Power Supply Issues

[bluemicrobyte]

You have all probably seen my video card thread. Well, after four loooong months I hold an ATI All In Wonder 9800 PRO video card in my hand. HOWEVER, before I can do anything with it I need to upgrade my power supply. Heres my idea: I have another PC with a 320 watt power supply, but it really doesn't need that much. I'm thinking I can simply swap the two power supplys. This PC is an HP Pavilion a465c, and the one with the nice shiney power supply is an HP Pavilion xg838.

So what do I need to know about power supplies?
Are they swapable?
Is there more than one type of power supply?
Can I swap the power supply's in my two comptuers?

[WeekendLazyness]

Do some of your own damn research. And congrats on buying an obsolete vid card.

Answers:
Little.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

[bluemicrobyte]

You didn't think thouroughly. I've found out that the two power supplies I have a different sizes and are not easily swapable.

[WeekendLazyness]

Don't tell me how I am thinking.

You answered your own question.Are they swapable?I've found out that the two power supplies I have a different sizes and are not easily swapable.
You seriously have got to learn how to do your own research. These kind of questions are annoying. "What vid card should I buy?" "Are power supplies swapable?" "Can I use computer speakers on computers?" They made Google for a reason.

I can see it now; another four months before you actually decide to swap the power supplies. You should have probably thought of that before you bought the vid card.

[bluemicrobyte]

I got my own question answered after arguing with an HP rep. for hours (via email) I still don't know about different types of power supplies but I suppose thats a stupid question too.
The only reason it took 4 months to get the video card was beccause it was expensive, and it takes a lot of talking to get my parents to even LET me buy anything expensive.

A mod can lock this as it is getting no where.

[Exedore]

Most recent desktop computers use ATX form factor power supplies. However, some PC manufacturers like Dell and HP used to use a slight variant on their power supplies and motherboards. Stupidly, the connectors had the same molding as ATX connectors, but the pin arrangment was different, resulting in a few people frying boards and power supplies. As long as both motherboards and power supplies use the same form factor, they'll be swappable.

[bluemicrobyte]

yes, both of my computers have the same connectors (two sources have confirmed this) but the actual power supplies have different physical dimensions. (they aren't the same size)

[bluemicrobyte]

problems solved - lock me!