HOW DO i CALCULATE LOAD FOR POWER SUPPLY?

First, go here http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp to estimate if your PSU is sufficient for your system.

Josh
October 2006

When you say it "kicks off overload protection" what do you mean? the household circuit breaker or the computer psu breaker? If its the household one, disconnect as many other things on that ring main as you can then try start the computer. If it works then somthing else is overloading it and the power on from the computer just magnifies it. If it doesnt work then the PSU is stuffed. Replace with another 500w or 650w if you can afford. What your running now shouldnt be overloading the PSU, but if it IS the PSU on board protector thats kicking in then disconnect as much as possible from the computer (USB leads, printers, scanners etc) and try to start. If it boots up then add the hardware again until it dies. whatever you add is causing the problem.

Jasonm
October 2006