ;)

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Rueful Rogue

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Short answer: don’t trust a 1995-era PSU for an XP-era rebuild. and are on the right track — aside from connector differences, old supplies suffer age-related failure modes and often lack the protections modern boards and drives expect.

Quick checklist to decide whether to keep or replace the supply:

  • Look at the main connector: an AT supply uses two large P8/P9 plugs; modern motherboards need a single ATX 20/24‑pin plus a separate 4‑pin (or 4+4) 12V CPU plug.
  • Physical condition: open the case (power unplugged) and inspect for bulging or leaky electrolytic caps, brown residue, brittle wiring, or a seized/failure-prone fan. Any of these is an immediate fail.
  • Connector set: older PSUs may lack SATA power, P4 12V, or enough Molex connectors. Adapters can convert plugs but cannot create missing amperage or protections.
  • Basic electrical check (only if you know what you’re doing): use a PSU tester or multimeter after a safe power‑on (paperclip test) to confirm rails; acceptable ranges are roughly +12V ±5%, +5V ±5%, +3.3V ±5%. Passing an unloaded test is not a guarantee — real load testing is needed to be confident.
  • Safety/protection: modern PSUs include OVP/OCP/short protection and better filtering. A cheap high‑wattage old unit that claims power on the label is not the same as a reliable, correctly regulated supply.

If keeping reliability and longevity matter (they do for a new build), buy a current ATX power supply from a reputable maker sized to your component list rather than chasing raw wattage. Make a parts list (CPU, GPU, drives, fans), check the required +12V amperage, and choose a quality unit with the right connectors and protections.

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Member Avatar for Catweazle

Definitely replace it, in my view. there would be a good likelihood that the old unit would comply to the AT standard rather than the current ATX standard, in any event, and would be unsuitable. But regardless, I'd not advise reusing a power supply unit ahat old.

Member Avatar for Danniboy

kool thanks catweazel :) ill buy a 400W one or sumthin instead from www.scan.co.uk,
do u kno this site? im livin in the uk btw so this is probably not 1 u would use as its a uk company

Member Avatar for Rueful Rogue

When considering a power supply purchase, one should know how many watts their total consumtion requirements. The video graphics card and the processor chip are the two biggest consumers. There's a good primer about power supplies available which may help you better understand this and they even provide a chart of typical power requirement for the various components. Go to: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/power-supply.htm

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